Kathy Smith sent this E-mail about Owen to a group of his former students and friends. She had planned a reception for Owen with his former students some time before getting to Grand Rapids or knowing that he would receive the Golden Hammer. This was sent to the folks she had contacted for that, but she said it is OK to share this with the rest of you. Make every day count! Bruce Dornfeld, RPT bdornfeld at earthlink.net 847-498-0379 _____ From: dvanderlip at sbcglobal.net [mailto:dvanderlip at sbcglobal.net] Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 1:06 PM To: 'Bruce Dornfeld' Subject: Hello, friends, I'm sorry to bring you sad news. Owen Jorgensen passed away about 9:00 on Friday morning, August 7. I am writing this because many of you might have no way to know this for some time to come. I have been on an extended family trip in Michigan until August 1, but I had intended to e-mail this list and let you all know that Owen did receive the Golden Hammer Award in Grand Rapids at the PTG Awards Banquet on Friday, July 17. He was at a table up front with family and several students, and was not sure he was the winner until nearly the end of Bruce Dornfeld's description. He has been pretty frail lately, but he got up to the stage and gave an eloquent acceptance speech, mentioning the great influence of PTG and the advances over the years. He mentioned to me that he became suspicious two or three days before, because everyone was so determined that he make it to the banquet, but he wasn't sure, and of course no one was telling. Then on Saturday afternoon, from 5:30 until about 8:00 pm, he was present at the student reunion party which has been the subject of all our communications. That, of course, turned into a wonderful celebration of the beautiful Golden Hammer Award, which was sitting on a small stand near his table. The room was a pleasant, wood-paneled little room like a library, with an elegant food table, flowers and candles; and the 30 or 40 people who were standing around in groups most of the time were all taking turns being at Owen's table, sharing stories, updating lives after (sometimes) 30 years, and taking pictures. Owen was in a comfy arm chair, but stood talking to groups several times. He was tired and left for his room about 8:00 pm, but said he'd had a wonderful time. By the time I returned home to California, he'd already written a gracious card thanking us all for the experience and the affection. My personal thanks go to each of you who came to the party, some from great distances, to see Owen and celebrate. His son Les called me today to give me the news. Owen collapsed at 3:00 am a couple of days ago, and was taken to the hospital. He was breathing with a tube for about 24 hours, and passed away with his family near. His sons have not identified any particular charity or group to send donations in lieu of flowers, but I for one will be sending a donation to the PTG Foundation, which accepts donations in honor of a named person. I think Owen would like that. If anyone else wants to do that and doesn't have the information, just let me know. I had no idea that after the Golden Hammer Award, Owen would only have three weeks left. He made a huge change in my life, and I know that's true for many of you. Bruce Dornfeld, in his introduction, said we would honor "a quiet giant amongst us." I think that's a pretty good description, and I am sad that such a person is no longer present among us. He will be missed, but not forgotten. Thanks for your camaraderie. Kathy Smith p.s. I have since learned that he was having a good week, going out shopping alone on Monday, enjoying his (relatively) new home, his new photo album of party pictures, his family, and feeling better. His collapse came as more of a surprise to some who'd talked to him that week. He wrote me at length last fall of his new home and how much he loved it, and I regret that, although I visited his old place in Northern Michigan several times, I hadn't yet made it to the new one. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20090810/956f736e/attachment-0001.htm>
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