Nils Christian Jorgensen's Obituary
OK. Do this. Put on a pair of mittens. Now, brush your teeth. Comb your hair. Take a shower holding the soap. Dry yourself. Go to the bathroom. Get. dressed. Power up the computer. Ahh. How are you going to type? Nevermind. Write longhand. Hold the pen or pencil. Check the texts on your cellphone. Drive.
Apply for, get hired, and hold down a 9-5 job. Grocery shop with no cart. Forget about a half gallon of milk. Forget about checkbooks, vacuuming, moving furniture, etc.
Growing up, Nils hung out with his Roslindale neighborhood gang, claiming their clubhouse under an ancient Rhododedron in the Arboretum. It was rumored that he recreated with them with no boundaries. Just a rumor. Summers in Rockport, he and his buddy Ralph ruled Front Beach getting as tan as their white skin and sunblock would allow.
His brothers and sisters included him in their activities too, reserving him the front seat on the toboggan where his legs folded neatly under the curl. He was also fearless on the swing in the backyard, preferring to be pushed to the limits of the upward arc just before it would go over the top pole. With a life vest, he could
be easily towed in the Annisquam until he got old enough to say, "No thanks.."
I was in his van once on Brookline Ave. when he made an illegal u-turn in the path of an oncoming trolley. I yelled, "Hey. Didn't you see that sign? It said 'No U-turn.." With a straight face he answered, "That was a suggestion .."
Successfully overcoming these initial challenges was just the beginning for Nils.
He had help. He had his Mother Amy who determined from Day 1 that Nils was going to grow up just like her 5 other able-bodied kids. No whining. You can do it ... At his breech birth, doctors told her not to expect Nils to live past 6 months. He was 66 last week when he died suddenly in Oakland. Who knows. Maybe a heart attack. But fast, just like he lived his life.
He also had the support and training of his Dad Thorkild, who took him bowling on Saturday mornings, had him driving all over the 3 acre Gloucester island in an ATV, rowing the skiff on the Annisquam, building things in the shed, fishing, etc. until almost old enough to drive, and then driving. Look out. No special treatment.
Despite his physical challenges, Nils' Jorgensen, graduated high school, got a college degree (Northeastern), won gold medals in international wheelchair sports, was one of
the founding members of wheelchair rugby, (Murderball), partially ran the Boston Marathon before wheelchairs were invited, rowed a gig in New York Harbor at the celebration of the Centennial, had a girlfriend, (and a wife for a time..) traveled all over the US and Europe, counseled other challenged people, created unique adaptive sports programs for the YMCA in San Francisco, wheelchair basketball, and acted in live drama performances. And I'm sure there's more I don't know about..
Beat that !
Just about everyone who knew Nils agreed that he was a "one off." He had the unique ability to communicate on a very personal level with just about everyone he met. 1, He was actually interested in what you had to say. He listened. And 2. He cared. If he could help you with positive suggestions or advice, he would. He also knew how to sympathize.. And you accepted his empathy. I mean, how could you not? He was genuine.
So there you have it. You can take the mittens off. And you can be grateful for every single second you are able to walk upright on this Beautiful Planet Earth. And you can take Nils' example and figure out what you are going to do with your one wild and precious life.
Low in the Black Eastern Sky
The Moon is a Pale Gold Boat
Bow up on a Rough Sea
She plows through the Dark
Still Afloat.
A TRUE VIKING LEFT THIS WORLD TO BE WITH THE IMMORTALS
Nils was born in Boston, Ma and as a result of a breech birth was a quadriplegic for life. He attended the Cotting School in Boston through high school and graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Recreational Therapy.
He worked in this field in the local area and competed in wheelchair sports in track and field for disabled athletes. He found success both in local and regional events which eventually led to competing in international competition at the Stokes-Mandeville games in Aylesbury, England where he won gold medals in his classification. These games were the framework in establishing the Olympic Paralympics model which came to fruition in the U.S. in Atlanta, Georgia (1996) following the Olympic Games.
He was drafted by the Quadzilla wheelchair rugby team and moved to the Bay Area in Oakland, Ca to take advantage of the milder weather and continue his athletic pursuits while working at St Mary’s hospital in the Recreational Therapy field and as well with the SFO YMCA, building many long term friendships in the area.
He was predeceased by his mother Amy (Erlandson) Jorgensen, his father Thorkild V. Jorgensen. He is survived by his sisters, Chris (Jorgensen) Viegaard, Linnea V. (Jorgensen) Mc Fadden, Camilla (Jorgensen) Hamilton and his brothers Arn V. Jorgensen and John E. Jorgensen and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to acknowledge his dear friends Daniel and Adrienne Snyder, Reggie Richner, David Reece and Katy Belton.
He leaves many relatives, good friends and acquaintances on both US coasts and across the world who will join his family in regretting his absence in their lives.
What’s your fondest memory of Nils?
What’s a lesson you learned from Nils?
Share a story where Nils' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Nils you’ll never forget.
How did Nils make you smile?