I'll try to have mine say something nice about DU and the DUzens.

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Birth: September 12, 1952

Death: September 1, 2024

James Berkman
OBITUARY
On Sept. 1, James Berkman died 11 days shy of his 72nd birthday. He was a loving father and grandfather, a compassionate listener whose calm strength and steadfast presence will be sorely missed by his family. His prolific knowledge of world history, particularly of WWI-era aircraft, was unrivaled, and he was an esteemed denizen of the online community Democratic Underground. He joins his son Brendan Idarius in death, and will be lovingly remembered by partners Mary Idarius and Debra Nightingale, daughter Emily Berkman, son-in-law Daniel Owings, and grandchildren Michael Cansler, Ethan Idarius, Prince Fischetti, and Calliope and Hope Berkman Owings.

Click here to Send Flowers to the family of James.

I considered him a friend... not unlike so many of his followers here at DU.

I imagined him with hair less gray and a bit shorter, but when I was scrolling through the obit page and happened on this picture, I knew it was him without even reading the text.

He is missed already.

Rest in peace, The Magistrate!

I understand that our own Lithos might have composed this obituary.

As my dusk approaches, I bless thee, life.
for thou never gave me failed hope,
nor unjust labor, nor undeserved punishment;

For I see at the end of my rugged road
that I was the architect of my destiny;

that if I gathered honey of gall from things
it was because I put in them gall or sweet honey:
when I planted rose bushes, I always harvested roses.

True, to my youth Winter will follow:
But thou never said May would be eternal!

No doubt I found my nights of sorrow to be long;
but thou never promised me only good nights;
yet I had some that were blessedly serene...

I loved, I was loved, the sun stroke my face.
Life, thou owes me nothing! Life, we are at peace!

- Amado Nervo
Translated by Xipe Totec

Muy cerca de mi ocaso, yo te bendigo, vida,
porque nunca me diste ni esperanza fallida,
ni trabajos injustos, ni pena inmerecida;

porque veo al final de mi rudo camino
que yo fui el arquitecto de mi propio destino;

que si extraje la miel o la hiel de las cosas,
fue porque en ellas puse hiel o mieles sabrosas:
cuando planté rosales, coseché siempre rosas.

Cierto, a mis lozanías va a seguir el invierno:
¡mas tú no me dijiste que mayo fuese eterno!

Hallé sin duda largas noches de mis penas;
mas no me prometiste tú sólo noches buenas;
y en cambio tuve algunas santamente serenas…

Amé, fui amado, el sol acarició mi faz.
¡Vida, nada me debes! ¡Vida, estamos en paz!

I’m honored to not only share his same first name, but also his birth month. A kind soul. A person who practiced good manners on a website, which is very rare. He is missed.

“Not available in your country.”

James Berkman
OBITUARY
On Sept. 1, James Berkman died 11 days shy of his 72nd birthday. He was a loving father and grandfather, a compassionate listener whose calm strength and steadfast presence will be sorely missed by his family. His prolific knowledge of world history, particularly of WWI-era aircraft, was unrivaled, and he was an esteemed denizen of the online community Democratic Underground. He joins his son Brendan Idarius in death, and will be lovingly remembered by partners Mary Idarius and Debra Nightingale, daughter Emily Berkman, son-in-law Daniel Owings, and grandchildren Michael Cansler, Ethan Idarius, Prince Fischetti, and Calliope and Hope Berkman Owings.

Click here to Send Flowers to the family of James.
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In memory of James

hand holding trees
Plant a Livin

His posts were always long with detail and facts and argumentation---
and I was usually more inclined to move on (run away)
than engage in a direct argument with him! lol

His passing is a great loss for DU.

Rest in Power, Sir!

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