In memory of Jascha David Gelman 1972-1999
















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Gina Leo


I have known Jascha since the ninth grade, but I feel like we have been friends my whole life. There are so many things I will miss about him - going over his parents house to raid the refrigerator after a long day at the swim club, going to the track to place our bets for the Kentucky Derby, watching the Cooking Channel after a close game of ping-pong, listening to him recite lines from The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and any movie he had ever seen, playing our annual doubles match with Gabe and Sandy, but mostly I will miss our daily telephone conversations and how he would make me laugh.

I remember one conversation in particular that took place a couple weeks after I got engaged. We were discussing my wedding - where I should have it, what the menu should be, who to invite and even my dress. If anyone had been listening, they would have thought we were getting married. About 45 minutes later (during a very busy work day) we had narrowed it down to a few places and food items, then Jascha proceeded to let me in on a little secret. He said that if he ever got married (which was always a humorous conversation in itself) he was going to have an all-you-can-eat sushi bar before the ceremony and Buddy's Pizza and coney dogs shipped in for late night snacks. Then he made me promise that I wouldn't steal his idea.

My wedding is now 2 weeks away, and I am filled with mixed emotions. I'm excited for my big day, but I know that I will miss Jascha terribly all day. I will miss seeing his smiling face to calm my nerves, I will miss watching him walk my mom down the aisle, I will miss him flirting with my sister at the reception, I will miss having the dance I promised him, but most of all I will miss being able to talk and laugh about it all with him when it's over.

I think about Jascha every day, and I don't know if a day will ever go by when I won't miss him. I do know that I will never forget him and all the memories we shared.

I love you, Jascha.

Gina Leo

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In memory of Jascha David Gelman 1972-1999