Eulogy from Peter

Peter Heidenreich (Friend)

I’d like to start off by saying that I’m honored to be given the chance to speak today. Its given me the opportunity to express how truly special Jason was. When I sat down to think about what I might say standing in front of all of you, I became inundated with memories, of which there were so many, that I so fondly remember. During some of the most important years of our lives, we were best friends. Inseparable because we spent so much of our younger life together. Losing him was like losing a part of my childhood.

I can’t remember the first time I met Jason... which just goes to show how young we were and how long we had known each other. I doubt I could accurately recount many childhood memories that did not involve him. Whether playing tennis, sneaking into the bedroom to catch the Duke’s of Hazard on Friday nights, taking in a Knicks game or a Super-Fly Snooka match at Wrestlemania (one of our more constructive activities), going to little-league soccer on Saturday mornings, or even playing a game of jeopardy on the computer, most of the things we did were of a competitive nature. Being on the losing end of that a significant portion of the time, I can honestly say that you rarely come across as talented an individual as he. What I appreciated most about him was his spirited nature, sporting and ambitious, but at the same time extremely good-hearted. He was the first to lend me a hand after falling down on the soccer pitch or throw a cup of cold water in my face after “taking it easy” on me on the tennis court, no matter what the score was or whatever the circumstance, he was always smiling and in good spirits, which is what I admired so much and made him such a pleasure to be around.

I am grateful that he allowed me to be a part of his life during such a critical time. The unspoken bond that we had can’t be replicated and will live on, forever in my memories.