John Jennison Green Burial & Memorial Fund

UPDATE Many thanks to everyone that donated, took the time to write a note, send a text, share a memory about John. His spirit will live on in all of those memories. The funds raised here will be gratefully received by John's partner of a decade, Michael Galvan, who will make sure all of the money collected is used in the manner outlined below.

 (Note:  The contract of the burial is finalized and the nice weather now allows a full outdoor memorial, the fundraiser goal was downward adjusted to reflect the actual cost)

John’s Story:

After a hard-fought 13-year battle with cancer, our dear friend John Jennison passed away on the morning of Friday, February 4, 2022. During that time, John took every treatment available and offered, experiencing both periods of robust recovery from this fast-moving disease and rebounds from aggressive treatment plans. Through it all, he remained tough yet joyful and continued to make a tremendous impact on friends, family, and his community of artists.

 

The time since John’s passing has made one thing abundantly clear: John was immensely loved by everyone whose path he crossed. During his brief but powerful life, he touched the hearts of so many, making deep and personal connections with people from coast to coast—from Portland, Maine to Brooklyn to San Diego—and so many places in between.

 

We want to honor John’s wishes to have a green burial free of any chemicals, along with a memorial service that allows the people he loved to come together and celebrate what was an extraordinary life cut short by a terrible disease. His friends and family have jointly decided on the Riverview Natural Burial Grounds in Sleepy Hollow, NY. There are no inorganic fertilizers or pesticides used on the land, no embalming, and only untreated biodegradable, natural materials may be used in the burial process. It is also fitting to have him rest at an iconic burial ground steeped in lore and history that he so cherished in life. We already hear him screaming “Yaas, Kween I love this!”

 

It’s important for us that we memorialize and celebrate his spirit and life forever. To that end, we welcome financial contributions to help defray the cost of the burial and memorial service, as well as the acquisition and dedication of two park benches - one in Brooklyn and one in Maine. Forever places where people who cared deeply for John can go to sit, talk with a friend, reflect in silence or ideally draw something. 

 

Priority for use of proceeds:

Burial plot and associated expenses

Memorial service expenses

Bench acquisition and dedication

 

Breakdown of expenses (estimated):

Green burial

Burial plot: $10,000

Interment: $2,000

Preparation for burial: $4,000

Materials for burial: $2,500

Transportation to burial: $1,000

Memorial benches

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York: $8,000

Eastern promenade, Portland, Maine: $4,000

Memorial service

All-inclusive venue with food and drink: $5,000

 

Memorial Quilts (2)

Labor, materials, shipping - $3500