We buried you today, Skippy. Your Superman t-shirt and Green Lantern ring were very fitting. My heart broke, and I felt overwhelmed with grief. They are selfish feelings because I want you here with me, but they are real and painful all the same. It was marvelous to see so many hundreds of people cramming the funeral home and waiting in line. Everyone bustling to see you just one last time. Everyone still in shock and disbelief over your death. You are loved.
I remember the first time I met you. You came into my freshman English class in high school and began quoting Shakespeare. To this day, I still have no idea what you were doing or why you were there. But I thought you were pretty nifty all the same :o)
I remember going to the Green Day concert with you. I wanted to sneak my camera in so you shoved it down your pants for safe keeping. They checked my purse, but they didn't check your bulge. I was tempted to let you keep the camera after that.
I remember you forcing my future brother-in-law to pole dance with a broom on the party bus for his combined bachelor/bachelorette party. Then slapping his ass repeatedly.
I remember the last time I saw you. You were rocking the pink fedora and Michael Jackson moves on the dance floor at Nicole and Brian's wedding. You were the life of the party.
I remember the last thing I said to you. "You're Skiptastic!" Though they aren't the greatest last words, I'm glad we shared them.
I am ever so thankful for your friendship. I will never forget your smile, your tattoos, your smartass comments, your love of the TV show LOST, and the Harry Potter movies. If I'm Harry Potter's Ginny Weasley, then you're his Ron. We are all lucky to have known you. I feel especially lucky to have been your friend.
So long, Skippy. See you on the other side.
~Courtney Slater
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Easy to love, hard to let go
I wasn't sure I wanted to post here or anywhere about Jason. When he went into the hospital I, like most assumed he would go in, have a tough time and come out feeling better. We were hopeful that this time he would finally be able to move on with the rest of his life. The call that Sunday morning hit Teri and I like a bolt of lightning.
I first met Jason when he was a kid. We can't say for sure what year it was, but probably around 1993. His parents became good friends of ours, and often came out to see my band. Ralph (Jason's dad) even worked with the band for our bigger shows, acting as security or helping haul gear, etc. So Jason and Angie were around us a lot. Jason and I connected immediately over our love of video games... I think he liked that he knew an "adult" who was into games and comics and sci fi.
As time passed it became a regular thing to see Ralph, Marla, Jason and Angie backstage before shows, and then out in the crowd smiling at us through each song. I can't tell you how many times I would crack a stupid joke between songs, and look right at Jason to see him either laughing hysterically or grinning and shaking his head at me. As many have said, he told it like it was, even if it was just a facial expression.
Over the years we were privileged to watch Jason and Angie grow. The love in that family was admirable and never in question, even through the challenges they faced. Teri and I marveled as Jason and Angie became centered and intelligent teenagers and eventually people who were not just our friends' kids, but good friends in their own right.
When he was in college, my wife Teri hired Jason as an intern, giving him an opportunity to work in the field that he eventually made his career. When he needed advice about work or life, he often called us both for our insight.
When he moved back to Des Moines I remember encouraging him to join the "twitterverse." I was very active online at that time and thought it might be a good way for him to make friends... obviously you all know that worked out pretty well!
The night before he moved back to Denver Teri and I had dinner with Jason. We talked for a long time about the path his life had taken, and the opportunities that were in front of him. He was as happy as I had ever seen him. Although I was very sad to see him leave, I knew he was following his heart... as he always did. As he walked out the door, he said "Love you guys, now I gotta go pack!" We laughed, shook our heads at him and said "We love you too, Jay."
This weekend I will help carry Jason's casket to his gravesite. It's impossible to comprehend. But the things that I have seen online, on this blog, twitter and facebook and in emails from many, confirm everything I ever thought about Jason...
He was easy to love, and is hard to let go.
Yesterday I fired up my XBox and saw his avatar on screen, it's head down and sleeping.
I cried, and I played.
- Andy TeBockhorst (flysupes)
I first met Jason when he was a kid. We can't say for sure what year it was, but probably around 1993. His parents became good friends of ours, and often came out to see my band. Ralph (Jason's dad) even worked with the band for our bigger shows, acting as security or helping haul gear, etc. So Jason and Angie were around us a lot. Jason and I connected immediately over our love of video games... I think he liked that he knew an "adult" who was into games and comics and sci fi.
As time passed it became a regular thing to see Ralph, Marla, Jason and Angie backstage before shows, and then out in the crowd smiling at us through each song. I can't tell you how many times I would crack a stupid joke between songs, and look right at Jason to see him either laughing hysterically or grinning and shaking his head at me. As many have said, he told it like it was, even if it was just a facial expression.
Over the years we were privileged to watch Jason and Angie grow. The love in that family was admirable and never in question, even through the challenges they faced. Teri and I marveled as Jason and Angie became centered and intelligent teenagers and eventually people who were not just our friends' kids, but good friends in their own right.
When he was in college, my wife Teri hired Jason as an intern, giving him an opportunity to work in the field that he eventually made his career. When he needed advice about work or life, he often called us both for our insight.
When he moved back to Des Moines I remember encouraging him to join the "twitterverse." I was very active online at that time and thought it might be a good way for him to make friends... obviously you all know that worked out pretty well!
The night before he moved back to Denver Teri and I had dinner with Jason. We talked for a long time about the path his life had taken, and the opportunities that were in front of him. He was as happy as I had ever seen him. Although I was very sad to see him leave, I knew he was following his heart... as he always did. As he walked out the door, he said "Love you guys, now I gotta go pack!" We laughed, shook our heads at him and said "We love you too, Jay."
This weekend I will help carry Jason's casket to his gravesite. It's impossible to comprehend. But the things that I have seen online, on this blog, twitter and facebook and in emails from many, confirm everything I ever thought about Jason...
He was easy to love, and is hard to let go.
Yesterday I fired up my XBox and saw his avatar on screen, it's head down and sleeping.
I cried, and I played.
- Andy TeBockhorst (flysupes)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
How the hell do you pronounce 'pho' and nice pants...
I don't have a lifetime or even years of memories filled with the joy that was (and will always be) Jason, but there are two that will be with me forever. The Tuesday before his surgery, Jason wasn't himself. He wasn't skipping though life and bouncing across the web, so I picked up the phone and said, "What gives, kiddo?" A bad pain day, I said I was taking him out to dinner and that he could tell me no but he wasn't going to get away with it. He said he wanted pho. I'd never had it and thought what the hell?! With a smile, new sweater and kiss for me at the door of Pho 95 here in Denver, I'm sitting like a deer in the headlights, staring at a pho menu and just ordered what he was having. This enormous plate of shrubs/veggies/sprouts lands on the table and I ask him what it's for, and Jason's like, "They go in the soup." Okay, cool. So when our pho arrives, I take some of the basil and...put it in my soup. Jason's sitting there, face half down in his soup, looking up at me with a smirk. Sipping pho. And I'm like, "WHAT!?" And Jason, plain as day, says, "You know, some people take the leaves OFF the stems." Embarrassed as hell and as red as my hair, I picked the soggy Thai basil tree OUT of my soup and pick the wet leaves off one by one. With Jason snickering the whole time. Punk.
The other memory is visiting him the night before his surgery in the hospital. I walked into his room and there's Jason, decked out in Hospital's Finest - drawstring pants and a pimpin' green shirt. I drop my purse and climb into bed with him. He took my hand, kissed me, rang his fingers through my hair and said, "I'm glad you're here." And I said, "Me, too." And for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like I had to say another word. (He was also very proud of his "awesome seersucker pants." And I have to admit - they WERE awesome and matched his Green Lantern ring nicely...)
Jason is joy and always will me - I think there's a reason his name starts with a J. And I'm so very grateful to everyone who allows me the gift of knowing him a little bit more by sharing each of their memories.
~Erika Napoletano (the "other" Erika...)
~Erika Napoletano (the "other" Erika...)
The Last Gentleman
I met Skippy at my first ad agency job out of college. Although we had lost touch over the past few years, he was always a great friend. And if we'd run into each other again I know he would have given me a huge hug, told me it was great to see me and asked how my brother was doing. That's just the kind of guy he was and I wish I'd had the chance to have that conversation with him again.
When I heard the news on Monday, I was in complete shock. It just didn't seem possible. I talked to my mom on the phone that night and told her what happened. My mom never had the pleasure of meeting Skippy, but I knew she'd remember me talking about him during the years when I was living in Des Moines and hanging out with him on a regular basis. The first thing out of her mouth when she heard the news was, "Was he the one who helped you put your bookshelf together?" I'd completely forgotten about this, but leave it to my mom to remember every nice thing that anyone had ever done for her daughter. During our time working together, the office manager at our agency ordered me a new bookshelf because my office didn't have one. When it arrived, I received an email that it was waiting for me in the reception area. When I got there I realized that not only did the box weigh 400 lbs, but it obviously wasn't assembled. In an agency full of men, the only gentleman in a one mile radius was Skippy. Not only did he cheerfully start helping me lug it into my office, (without me asking or even having the time to wonder who I should ask) but he spent the afternoon helping me put it together.
This isn't the most exciting or funny memory I have of Skippy, but when my mom reminded me of it, I thought it pretty well summed up the kind of person, and friend, he always was. He would give you the shirt off his back, and the matching hipster glasses, without a second thought and never ask for anything in return.
When I left that first job and started working at Strategic America, I was stunned to learn that all of my new friends there not only knew Skippy but considered him to be a great friend of theirs too. That's how it was with Jason - to know him was to love him.
Lindsey
When I heard the news on Monday, I was in complete shock. It just didn't seem possible. I talked to my mom on the phone that night and told her what happened. My mom never had the pleasure of meeting Skippy, but I knew she'd remember me talking about him during the years when I was living in Des Moines and hanging out with him on a regular basis. The first thing out of her mouth when she heard the news was, "Was he the one who helped you put your bookshelf together?" I'd completely forgotten about this, but leave it to my mom to remember every nice thing that anyone had ever done for her daughter. During our time working together, the office manager at our agency ordered me a new bookshelf because my office didn't have one. When it arrived, I received an email that it was waiting for me in the reception area. When I got there I realized that not only did the box weigh 400 lbs, but it obviously wasn't assembled. In an agency full of men, the only gentleman in a one mile radius was Skippy. Not only did he cheerfully start helping me lug it into my office, (without me asking or even having the time to wonder who I should ask) but he spent the afternoon helping me put it together.
This isn't the most exciting or funny memory I have of Skippy, but when my mom reminded me of it, I thought it pretty well summed up the kind of person, and friend, he always was. He would give you the shirt off his back, and the matching hipster glasses, without a second thought and never ask for anything in return.
When I left that first job and started working at Strategic America, I was stunned to learn that all of my new friends there not only knew Skippy but considered him to be a great friend of theirs too. That's how it was with Jason - to know him was to love him.
Lindsey
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Single and Ready to Mingle
The last thing I said to Skippy was a comment on his Facebook/Twitter photo of his hospital bands. His comment was that he did hospital crawls, not bar crawls. He was so avant garde. :)
The comment I left said I gave him my full permission to hit on all the cute nurses. And to give all the doctors my phone numbers. I was single and ready to mingle. :) Part of me would like to speak with those doctors and nurses to make sure they know how much of an incredible person and friend Skippy was and what saying goodbye to him is like. Another part of me says that they probably already now because Skippy had a way of making an entrance.
That comment pretty much sums our friendship. We've always joked that there was no line to cross. But if there was a line to cross the majority of our comments probably would have crossed it. With Skippy there was no filter (for those of you who really know me, you know this is true). We were open and honest with each other. It was Skippy. He wasn't going to love you less because you were honest.
Skippy--you already know this, but I'm still single and ready to mingle buddy.
-Kate Westercamp
The comment I left said I gave him my full permission to hit on all the cute nurses. And to give all the doctors my phone numbers. I was single and ready to mingle. :) Part of me would like to speak with those doctors and nurses to make sure they know how much of an incredible person and friend Skippy was and what saying goodbye to him is like. Another part of me says that they probably already now because Skippy had a way of making an entrance.
That comment pretty much sums our friendship. We've always joked that there was no line to cross. But if there was a line to cross the majority of our comments probably would have crossed it. With Skippy there was no filter (for those of you who really know me, you know this is true). We were open and honest with each other. It was Skippy. He wasn't going to love you less because you were honest.
Skippy--you already know this, but I'm still single and ready to mingle buddy.
-Kate Westercamp
No one had a bigger heart
I have a thousand memories of Skippy; it's difficult to pick only one to write about. So I won't. I'll share a few snapshots of my favorite Skippy moments, and what I loved about him most:
--Angela "Cherrybomb" Cherry
- The pair of hipster glasses - with no prescription - that he wore as an accessory to a favorite jacket
- How he'd always squeal "Cherrybomb!" and give me a giant bear hug whenever we saw each other
- The famous 'Happy Pimpin Friday!' texts that never failed to arrive
- The way he accepted everyone just as they were. Always.
- He rarely turned down an invitation to hang out, and was usually the first to arrive and the last to leave.
- Watching Anchorman together at my apartment shortly after we met, giggling and snorting with laughter through the entire movie
- His fierce loyalty to his friends
- The way he immediately befriended my future husband, welcoming him into our Des Moines group with open arms
- Meeting up with him for lunch while I was in Denver for business back in the summer of 2007, shortly after I'd moved to Seattle. He was the first face from home that I'd seen since I left Iowa.
- How much he loved his Red Bull vodkas :-)
- Dancing with him (and his fedora) at Nicole and Brian's wedding last summer
- Admiring how he always followed his heart. I was SO incredibly happy for him for moving back to Dever a second time.
- His ability to bring large groups of strangers together who, many times, became friends with each other
- His love of dogs
- His gigantic heart, which he wore on his sleeve
--Angela "Cherrybomb" Cherry
At our home
Recently, Jason came to our house for some Indian food. After eating, we decided to play some games on the Wii. Jason put on some samurai fighting game and he and Amit were struggling to get to the higher levels. They stood like samurai warriors and tried their best to get far, but couldn't.
Then, I took over and started doing fencing moves instead of the moves that they tried. Within minutes, I beat both of them. Jason first looked at me in utter shock. Then, he started laughing at my moves. Before I knew it, he was quietly filming me with his camera phone. He and Amit were having a quiet laugh at my expense.
When I found out what Jason did, I threatened to never talk to him again unless he deleted the video. This amused him to no end. Finally, he did delete the video and we were all at peace. :)
He was always so welcoming and so kind to me. He gave the best hugs and always made me feel special. The best part about hanging out with him is that no matter how big a group we were in, he would always make time to come and talk to every person, hug them and tell them "I love you".
Godspeed Jason. You will never be forgotten.
Priyanka
Then, I took over and started doing fencing moves instead of the moves that they tried. Within minutes, I beat both of them. Jason first looked at me in utter shock. Then, he started laughing at my moves. Before I knew it, he was quietly filming me with his camera phone. He and Amit were having a quiet laugh at my expense.
When I found out what Jason did, I threatened to never talk to him again unless he deleted the video. This amused him to no end. Finally, he did delete the video and we were all at peace. :)
He was always so welcoming and so kind to me. He gave the best hugs and always made me feel special. The best part about hanging out with him is that no matter how big a group we were in, he would always make time to come and talk to every person, hug them and tell them "I love you".
Godspeed Jason. You will never be forgotten.
Priyanka
Westerclamp
Our little group of friends first met Jason Schippers Dec. 30, 2004. It was a going away party for our friend Katy who was moving to St. Louis with her family. Most people in attendance were from Strategic America--a local marketing company. Our friend Chad Baker had invited this guy, Jason, to join us at the Hessen Haus. The rest is history. From that night on, we called him Skippy. In fact, it sounds incredibly weird to hear him referred to as Jason. :) I don't remember much from that night, except for a couple friends spilling red wine on me and Cherry and Skippy realizing they lived in the same apartment complex. Des Moines: welcome to the biggest small town you'll ever meet. I think Skippy tried hitting on Angela, but she politely turned him down. But I think they went shopping the next day--is that right Cherry?
Except for that night, the first time I remember spending time with Skippy was when he came over to my apartment in West Des Moines to pick Katy and I up to go to J.Crew. He needed a new argyle sweater. This is the moment I realized that those "diamonds" people wear on clothing was called something besides "diamonds." Thanks for being a metrosexual Skippy. You taught me a lot. After Jordan Creek, we headed to Nobbies to shop for costumes for an upcoming Mardi Gras party. It was the first time the three of us would be attending and we had heard it was a lot of fun. We were completely decked out--dresses, wigs and of course lots of beds for the girls. Skippy picked up a cane--or what we called his pimp stick--and rocked a suit that night. When we showed up at the party we realized that nobody else was dressed up. But we did find a sign that night in an art studio that said "nude model." HAHA. Many good photos there!
This was the night I "earned" a new nickname. I don't remember all the specifics, but I do remember toward the end of the night sitting on a couch and thinking it'd be a good idea (or perhaps someone dared me) to touch Skippy. Well, I won't go into details of where, but he called me Westerclamp ever since.
As we all know, Skippy was the type of person who made you a better person. That is exactly what he did to me. He taught me a lot--what argyle was and finally what my college Yoga/Pilates teacher said at the end of class: "Namaste."
I can't wait to see Skippy again one day. I know exactly what he will do. He will give me a huge hug and say "Wazzz up Westerclamp. What took you so long?"
Kate
Except for that night, the first time I remember spending time with Skippy was when he came over to my apartment in West Des Moines to pick Katy and I up to go to J.Crew. He needed a new argyle sweater. This is the moment I realized that those "diamonds" people wear on clothing was called something besides "diamonds." Thanks for being a metrosexual Skippy. You taught me a lot. After Jordan Creek, we headed to Nobbies to shop for costumes for an upcoming Mardi Gras party. It was the first time the three of us would be attending and we had heard it was a lot of fun. We were completely decked out--dresses, wigs and of course lots of beds for the girls. Skippy picked up a cane--or what we called his pimp stick--and rocked a suit that night. When we showed up at the party we realized that nobody else was dressed up. But we did find a sign that night in an art studio that said "nude model." HAHA. Many good photos there!
This was the night I "earned" a new nickname. I don't remember all the specifics, but I do remember toward the end of the night sitting on a couch and thinking it'd be a good idea (or perhaps someone dared me) to touch Skippy. Well, I won't go into details of where, but he called me Westerclamp ever since.
As we all know, Skippy was the type of person who made you a better person. That is exactly what he did to me. He taught me a lot--what argyle was and finally what my college Yoga/Pilates teacher said at the end of class: "Namaste."
I can't wait to see Skippy again one day. I know exactly what he will do. He will give me a huge hug and say "Wazzz up Westerclamp. What took you so long?"
Kate
Always There
Back in September Jason and I started watching LOST. I had never seen it before and he wanted us to watch it together - from the start. He had every season on DVD. He would just smile as I asked him questions like "what is that sound?" "are they really brother and sister?" It would drive me crazy because he would never answer me. He would just smile. He didn't want to ruin the surprise. There is a character in the show named Jack. I would tell Jason "you're Jack, you're totally Jack." Jack was the one who was always taking care of everyone else - even to the point of denying his own needs. Jack was the one that said "count to five..." which Jason had tattooed on his arm.
Jason was there for me so many times in so many ways. I'll just share the most recent example with you. The day before Jason was to have his biopsy at National Jewish I wasn't feeling too well. I texted him that I was going home from work sick. Jason's response? He called, and then texted. "You ok? Can I get you anything?" That was Jason. It didn't matter that he had much bigger things to worry about than my little cold, he still wanted to help.
I love him and I miss him and I know that he is up in heaven watching over all of us - like Jack, but about infinity times better.
Meredith
Jason was there for me so many times in so many ways. I'll just share the most recent example with you. The day before Jason was to have his biopsy at National Jewish I wasn't feeling too well. I texted him that I was going home from work sick. Jason's response? He called, and then texted. "You ok? Can I get you anything?" That was Jason. It didn't matter that he had much bigger things to worry about than my little cold, he still wanted to help.
I love him and I miss him and I know that he is up in heaven watching over all of us - like Jack, but about infinity times better.
Meredith
The UFC
I remember this one time a few of us met Skippy and his family for dinner at Carlos O'Kelly's. We were in the midst of a normal conversation when he brought up the UFC. He was a huge fan. Of course, just talking about the UFC wasn't enough, so he and one of his close friends Ryan Wahl decided to show us some moves. The two of them started to wrestle one another in the middle of the restaurant. We would have said something but we were too busy covering our faces with embarrassment and laughing at the same time.
Then, the waitress came to restore sanity to the situation. To our bad luck, she loved tattoos. Upon seeing Skippy's tattoos, they started to talk in depth about them and before we knew it, Skippy and Ryan were back to wrestling on the floor, with the waitress cheering them on. Only Skippy could pull of something like this. The best part was that he wasn't at all embarrassed about this. He lived life in little experiences and enjoyed every moment.
Seeing how annoyed I was, Skippy came over, hugged me and said "I love you bubba". Typical Skippy.
What I admired about him was that in the last couple of years, he faced a lot of adversity, both personal and professional, yet, he was always positive and always smiled.
Amit
Then, the waitress came to restore sanity to the situation. To our bad luck, she loved tattoos. Upon seeing Skippy's tattoos, they started to talk in depth about them and before we knew it, Skippy and Ryan were back to wrestling on the floor, with the waitress cheering them on. Only Skippy could pull of something like this. The best part was that he wasn't at all embarrassed about this. He lived life in little experiences and enjoyed every moment.
Seeing how annoyed I was, Skippy came over, hugged me and said "I love you bubba". Typical Skippy.
What I admired about him was that in the last couple of years, he faced a lot of adversity, both personal and professional, yet, he was always positive and always smiled.
Amit
Happy Pimpin Friday
If you knew Jason Schippers -- affectionately known as "Skippy" to many of his friends -- you may have been on the receiving end of his unfailing Friday texts, "Happy Pimpin Friday!" Why a "Pimpin" Friday, and not just "Happy Friday?" I never knew, and just attributed it to another of his funny quirks. If there is a story behind the origin of those messages, this would be a great place to share it.
Despite the longevity of this ritual, it seemed that Skippy never quite worked the kinks out. Sometimes, you'd get the message on Thursday. Or, you'd get it no less than 50 times on Friday. Or, you'd get it a 5 a.m. in the morning. And despite our sometimes exasperation, there isn't a friend among us who wouldn't give anything for another cheerful greeting from Skippy.
He could be unusual in the best possible ways. He was someone who led with his heart. Who was an open book. And who had no qualms about saying "I love you." He was a self-professed comic nerd who could also be a trusted source of style advice, much to the delight of his gal-pals. He'd be the first to share in your happiness, or to make a joke when times weren't so good. He was kind, exuberant, and just so darn happy, almost all the darn time. He knew how to love, and he shared that gift freely.
I'll borrow a phrase from my grandfather's gravestone. "To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die."
With so many hearts full of the memories of the life and love of Skippy, we will continue to share with him our lives.
-- Nicole (Slaterface) Selinger
Despite the longevity of this ritual, it seemed that Skippy never quite worked the kinks out. Sometimes, you'd get the message on Thursday. Or, you'd get it no less than 50 times on Friday. Or, you'd get it a 5 a.m. in the morning. And despite our sometimes exasperation, there isn't a friend among us who wouldn't give anything for another cheerful greeting from Skippy.
He could be unusual in the best possible ways. He was someone who led with his heart. Who was an open book. And who had no qualms about saying "I love you." He was a self-professed comic nerd who could also be a trusted source of style advice, much to the delight of his gal-pals. He'd be the first to share in your happiness, or to make a joke when times weren't so good. He was kind, exuberant, and just so darn happy, almost all the darn time. He knew how to love, and he shared that gift freely.
I'll borrow a phrase from my grandfather's gravestone. "To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die."
With so many hearts full of the memories of the life and love of Skippy, we will continue to share with him our lives.
-- Nicole (Slaterface) Selinger
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