2025

 2025

A slap from Skippy

This past Thursday I was filling for a colleague and assisted with a media interview with a local T.V. station. The story about how the dad fell out of a tree and his three year-old daughter ran to get him--more than likely saving his life.

We were in a waiting room at work while the reporter was interviewing the mother of the patient. I was trying to occupy the little girl's time by asking her questions and playing with her. I was standing up when she came up to me--and spanked me a few times on my rear end! The camera was rolling. I was shocked, embarrassed and thought it was hilarious. I forgot to tell some people the story until later when it hit me--the story of Skippy spanking Angie in the Barnes and Noble--to find out it wasn't her. Skipster--I know you had a hand (literally) in this. Thanks for bringing that laughter and smile into my life. Miss you, Westerclamp.cs

God is missing, and they think we stole him.

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

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)

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...)

Epic '05

Epic 05