Celebrating A Life

To the Editor:

Jeffry Nezvesky was one-of-a-kind. He had a playful sense of humor and a true love of his friends, his family, and his town that always left me with a smile. Sometimes Jeff would ask me if I told my family and friends how much I loved them. He would then tell me how he had just told his dad (or brother or whomever it was at that moment) that he loved them and how it felt good. It would make me think that we don’t often enough tell the people we love how much they mean to us. His words would make me think deeply for a minute and then I would go back to kidding and laughing with him and these simple but pure thoughts would fly by quickly, just like his life did.

Shortly after Jeffry was diagnosed with cancer at the turn of 2005, we talked about having a party. He wanted to have one more party to thank everyone for their kindness to him, his wife Bonnie and their son Aaron. I told him that I would have this party and that we are the ones that should be thanking Jeffry and his family. I wanted to thank them for welcoming us into this town, and showing us the beauty of the country and unconditional community support and hospitality for the last ten years.

Although Jeffry past away in April, this past Saturday night over 200 people gathered together to celebrate Jeffry’s life, have the party he wanted and to thank both Jeffry and Bonnie (and Aaron) for their love of friends and family. It was a pleasure to see the Nezveskys together as a family who continues to provide an admirable cornerstone to this town.

It was truly beautiful to see so many people of different ages, places, and circles of friends gather together. Thank you all for coming and for making Newtown such a warm community. Thank you to the many businesses around town and to the companies that donated items. To the amazing people who helped organized and put this event together, some who only know this family by acquaintance, thank you for happily giving so much of yourselves to make this event happen.

Special gratitude to Helen Wiberg, Dina Daum, Laurie DeAngelis, Sheryl and Michael Fatse, Adam and Donna Waller, Kathy Kingsley, Ed Keough, Carolyn and Gavin Arnath, the Botsford Firehouse, and the many guys who set up and cleaned up, No Mo Roam’in, whose music was perfect, and most importantly NanJane Keough who I consulted on all details, catered everything, and made it all seem effortless. Jeffry and I could not have had this party without you.

Thank you all for your friendship.

Barbara Jagoe

19 Monitor Hill Road, Newtown                                 June 6, 2005