Jurek from a granddaughter's-eye-view

Jurek and I have never had a typical grandparent grandchild relationship. To me he was much more. He was a grandfather, a father figure, mentor, and very close friend.

As a grandfather, he would take me out, spoil me, play with me, and show me his fantastic sense of humour and fun. In this role he loved ice-cream, was lighthearted and even comical, and sent me Christmas presents addressed from ‘Santa’ until I was almost 20.

As a father figure, he was always there for me. I recall he taught me to ride a bike, to swim, and to ski. He was a person of authority, with high standards and expectations, who encouraged me to achieve and whom I constantly strived to make proud. Like a father he supported me, dedicated time to me, and loved me. He chose my schools and helped me chose subjects he thought important for my education. He introduced me to adventure. He took me to Alice Springs and we went camel riding for a day. At the end of it, we were so sunburnt and saddle-sore from the experience, that we took our revenge at a local restraunt, eating camel for dinner.

As a mentor, he gave me a love of books and reading and taught me the value of learning. He introduced me to music, art, theatre and culture, and shared with me his appreciation of these fine things. I think I was the only 7-year-old attending the theatre, and concerts on a regular basis. I attribute my love of musicals to his influence. Among others, he took me to see 'Westside story', '42nd St' and 'Anything goes', which I loved so much that he bought me a sailor hat which I wouldn't take off for a year. He wanted me to find important the things that he saw as important, and to improve my knowledge and interest in current affairs, geography and language. He was a real teacher, and his insistence on these things made me achieve and appreciate more than I would have without his guidance. For instance, he recently suggested I learn to cook, after hearing of my many past bungled cooking disasters, and was willing to be a guinea pig to my early culinary experiments, at great personal risk.

But what I will miss most about Jurek is the close friendship we formed in my adolescence and adulthood. We used to have talks about everything and nothing, from intense philosophical debates, to personal reflections and confessions. So many times we would confide and discuss our thoughts, ideals, feelings and experiences, like the closest of friends, and it is this bond of true friendship that I will miss the most.

From my point of view, I feel so fortunate to have known him, loved him, and been loved by him, because such amazing people are so rare.

Jurek to me was a man of strength, intelligence, and taste. A man worthy of respect and admiration, and whose opinions counted. But there were so many sides to him. He was a kind, loving, generous man. A proud, dignified, strong, person. And a fun, playful and above all vibrant character. There so much more that could be said of him, and how much he has influenced and impacted on me, but I could never in words do justice to the person he was. So I will end with a quote, from Ward Beecher that speaks to me of my grandfather:

“Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength. He is greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own.”

Jurek was without a doubt, a great man.