Ogundameji Is Dead
A most dear friend died last night after years of pain and suffering. He will be missed.
We knew Joe Rivera as Jose Arguelles and jokingly called him Pepito. As a very large man of great girth and strength he was equally warm and generous as well as mysterious.
He loved Fugazi, played percussion, drew, recorded and edited sound and video and practiced the martial arts. He styled himself as a revolutionary and had great compassion for people. He was a strong advocate for Puerto Rican independence and studied socialism in depth.
As a student at the City University of New York our paths met and we struggled together in the fight to preserve what was left of the historic mission of that institution and became great friends.
This man of gargantuan strength was my sparring partner for a couple of years. He studied and gained rank in Capoeira and held a dan in Aikido. Realizing our combined studies in Japanese martial arts left our punching technique lacking, we studied Wing Chung together and preceded to knock each other senseless for several months.
This constant struggle to grapple and gain an advantage over an opponent says much about Joe and his life. He struggled at school, struggled on the streets, struggled with personal relationships, struggled with politics and his own health.
Against the odds and the prognosis of death in six months, he beat back cancer with organic remedies and exercise and tried to remain healthy. His control over his weight however became a larger issue. After a hip and back injury his mobility became limited. We soon saw less of him at political meetings, social events and at work. He soon lost control of his weight and his back problems intensified to the point where he herniated several discs which caused more health issues.
Riddled with pain and his movements nearly all but restricted, he rarely left home. An infection set in on his leg that would not heal. On Friday this infection took away the last breath that fueled his ki and stopped the heart we knew as a a tremendous and cherished soul.
We knew Joe Rivera as Jose Arguelles and jokingly called him Pepito. As a very large man of great girth and strength he was equally warm and generous as well as mysterious.
He loved Fugazi, played percussion, drew, recorded and edited sound and video and practiced the martial arts. He styled himself as a revolutionary and had great compassion for people. He was a strong advocate for Puerto Rican independence and studied socialism in depth.
As a student at the City University of New York our paths met and we struggled together in the fight to preserve what was left of the historic mission of that institution and became great friends.
This man of gargantuan strength was my sparring partner for a couple of years. He studied and gained rank in Capoeira and held a dan in Aikido. Realizing our combined studies in Japanese martial arts left our punching technique lacking, we studied Wing Chung together and preceded to knock each other senseless for several months.
This constant struggle to grapple and gain an advantage over an opponent says much about Joe and his life. He struggled at school, struggled on the streets, struggled with personal relationships, struggled with politics and his own health.
Against the odds and the prognosis of death in six months, he beat back cancer with organic remedies and exercise and tried to remain healthy. His control over his weight however became a larger issue. After a hip and back injury his mobility became limited. We soon saw less of him at political meetings, social events and at work. He soon lost control of his weight and his back problems intensified to the point where he herniated several discs which caused more health issues.
Riddled with pain and his movements nearly all but restricted, he rarely left home. An infection set in on his leg that would not heal. On Friday this infection took away the last breath that fueled his ki and stopped the heart we knew as a a tremendous and cherished soul.
posted by Runs With Scissors at 2:44 PM
2 Comments:
The first thing I noticed about Jose was his passion for life and the amount of knowledge he had about African cultures and history. He probed me about Zimbabwe at a time when I cared less myself. Then I hired him once to fix our computers at this production company that was making a documentary on the history of black dance . Turned out he knew a lot about that too. Quite frankly Jose was a giant mind as well as a giant body. He humbled me in many ways and was always humble himself. Like lonebull I wish now i had shared more with him. So I will instead use the memory of him to fuel my passions and always remember that this good health I have is truly a blessing. Jose, famba zvakanaka mumwe wangu, nerudo, tererai.
FOREVER TIME (G. Ginn / H. Rollins)
Time
Time
Time
Forever time
It's time to walk by me
One last time, it's time
At first
Relax
Get set
Get your message from time
Time, time, time, time
Time
Time
Time
Forever time
It's time to look into my eyes
One last time, it's time
I feel I'm some kind of death machine
With skin and muscles and a heart
That pumps my blood
Time, time, time, time
Time
Time
Time
Forever time
It's time to kiss me goodbye
One last time, it's time
This is the first time
This is the last time
It's my only time
But it's only time
Time
Time
Time
Compañero you will always be in my heart. Your memory will live on. I love you and I miss you.
Conrad
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