Eulogy

How do you sum up a life that has shined so brightly, yet far too briefly, in a handful of paragraphs on a web page?  It’s been both a blessing and a curse to have had foreknowledge of Jana’s terminal illness these past 16 months.  A blessing to have had the time and clarity to leave no words unsaid, to reflect on life’s many facets made more precious by the acute awareness of their inevitable demise.  A curse for the very same reason: to know what was being lost yet powerless to stop it.  And it’s of course not just my loss, or her family’s and friend’s.  The whole world became darker by her premature exit.

So where do we shine the light?

I could expound upon Jana’s remarkable academic achievements: paying her own way through 11 years of higher education with student loans, strategic maneuvering and hard work; writing a dissertation in 10 delirious days at the UW to secure her Ph.D.; single-authoring a multitude of publications in route to earning a full professorship in 9 years at SDSU.  Becoming the most highly evaluated teacher in her department. Feats that must be deemed all the more significant by their occurrence in a male-dominated sphere of planet–sized egos. Her vitae tells the tale.

But Jana would prefer I write about her life outside the hallowed halls of learning.  Such as her affinity for snowboarding at breakneck speeds down wickedly steep slopes.  Or taking equally tricky turns in her souped up Mini Cooper.  Or her fascination with mixed martial arts (Ultimate Fighting), one of the only spectator sports of which she approved.  Her love of films like Terminator and Gosford Park and Halloween and Lord of the Rings and Last of the Mohicans and all things Harry Potter.  Her wide reading interests that ran the gamut from Edith Wharton to Christine Feehan to Joyce Carol Oats.  Her compassion for animals (especially birds) and nature.  Her dark sense of humor.  70’s rock.  Tchaikovsky.

And then there’s the life not lived.  Forty (maybe 50) plus years of stolen time.  The invitations to teach abroad, to publish books, to reap the rewards of a carefully cultivated academic standing.   The conservationist.  The adventurer.  The flinging of stink bombs onto Japanese whaling vessels.  A UFC hired gun, arguing for sanctioning in the biggest markets (like New York).  The aunt.  The mother.  Jana had a plan, before disease derailed it.

In her personal relationships and friendships, Jana had an effortless ability to engage people from every social group, to convince them to take her into their confidence, to open up—even the most reticent. She was on your side, but she wouldn't coddle you. She would defend you, but not spare you her blunt scrutiny. She would love you, but challenge you to face the sincerity of your own emotions. She demanded honesty, and rewarded you with loyalty.

So I would choose to illuminate the radiant woman I fell in love with; travelled with; held hands and made plans with on over a thousand sunset walks through Balboa Park.  The beautiful mind that made more connections than a Lego set, and had an uncanny knack for getting to the heart of the matter.  Wielding truth as a sword, she was a champion of justice—it informed every aspect of her life.  

Therefore it’s the unkindest of fates that laid out a path for Jana that revealed every injustice humans could be subjected to.  Around ever corner, a fight.  In every fight, a hypocrisy.  Nothing easy.  Yet until her final battle, Jana had prevailed, more often than not.   And even when facing that final and unconquerable foe—Death—she fought longer, and more bravely, than anyone believed possible.

Yes, her candle’s brilliant flame was unfairly doused, but Jana’s light burned brighter than anyone I have ever known.  She set our world ablaze, invited us to see as she sees, and we are all better people as a result.

I love you Jana.  May you find peace at last, because no one is more deserving.

Dan Blanchett
July 25th, 2010

Jana Pershing