29824: Minsky: Charlie Horwitz Memorial (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tequila Minsky <tminsky@ix.netcom.com>

Charley took a trip with others to Haiti year's ago with Yolene
Esposito discovering the nascent Fonkoze (Fondasyon Kole Zepol).
He returned with others to find a project that this group could support
and  Fonkoze was it.
In Charley's life, he worked on many peace and justice issues, often in
conjunction with the Ethical Culture Society.
His work on the board and in support of Fonkoze was significant.
>
A Sunday memorial service celebrated his life.  The following is from
FONKOZE
board member, Brian.
 
Dear Friends of Charley,
 

Yesterday afternoon literally a whole churchfull of Charley's friends
met in Brooklyn at the Methodist church on the northwest corner of 6th
Avenue and 8th Street, in the Park Slope section of that borough. 
People of multiple faiths and perhaps even a few avowed atheists were
there, celebrating Charley as one.  It was a very moving, very precious
event.
 
Instead of having a moment of silence at the beginning of the event,
there was instead a long, sustained period of loud cheering and
applause.  This was repeating almost three hours later, at the end of
the event.  In between many people came up to speak about how Charley
had been so influencial for them, how super-special he had been.  Part
of the proceedings was narrated by David, Charley's son who only met
him 10 years ago but since then found him to be much more than just a
father...so much more. 
 
Even though the event took place in a church, there was nothing somber
about it.  It was wild, fun and in the genre Charley would've loved. 
It was not a "normal" goodbye/celebration.  I have never ever been to
one remotely like it.  Anne Hastings (FONKOZE director) and Father
Joseph (FONKOZE founder and visionary)  were two of the speakers who
came up to talk about Charley.  It was almost like old times.
 
After the church event, there was another big celebration at the nearby
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture that lasted until late, with food
and drink for all.
 
As was pointed out more than once yesterday, perhaps the best
"memorial" for Charley will be to carry his spirit into the future
by trying to emulate his way of getting to the point and moving on,
keeping calm, resolving problems, being inclusionary, defusing
conflict, being a special friend, a Mensch.  He is irreplaceable.
 
Brian