The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWell....my brother died today.
Quite a character. It was just Mom him and me when I was 4 and he was 6. Lots of adventures. We moved a lot so we are both quite minimalists. My mom was a librarian so we had very intense quiet communication. Full conversations by a couple looks.
All the people who met him remember him by first name and when they met him.
Up and down the East Coast. Hampton RFK Philly Charlotte Raleigh Roanoke. Deadhead. 250 shows at least. Trust me anyone who ever met Jake remembers meeting him.
Funny smart really smart (Tolkien chapter and verse) loved food worked in lots of restaurants. We used to work in a pizza place where he tossed dough and I ran the ovens and the cash register. I wasnt aware that we were the show. Families sat in the booths up front to watch us go at it about music pop culture history sports etc.
Scarlet Begonias
marble falls
(71,396 posts)underpants
(195,568 posts)He loved that song.
BlueKota
(5,137 posts)AltairIV
(1,011 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(68,800 posts)Im not a big fan of the Grateful Dead, but GD Radio is on my playlist.
https://www.gdradio.net/
LuckyCharms
(22,173 posts)He sounds like a great guy.
May he Rest in Peace.
babylonsister
(172,656 posts)Sincerest condolences.
Irish_Dem
(80,415 posts)What wonderful memories you have of Jake.
What character and neat guy.
surfered
(12,336 posts)Grim Chieftain
(1,413 posts)You are in my thoughts.
democrank
(12,385 posts)Take care of yourself~
yellow dahlia
(5,204 posts)He lived a life worth remembering.
sheshe2
(96,608 posts)RIP, Jake.
58Sunliner
(6,273 posts)bamagal62
(4,399 posts)For your loss. ❤️
dickthegrouch
(4,392 posts)sinkingfeeling
(57,486 posts)JMCKUSICK
(5,521 posts)You shared a treasure with us today.
SheltieLover
(78,235 posts)Healing vibes on the way to you.
2naSalit
(100,972 posts)My condolences.
MIButterfly
(2,310 posts)I extend to you and your family my condolences. May your memories of your brother eventually bring you peace.
With love and deep sympathy,
MIButterfly
mountain grammy
(28,807 posts)marked50
(1,566 posts)ancianita
(43,162 posts)and may your heart find peace, underpants.
hibbing
(10,544 posts)murielm99
(32,820 posts)It is hard to lose a sibling.
BumRushDaShow
(167,145 posts)Your happy memories will help to sustain you.
True Dough
(26,090 posts)I'll think of you and Jake. Wish I could have a slice with you both and listen to you debate.
My condolences on your loss, underpants.
Sailingdiver
(349 posts)Sounds like you have a lot of memories. Keep those alive.
Great tune. Love the Dead!
FalloutShelter
(14,276 posts)herding cats
(19,996 posts)My heart to you.
spooky3
(38,389 posts)orangecrush
(29,363 posts)Picaro
(2,353 posts)Diamond_Dog
(40,080 posts)The way you described him, he sounds like someone I wish Id met. Peace to all of you.
tavernier
(14,371 posts)My heart felt sympathy as you grieve for your loss, but at the same time you have something that cant be taken away from you.
Cherish the memories my friend.
PatrickforB
(15,383 posts)montanacowboy
(6,688 posts)Karadeniz
(24,731 posts)Chemical Bill
(3,119 posts)I only went to 3 Dead shows, so I didn't meet him, but I'm sure we had mutual friends.
mahina
(20,520 posts)The music never stops
Wishing you comfort and peace of mind.
Marthe48
(22,862 posts)I hope that your conversations will resume someday. I had a brother like that, miss him a lot.
Be nice to yourself.
Alice Kramden
(2,900 posts)May your heart be comforted by the love surrounding you
CousinIT
(12,362 posts)I know you will cherish your memories of him for the rest of your days. He sounds like a great guy and your memories are heartwarming. Wishing you and your family lots of peace and strength at this heartbreaking time.
brer cat
(27,444 posts)Ilsa
(64,026 posts)grieve this loss. Big hugs, underpants.
Sogo
(7,045 posts)It sounds like you'll always have wonderful memories of him.
greatauntoftriplets
(178,700 posts)Your brother sounds like quite a character who followed his own path. If you and your mother moved around a lot when you were kids, you probably were close friends throughout childhood. The double act in the pizza place has to have been hilarious.
Cherish your memories of him.
Duncanpup
(15,651 posts)paleotn
(21,834 posts)Sounds like we lost a great one.
Gore1FL
(22,895 posts)As the very youngest of four, I fear I will bury at least one of my siblings.
I got all the cardio-vascular genes and the anger issues, so maybe the three of them will bury me, after all.
BootinUp
(51,034 posts)Lemon Lyman
(1,577 posts)no_hypocrisy
(54,565 posts)I hope your memories give you comfort.
fierywoman
(8,539 posts)mokeyz
(103 posts)for your loss - sending hugs💙💛
Ellipsis
(9,445 posts)Last edited Fri Oct 10, 2025, 09:28 PM - Edit history (2)
I'm very sorry for the loss of your brother and wish you and yours the best.
Hey Joe
(495 posts)Its damn hard losing the most precious people in your life.
Wishing you the best.
AZJonnie
(3,214 posts)Sounds you have wonderful memories full of love & great times together. Can't hope for too much more than that in life
May Jake pass gently and be remembered fondly by all
AllyCat
(18,655 posts)Im so sorry.
KitFox
(515 posts)life well lived and a bond that will forever be with you. Take special care of yourself; grief can feel so physical, too. Peace and gentle hugs to you. 🧡🧡🧡
Dyedinthewoolliberal
(16,194 posts)Eom
MLAA
(19,676 posts)highplainsdem
(60,819 posts)sounds like someone who made friends everywhere he went.
I've been very open here about believing in an afterlife (though I'm not religious and I don't believe one's religion matters at all), and believing as well that our loved ones on the other side can sometimes find ways of comforting us when we're grieving, reassuring us that they're fine. I hope that will happen for you and Jake's other loved ones.
pdxflyboy
(916 posts)Healing vibes to you, underpants.
SleeplessinSoCal
(10,378 posts)❤️
mercuryblues
(16,239 posts)quaint
(4,804 posts)Morbius
(938 posts)There isn't. I think it helps at times like this to remember you are not alone, and it's sometimes okay to lean on other people. Or let them lean on you. That doesn't make it easier but I think it should help you cope.
Best wishes and sincere condolences; Morbius.
sdfernando
(6,039 posts)Sounds like you two had an amazing relationship and life. Remember all of those good times!
chowder66
(11,997 posts)MuseRider
(35,165 posts)I became the last living member of my family about 6 months ago. It hurts and will for a while. Hold those good memories close. I am so so sorry. I never had a sister but my brothers were the best, all gone before I cross 71yo.
Be well. If you ever feel like dumping you can always send a mail. I have known you so long here that it feels like family and I am so sorry you are going through this.
Eko
(9,858 posts)So sorry, thanks for coming on here and sharing about him and you.
When that happens in my life I like to watch this, and thanks for including the Dead, I gotta re-learn that diminished run Jerry did on Help on the way/Slipknot.
Keep on keeponing.
Eko.
underpants
(195,568 posts)❤️
Solly Mack
(96,642 posts)My heartfelt condolences to you.
Alice B.
(719 posts)IcyPeas
(25,152 posts)JohnnyLib2
(11,314 posts)Very sorry to hear this. My condolences'.
BComplex
(9,806 posts)Close sibling relationships are primally important to who we become/are. I'm glad that you had him in your life all these years.
When someone you love dies, the love doesn't. The love lives on in you. Sending you a big hug.
irisblue
(37,060 posts)LoisB
(12,559 posts)debm55
(57,848 posts)Uncle Joe
(64,550 posts)Last edited Fri Oct 10, 2025, 11:00 PM - Edit history (1)
Peace, strength and healing to you and your family.
EllieBC
(3,638 posts)for sharing stories about him. I think youd both have made a fabulous show at a pizza joint.
Skittles
(170,197 posts)I've lost two, it hurts
yardwork
(69,088 posts)Your brother sounds like an amazing person. I wish I had known him.
CaptainTruth
(8,078 posts)Cherish those memories, they will be with you forever.
Phoenix61
(18,769 posts)essaynnc
(980 posts)But so glad that you have so great memories of the two of you together !!!! May you Be at peace
JBTaurus83
(995 posts)Ive lost a couple of uncles who were Deadheads. Nice song choice.
Bayard
(28,995 posts)He sounds like a great brother and friend.
Maybe this will help some. When I lost my big brother, I started writing down everything I remembered about him, every story, every hug. Its something to hang onto. If he had kids, they'd probably appeciate it too.
Take care of yourself, and we're here for you.
LA Blue Bengal
(50 posts)for your loss. He sounds like a great person.
DaBronx
(758 posts)It is difficult to lose a sibling, one who shared the uniqueness of growing up together.
May you have strength and good memories to carry you forward.
Peace to you.
Docreed2003
(18,713 posts)hamsterjill
(17,186 posts)Peace and comfort to you and to his other family and friends.
choie
(6,801 posts)BaronChocula
(4,188 posts)and sugar magnolias.
underpants
(195,568 posts)marmar
(79,438 posts)area51
(12,589 posts)mzmolly
(52,714 posts)My condolences to you and yours.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(25,516 posts)🤗 🤗 🤗
KT2000
(22,037 posts)I am sorry. Losing a close sibling is like losing part of yourself. Peace to you.
Grumpy Old Guy
(4,254 posts)😥
UTUSN
(77,302 posts)lonely bird
(2,821 posts)May his memory be a comfort.
summer_in_TX
(4,064 posts)So sorry for your loss. May your memories of the good times bring you comfort.
HeartsCanHope
(1,551 posts)Hekate
(100,133 posts)May Jake cross gently and meet you on the other side.
Figarosmom
(10,447 posts)Sorry you lost him. Glad you have such good memories to hold.🕯
BlueWaveNeverEnd
(13,419 posts)JoseBalow
(9,287 posts)blm
(114,460 posts)peacebuzzard
(5,834 posts)BigmanPigman
(54,799 posts)I don't handle death well at all. Even though I am an atheist I know that our energies never end but continue in another form.
That helps me a tiny bit but not enough to console me. The passage of time doesn't seem to lessen the loss I feel either. That's just me I guess.
I hope you handle it better than I would.
NNadir
(37,534 posts)gademocrat7
(11,841 posts)On the loss of your beloved brother.
mwmisses4289
(3,557 posts)Sorry to hear about your loss.
OldBaldy1701E
(10,638 posts)I hope you two had a great relationship and the memories will be forever.
Donkees
(33,511 posts)
❤ ''For we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make.''
- JRR Tolkien
TommieMommy
(2,730 posts)Danmel
(5,724 posts)May sweet memories of your beloved brother bring you comfort and peace.
barbtries
(31,217 posts)If you'd been on the West Coast, he and my brother John would have definitely been friends. Love your memories here, may they and many more comfort you profoundly.
70sEraVet
(5,349 posts)Wicked Blue
(8,721 posts)Blessings of peace, heaing and wonderful memories for you.
Clouds Passing
(7,453 posts)You are so lucky to have had a good relationship with a very cool brother.
Jake
Emile
(41,384 posts)I lost my brother in April, and I miss him.
MayReasonRule
(4,048 posts)malaise
(294,171 posts)Fla Dem
(27,488 posts)
peggysue2
(12,443 posts)Losing a sibling is really hard, a punch to the head and heart.
Be kind to yourself. Sending hugs.
flashman13
(2,217 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(176,728 posts)Mad_Dem_X
(10,150 posts)GoneOffShore
(18,007 posts)pandr32
(13,931 posts)You shared so much. It must be hard.
Faux pas
(16,228 posts)and to all who knew and loved him.
Deuxcents
(26,004 posts)swimboy
(7,323 posts)kentuck
(115,279 posts)These are some difficult times.
turbinetree
(27,208 posts)cate94
(3,061 posts)IbogaProject
(5,698 posts)And also sorry to have lost a fellow east coast dead head with over 150 shows seen while Jerry was alive.
littlemissmartypants
(32,803 posts)red dog 1
(32,699 posts)250 Grateful Dead shows?
Wow!
Celerity
(54,002 posts)luvallpeeps
(1,276 posts)So sorry for your loss. Sounds like a great brother. I feel for you.💔
cliffside
(1,631 posts)electric_blue68
(26,406 posts)Ocelot II
(129,730 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(31,731 posts)He was certainly a brother in the musical dimension.
That sucks, but the reality of mortality appears inescapable. Best thoughts my friend.
Niagara
(11,639 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(31,731 posts)While the back story doesn't quite fit, this song always evokes all the folks I have lost.
BobTheSubgenius
(12,182 posts)My sister died a few years ago (7 years younger than me) and I have always regretted not knowing her better. You and your brother were both much the better for your relationship.
SB is one of my favourite songs, btw. It seldom turns out the way it does in the song.
