2019-07-21
Hi Jonathan: Yesterday was our 17th yahrzeit. It's so hard...
Dad
Hi Jonathan: Yesterday was our 17th yahrzeit. It's so hard to believe that it has been so long a time. But time passes quickly, and your nephew Herschel is 4-1/2 years old now. A couple of weeks ago Josh brought Herschel to Paramus for his first visit. Herschel is really handsome and really cute, and looks a lot like you did at that age. I know you would have loved him as much as I do, and I would have loved seeing you with him. I think of you often, and wish I had been able to see your children. Love, Dad
2018-07-19
I just saw your movie. I wanted to let you...
Ben
I just saw your movie. I wanted to let you know that it made me feel happy to get to know you, even a little bit. A small glimpse into the life of two brothers that resonated with me across time and space. Glad to meet you, sorry you're gone, rock on! Johnny Physical LIVES!
2018-06-27
Hi Jonathan; I don't always write to you on June...
Dad
Hi Jonathan; I don't always write to you on June 26 because your Yahrzeit is the anniversary to which I relate. But today Mom and I were speaking about you and I felt like sending a message. The big event of the year is that you have a new niece, Rosey, who is more than 4 months old. She is really sweet and beautiful, and I know you would love her. She has big blue eyes and not long ago was able to turn over by herself. We recently got a video of Rosey and Herschel singing a song together. I loved it, and would have loved it even more if you were accompanying them with your guitar. I miss you. Love, Dad
2017-07-10
Hi Jonathan: Tonight started your 15th Yahrzeit. Time goes so...
Dad
Hi Jonathan: Tonight started your 15th Yahrzeit. Time goes so quickly. You should be 37 now. It is said that on the day of their yahrzeit, the person who died should be thought about by close family. It's not very hard for me to do this because I think about you every day. One of the events that made this year very special was the New York opening of Josh's movie "Johnny Physical Lives." Mom and I went, of course. The movie was great. Watching it was a very emotional experience for me, and so of course was meeting all of your old friends who came to see it. I just watched it again tonight on my computer. It allowed me to remember you in a very special way today. This year Yoram Cohen, Professor of Assyriology at Tel Aviv University, published a paper, "A Land Grant Document From Emar," and dedicated it ..."in memory of Jonathan (aka Johnny Physical) Neuman z"l (Feb14, 1980 - June 26, 2002), beloved son of Lewis and Janet Neuman." I miss you still. Love Dad
2016-07-23
Hi Jonathan: Today is your 14th yahzeit. This afternoon Josh...
Dad
Hi Jonathan: Today is your 14th yahzeit. This afternoon Josh emailed me and told me that your movie will be in an L.A. film festival, and will be showing at Grauman's Chinese theater. He asked me to find a photo of you in front of the theater during one of our trips to L.A. And so this evening Mom and I have been looking through all of our photo albums, starting with the day we brought you home from the hospital, a few days after you were born. It has been a very emotional experience, but very suitable for today. Of course we've looked through the photos before, yet I found many that I didn't remember. Every photo brought back memories of how much I (and mom and Josh) loved being with you and how much we always loved you. And we love you still. As always, Dad
2016-02-20
Happy Birthday Jonathan: It's a little past midnight, and maybe...
Dad
Happy Birthday Jonathan: It's a little past midnight, and maybe a little late to be wishing you a happy birthday, but you were never one to go to bed early. I got a later start than I had expected because Mom and I were looking over the new "Johnny Physical Lives" web site. It's a great web site and it was a very emotional experience for both of us. And by the way, I learned some new stuff about you. And I found that I was feeling proud to be your father, just as proud as I always was when you were still physically here with us. You might be interested to hear that another scholarly paper was dedicated to you. David Owen, Professor Emeritus of Assyriology at Cornell University wrote "Three Old Babylonian Accounts," The dedication states that "Jon-78 is in a private collection and is published with the kind permission of the owners in memory of their son Jonathan z"l." I love you and think about you all the time. Dad
2015-11-17
Jonathan, Haven't posted anything in a long time. Felt a...
--Josh
Jonathan, Haven't posted anything in a long time. Felt a little embarrassed about how many times I came back here telling you about our film-to-be. There's a certain stillness (or maybe "calmness" is a better word), that I feel now that Johnny Physical Lives has started screening for audiences. I feel like I'm finally able to treat the past as the past and the present as the present. It doesn't mean I'm not going to continue to think about you--just that I don't need to prop your memory up against the present in order to feel like you are still with me. I guess that's one of the meanings of the title of the film. In less high-fallutin news, this memorial site was recently given new life by a friend of mine who you never got a chance to meet even though she was in college Boston area around the time you were. I think you guys would've really taken to each other. Oh, and if you notice more traffic coming to this website (since it seems like I imagine you monitoring web analytics in the hereafter), it's because we've dropped a link to it on the website for our film, www.johnnyphyicallives.com. Okay, guess that's all for now.... Love, Josh
2015-07-03
Hi Jonathan: Today was your thirteenth yahrzeit. Strange that it...
Love, Dad
Hi Jonathan: Today was your thirteenth yahrzeit. Strange that it doesn't seem like that long a time and yet the number thirteen, when remembered as your age as a Bar Mitzvah, celebrated a great many years that contained a great many accomplishments and milestones. Many of those accomplishments have stayed with us and are parts of our everyday thoughts, especially today. And perhaps the reason for the thirteen yahrzeit years seeming like such a short time is that there are no more of your milestones to track the time that has passed. We love you and we think of you with us still again.
2015-02-19
Today you are 35 year old Jonathan, and we all...
Love, Dad
Today you are 35 year old Jonathan, and we all love and miss you just as much as ever. This birthday is different from others in two ways, besides it being number 35. First, your birthday coincides with the Chinese New Year. More than a billion besides us are celebrating today. Very appropriate, even though they don't know it's your birthday. Second,and most important, is that you became an uncle just s little more than 3 weeks ago. Your nephew, Herschel Baer, is so cute. You would have loved him and I would have loved watching you with him. You would have been a wonderful uncle, and a wonderful father, too.
2015-02-19
Thinking of you Jonathan on your birthday. You are always...
Thinking of you Jonathan on your birthday. You are always in our hearts. Aunt Mona and Uncle Ron