I had my first memorial Zoom in the age of CV19, for a friend who died less than a month after Tomaso. My friend, Jerry Pollicoff, had a massive coronary on the way to give a presentation at a progressive political summit in Philadelphia.

Listening to the stories people had, connecting all the people there with one common bond, Jerry, gave insight to the man who had many sides, many personas, as we all do, it turns out.

Tomaso and I always leaned left in our politics and we were excited when Jerry created a community of like-minded political thinkers. We’d meet every week at Jerry‘s house to discuss Single Payer Healthcare, power to the people, racial justice, climate justice, and any other justice we could think of. Often arguments would breakout. Jerry relished spirited debates. In fact, he seem to thrive on them.

Jerry helped spearhead a group called Healthcare 4 All PA. The idea was to enact Single Payer state by state. We were determined to make it happen in Pennsylvania. Every mayor all across PA endorsed it. Jerry was instrumental in putting together an economic impact study, proving the millions of dollars saved by covering every person in the PA Commonwealth. Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko” was popular in our group.

Jerry was a Kennedy Assassination scholar. In fact everything he tackled he researched thoroughly. Underneath his rough exterior, he was a kind hearted person. He loved his friends. He also adored Pearl and the dogs we had before, Mukunda and Ulysses. When Jerry would come to visit, we’d have to visit Ulysses down by the river, because that’s where Ulysses spent all of his days. We’d throw balls and sticks for him. It may have been the only time Jerry wasn’t conversing about politics.

The love we have for our dearly departed will never die. We never “get over it.“ Telling stories like we did last night on the memorial Zoom made me want to hang out for real with my friends.

But it’s the age of COVID-19. We just can’t seem to get used to it. Om