Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2012 17:46:31 GMT -5
I hate to be the one to post this, but Jersey Mike has passed away. I heard about it from J Roddy Walston, who said: "Rest in Peace to Jersey Mike Van Jura, a beautiful dude who made a lot of people's lives immeasurably better through his passion for music and his kindness towards all. Our thoughts go out to his family, the city of Harrisburg, and everyone who ever had the chance to know him. He was a Great one and we'll miss him terribly." There's more info here: www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/11/jersey_mike_popular_music_prom.htmlI only knew him from this forum, and I knew him as a great guy and I loved his writing. This is hitting me hard. Rest in peace, Mike.
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Post by wealdstone on Nov 18, 2012 18:17:17 GMT -5
I had the pleasure of meeting Mike a couple of years back and had been hoping to see him again next month in Bethlehem, we'll be raising a toast that night, RIP brother
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Post by hoodrat on Nov 18, 2012 18:26:10 GMT -5
I heard the bad news from Rich a little while ago . . . and I'm at a total loss for words that make meaning of this loss. Will post some memories of the man a little later when I can collect my thoughts
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Admin
Midnight Hauler
Posts: 2,434
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Post by Admin on Nov 18, 2012 18:45:52 GMT -5
I am at a total loss right now.
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Post by jwd on Nov 18, 2012 19:06:10 GMT -5
Horrible.
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Post by campfirewood1980 on Nov 18, 2012 19:17:16 GMT -5
I never met Jersey Mike in person, but I sure felt the guy's influence and am tremendously saddened at this news.
If anyone hears word of any sort of memorial or anything being done for Mike's family, please be sure to pass info along.
Remembering Mike, his kids, and his loved ones in prayer tonight.
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Post by delboydrums on Nov 18, 2012 19:19:03 GMT -5
So sad.
RIP
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dabook
True Scene Leader
Posts: 520
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Post by dabook on Nov 18, 2012 19:21:58 GMT -5
This is one of those things you hope isn't true until you realize it is.
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Post by doctoracula on Nov 18, 2012 19:38:13 GMT -5
holy shit. i saw part of the subject line from the main page and figured it had to be about his family or pet or something. didn't imagine it could be him. so sad.
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meoskop
True Scene Leader
Posts: 709
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Post by meoskop on Nov 18, 2012 19:42:02 GMT -5
What dabook said. plus 100.
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Post by bloodystereos on Nov 18, 2012 19:46:00 GMT -5
I found out early today. Didn't feel like I should post it here right away. So sad. Mike was responsible for a lot of great music coming to Harrisburg, and when I first met him I let him know how important I felt that was. He was so happy at the Otto Bar show, smiling ear to ear.
I will post info here on services and such, if I hear anything.
God Bless
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Post by Rich Tarbell on Nov 18, 2012 19:46:08 GMT -5
I am still trying to wrap my head around this. I met JerseyMike (with ekennedy) in 2008 when this board was in its infancy (he is the creator or co-creator or instigator of these boards back in 2006 or so as I recall). We did back-to-back shows in Norfolk VA & D.C. and became fast friends ... all of us ... and remained such since. He was one of the most charismatic people I have ever known and like any good friend, we may not see each other for months, but could pick up conversations like we saw each other yesterday. We would call each other for advice, invite each other to big shows in our respective cities. I can not count how many Hold Steady shows we saw together.
The last time I saw him was in mid-June on the last day of his father-daughter Rock'n'Roll Road Trip with you Kaiya (I think she was 7 at the time). We got a bagel lunch at Bodo's here in Charlottesville, a place we had frequented before and he claimed had the best bagels outside of the greater NYC area. They left with a mix of a dozen bagels and even more smiles. They shared all the highlights of the trip and he was so proud of it ... I have never seen him happier.
My thoughts are with her and his infant son Lennon who sadly will be too young to truly remember his father. I will follow the funeral arrangements, etc to see what the family requests, but I would like to suggest some kind of unified donation in his honor on behalf of the Unified Scene, perhaps for a scholarship fund to Kaiya & Lennon.
Sorry I could not be more eloquent, but that is all I can put together right now.
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meoskop
True Scene Leader
Posts: 709
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Post by meoskop on Nov 18, 2012 19:52:31 GMT -5
Rich, I was just about to say the same thing to Amy. We need to send that out wider than the board, completely agree.
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Post by campfirewood1980 on Nov 18, 2012 20:03:02 GMT -5
I think that's an excellent idea, Rich.
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Post by Phils_fan on Nov 18, 2012 20:05:08 GMT -5
Like many of us, I don't know what to say. Mike did so much for the Unified Scene and for the Harrisburg music scene (and Harrisburg itself). He wasn't just a fan or a music promoter- he was a good person who will be missed by the many, many people who knew him.
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Admin
Midnight Hauler
Posts: 2,434
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Post by Admin on Nov 18, 2012 20:08:38 GMT -5
I wish I knew what to say, or some way how to say it better. But I can't.
Mike was the father of these forums. Literally. He created them. So, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him right now.
Mike, Campfirewood and I worked together on the band's website when the web team effectively abandoned TheHoldSteady.com in late 2008 and early 2009. He was a great collaborator and was a pleasure to work with. Shortly after the site went up, I got the chance to meet him in Towson, Maryland on March 29, 2009 and shows subsequent to that, including the amazing blowout he orchestrated in Harrisburg in 2010. I'll never forget that as long as I live. I remember how excited he was to have us all in town, and even had flyers made that said 'Steadheads' to give to us when we all got to the hotel.
I did not know him as well as some of you did, but I will remember him firstly as a dedicated father, a music fan, a talented writer and great free-thinker. My thoughts are with him and his family.
Raise a toast to Jersey Mike tonight, folks.
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Post by bloodystereos on Nov 18, 2012 20:10:18 GMT -5
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toastie
Sniffling Indie Kid
Posts: 159
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Post by toastie on Nov 18, 2012 20:20:14 GMT -5
Goodbye Mike. Thank you for giving me hope when I was putting on gigs. You'll be missed by everyone.
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bex
True Scene Leader
It's a Big City; there's a lot of love
Posts: 673
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Post by bex on Nov 18, 2012 20:20:49 GMT -5
I'm so sad to hear this terrible news. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Mike, I enjoyed his writing and his great witt. My thoughts go out to his family and all of you here that are shocked and saddened about losing your friend.
I would be very happy to contribute to something for his family from The Unified Scene.
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Post by tourbus on Nov 18, 2012 20:41:15 GMT -5
Mike was truly Hold Steady Family. I'll let the band speak for themselves, but as a Steadhead first and foremost I gotta say:
Mike was an inspiration as a music fan, father, engaged citizen, and one of the incredibly rare Honest Nice Guys in the music business. The Unified Scene, City of Harrisburg, and most tragically the Van Jura family are unbelievably worse off today.
I'm raising a glass and firing a confetti cannon up to you, buddy.
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Post by frannyglass on Nov 18, 2012 20:49:06 GMT -5
he seemed to never take things for granted. wasted no moments. specifically when it came to his kids. i loved reading up on his adventures with his daughter, and the pride and love he so clearly felt at the birth of his son. kaiya will grow up with incredible memories of father-daughter road trips and sadness that they are gone now. lennon will be reminded of how much his father looked forward to and loved him. a dad has been stolen today.
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Post by heidivandernice, nice on Nov 18, 2012 20:53:44 GMT -5
i last saw mike when he came up for the levon helm tribute at brooklyn bowl. he bought me dinner and drank too much and made me cackle with laughter - it was just classic mike. one of my favorite humans on this planet.
i also got to see him with kaiya on their road trip - made a stop in poughkeepsie, up near my parents. we watched some cartoons with kaiya and then smoked cigarettes and shot the shit on the front step of the hotel. what keeps sending me back into rounds of sobs is picturing him with kaiya. he was such a great dad.
and of course, the countless beers and shows we shared since 2008. i remember mike from the pink board. he made things happen.
this is not fair and i am angry. it doesn't seem real and i feel like i'm dreaming. there is something so morbid and cold and out-of-body about all of this. like it's happening to someone else.
i love all of you folks. i am going to cherish the shit out of our time left together.
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Post by selbyandgriggs on Nov 18, 2012 21:05:44 GMT -5
So so tragic.
Lennon was born about a week before my girl Mavis.
Love to you all.
AC
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Post by selbyandgriggs on Nov 18, 2012 21:07:41 GMT -5
Wait, what I came here to say is please contact me if anyone hears of where we can send money for his family. I don't hang around here anymore so hit me on Facebook.
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Post by katieee on Nov 18, 2012 21:12:28 GMT -5
So incredibly sad to hear this news. I remember being so intimidated by Jersey Mike before I met him. He was such a huge presence in the scene and just seemed so fucking cool to me. I think I went to 3 or 4 shows before I got the nerve to say hello. I quickly found out that he was in fact one of the nicest, most genuine, and fucking coolest people I would ever meet. I'll be pouring one out for him in december and every show after that. RIP <3
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