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"The little mayor of Evesham"
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"..No man is in island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…" John Donne
Over the past several weeks, I have found myself pondering over this expression which I spent so much time in high school despairingly learning. Now, 20 years later I feel the depth of understanding and compassion that lies within these words. For, on October 17, 2002 my precious 11-year-old son, Gregory Katsnelson, was abruptly taken from our world.
As the days passed and we began receiving visitors, cards, letters and prayers from everyone, I began to realize that we were not alone in our pain and anguish. As we read the poems and cards and prayers we received, slowly, our strength was (and still is) returning and our hope renewed. Each day as more and more people reached out to us with notes beginning with "I don't know you and you don't know me; but…" and "I am sorry that I was not honored to actually know your son, but…" you felt our pain and suffering and we were not alone. We depended on and clung to the support of our family, friends, neighbors and community, and no one let us down; you were all there for us. "..No man is an island…", and we are grateful to be part of this community which has taken us to your hearts and souls - we thank you for sustaining us in our time of sorrow and need.
Thinking of Gregory, also brings a deeper sense of this quotes meaning. As he is the epitome of these words, "..No man is an island..". For who would have ever imagined that an eleven-year-old boy riding his bike, rollerblading, playing, laughing and growing up as boys do could have had such an impact on the world around him. Immediately, everyone felt his loss and responded with kindness, care and concern as he had taught them. The memorial at the trail opening where he was last seen in Kings Grant sprang to life with poems, candles, flowers and stuffed animals and all sorts of sentimental objects expressing the way that Greg had touched all of his friends. The countless stories and recollections of his smile and personality and happiness and love of life that inspired everyone who knew him brought a profound sense pride in me and my family and began to paint a portrait of the fine young man he was becoming. And, as I watched the memorial grow daily, it became so clear that even though there were many people who had never met him, he had touched them and had made a difference in their lives. As his mother, I knew he was special, extra ordinary and unique. At his funeral, I was overwhelmed and humbled and filled with awe to see how my little boy had had such a far reaching impact on everyone - young and old alike. As everyone filled the sanctuary to capacity and spilled out into the parking lot and surrounding streets just to show your support and honor the memory of my son, I realized that he would never really be gone, for "So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them". Each time a memory or story of Greg is shared and it brings a smile or moment of happiness to you, it is confirmed that he is still here in your minds and in your hearts. And each time you are moved do an act of kindness or compassion because of something you remember Greg saying or doing, you are strengthening his existence. For Gregory was not "an island"; he touched you all and we are all changed in some way by him. All I can ask is that we all remember Gregory; don't let him disappear from our lives.
We graciously thank all of you for your support and being our friends, family, neighbors and source of strength.
Sincerely,
The Katsnelson family
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