In Memory of Jackie Forte Banim

As most of you are, we were stunned and heartbroken with the sudden passing of our friend Jackie Forte Banim to bladder cancer in 5 short weeks from diagnosis. Jackie, larger than life in that petite body, with a big smile and an even bigger heart, woud surely be with with us forever collecting friends with every new person she met. That was our Jackie - all "our" Jackie - her circle of friends ranged far and wide as everyone she met instantly took a liking to her and wanted to be surrounded by her positive outlook and ability to make us laugh... ALOT. While we all know Jackie was the definition of fun, she was also an incredibly selfless and compassionate person who demonstrated this in her actions her entire life with her family, friends and in her profession as a social worker and advocate for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

We all come from different places and times in her life; family, Brooklyn grade school, Cranford friends, life long friends, restaurant and ARC co-workers and neighbors and friends from her home in Virginia Beach, but we all have something in common.  We were lucky - very lucky - that our paths crossed with Jackie at one time or another and we were impacted by her vibrancy in a positive way and we became a part of her all too brief journey here.  Now we come together to grieve and hopefully give back to Jackie as she did to us all her life. 

Gary, her husband of 22 years, and beautiful children, Joe and Sara, are now faced with moving forward without this beautiful force of light in their life without having time to absorb what was happening to their amazing wife and mother.  As they adjust to their new reality, please consider donating so we can help with both the immediate financial burdens that they are impacted with as well as the future educational needs for Joe and Sara.  On behalf of her beautiful family, thank you.

With love, your friends