Just doing one of the corporal works of mercy — internet style. He sounded like what I’d imagine a Jasper aspires to be. Teachers are role models. The obit reminds me to value every day. I am truly sorry for your loss.

As far as how I found out:

Every day, in addition to automated Yahoo and Google searches for news about my fellow Jaspers, I check the Legacy site for Obits that mention “manhattan college” or “Jasper”.

When I find them, I write an email to the appropriate folks at the College. I believe they include the deceased’s name at the Brother’s Daily Mass. The alumni group at the College inserts the name in the Memorial Roll.

I also post the obituary in two places where our fellow Jaspers can see in at their earliest convenience. It gives enough specifics such that when time and distance permit, an alumni could attend a wake, Mass, or other service. We’re a small cadre of folks, so that’s an exception, more than a rule. Wish it was the other way around.

I also transcribe it into a weekly distribution called Jasper Jottings that is emailed out on Sunday mornings. It goes to about a thousand Jaspers and is read online by another thousand. I use free services so tracking the numbers is problematic at best. Outside of the College, I have the largest database of MC alums. So, I connect about 6,000 Jaspers very loosely together.

I usually put a small message in the Guest Book to let people know that we Jaspers care.

Finally, when the Legacy Guest Book goes offline, I take a copy of it. Sometimes, family members forget to do that, and I’ve been able to help them out.

So that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Again, my condolences. I wish you good luck and speedy healing as time softens the loss. Never a cure for the hurt; just a gradual daily subtraction.

fjohn68