It was a week ago today that I received the shocking, sad news that Judy Cadoret, aka jc/jaysea had died. One of these days, I hope to actually put something into writing myself–about how I got to know jc, the ways she touched my life, and what it’s like to mourn someone I have known for four years, yet would not recognize her if I saw her on the street. It hasn’t happened yet, but when the time is right, the post will most likely write itself.
This morning, my friend Denise (another person I met through the Howard Dean campaign’s Blog for America, but who I have had the pleasure of meeting in person) passed along the obituary that just appeared in jc’s hometown paper. In it, I learned a lot that I never knew about Judy, and I wanted to share it with people here who remember jaysea.
In case the obituary link didn’t work (didn’t for me the first time I tried), I’ve posted it here.
Renee,
Thanks for posting this. I admit I was knocked flat by the news of jc’s death. I was even wearing a t-shirt she had designed when I learned of her passing.
It made me so angry. jc’s passion, wit, intelligence — not to mention her prodigious artistic talent are needed in this world.
I never met jc, either. But I am grateful for the aspects of herself that she shared with us on the blog.
I was on my way to the Invention Convention semi-finals–Daughter in Ohio was participating. My mom was driving, and I heard an incoming e-mail on my phone. I already had jc on my mind, because I’d written about the Invention Convention over at Howard-Empowered People, and I remembered jc commenting about what a cool thing that was, and that she wished that sort of thing had been around when she was growing up.
And just a couple days later, I was attending the talk by the GLBT activist at my church
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2007/5/22/214425/723
and couldn’t help but think about jc writing about trying to fight one of those so-called “same-sex marriage” bans that was on the ballot in Louisiana.
Wherever she is, she’s certainly become a part of my life.
I felt angry, too, and I felt that my life had been diminished by her loss, a blogfriend in cyberspace. It’s strange, since I knew a lot less about her than I thought, not even knowing she was ill. She had many talents, and she knew how to develop them and use them for good purposes.
Such sad news.
What a good life she led.
Condolences.