Passing of a friend

[Bernie]

Hi all,



Over the weekend I received some very sad news about a good friend of mine and of the board. His name is Jerry Miller a Portland area DJ for almost 20 years. Many may have read the interview that I conducted with him back in 2000 or even interacted with him on the forums here.



His long-time partner Patrick Jarvis wrote me the following e-mail:



I have some bad news to tell you,



Jerry passed away Thursday (Jan 17, 2002) at 1:15 am PST....



due to his meds. ( the very long term use of harsh pills, the radiation and chemotherapy) his kidneys failed on new years day....he let them try some short term measures but in the end he just struggled in the hospital for a week and a half......

he knew what was going on and what the end result would be and asked for his well known wish to go home and have his life end with me and his babies (kitties) around him



he went very peacefully and he was so happy when we got him home and he saw his gold records.....he said "I MADE IT!!!!"



he had two goals left:



one- to make 2002 (that night he asked if I remembered how upset he was on new years '98 when he got all worked up about the fact he would not see new years 2000????!!!!!!!)



and two- to make his fiftieth birthday in April.....

I am going to throw him "Jerry's Last Dance" for his birthday at the club where he worked for 18 years......I am going to play some of his favorites out of the collection and then play one of his program tapes so he can take a turn at the turntables one last time and be there for his birthday



Patrick







I then replied to Pat's e-mail to express my sorrow and he answered back:







yes Bernie



he would want an ending to his interview and he loved to talk to people via your message board........



I will send you the invitation to "Jerry's Last Dance" when the owner of The Embers and I figure out all the details........I would like it if you would include it in his interview as well.......



Just like when he was alive.....the news is spreading fast that Jerry is playing in April and it looks like many many people are coming to do the "boot scoot" in his honor one last time....he would be so proud.





Jerry Miller's interview appears on this site at:

http://www.discomusic.com/101/dj_miller_jerry_01.html

I will add a closing to his piece later today.



Jerry was a very popular DJ at Embers Night Club and the owner of a large record store called Turntable Mary's. If anyone from the area remembers Jerry please respond to this thread.



Jerry, we'll never forget you...

[usagi-san]

Dear Bernie, Thank you very much for your touching tribute to Jerry and all the information. You and him did great services for disco. I am very glad he could at least make 2002, and as an animal lover I am very glad he could have his kitties with him too. Hang in there and keep up the great work.

usagi-san

[opus]

Just wanted to express my sorrow for the passing of Jerry. I worked for Jerry at Turntable Mary's for a few months while dj'ing at Confetti Club/Quest in Portland. Jerry was a great inspiration and was liked by everybody. He will be missed.



Mark