A Tiny Gift

Jenny Schrider, museum designer extraordinaire, was designer of Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures, now a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy pier since May, 2011.

At Gregory's memorial (Click to visit post about the memorial. Opens in a new window.), which was installed last week at the museum, she presented me with this gift. The inside, pictured above, features a wooden pop-up table with a house of cards (each card measuring ½" by ⅜".)

On the outside she wrote: "Michael, This started as an expression of the magic you possess and became some sort of prototype for a flea circus trick! With your wealth of experiences so genuinely present in you always, Gregory for sure lives on in the "Magic" that is you! Much love, Jenny

A Miniature Museum Maire Memorial

Today celebrated the installation of a Tiny Treasure Memorial in (MM) Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures, a permanent exhibit at (CCM) Chicago Children's Museum, located on Navy Pier on the lakefront, since May 2011.

When the team of museum staff who were involved in the original planning, execution, and installation of MM at CCM heard about Gregory's passing, they got together to think about how they might create a memorial to his memory.

They contacted me and along with their love and condolences, they suggested their plan. Needless to say, I was quite moved by their idea.

CCM obtained the collection in 2007 when it was moved into storage to wait until the recovery from the economic downturn of 2008 could take place. Planning for the permanent exhibit began in October of 2010 and MM opened to great fanfare on Friday, May 13th 2011.

During that time Gregory would join me at the museum while I attended meetings and he got to know CCM staff. As you would expect, he endeared himself to everyone he met there.

During the actual unpacking and installation, Gregory and other friends joined me at the museum to help. It gave Gregory great joy helping to unwrap each tiny treasure and he got much credit for and attention to his role in helping MM come to be in its new home at CCM.

Once the exhibit was open, I would "appear" as guest artist in residence to tell stories about the collection, interact with visitors to the museum, and talk about collecting. Gregory would join me and loved watching people, young and old, interact with the collections. His favorite, which he would point out to visitors, were the drawers filled with "stuff."

The Drawers Collection

Which Gregory loved to talk about

In the collection of collections, included were Gregory's 1) Marble Collection, 2) Circus Collection, 3) My One Cabinet (the joke being that I had 105 cabinets but he was only allowed one,) 4) and 40th Birthday Cake Topper Collection (featuring the items the Ames/Gurner family put on the cake they created for him.) All are pictured below.

Gregory's Marble Collection

The Circus Collection

(A gift to young Gregory from his parents

on their return from a trip to Germany)

Gregory's 40th Birthday Cake Toppers by the Ames/Gurner Family

Gregory's "My One Cabinet" before new additions

 Gregory's Miniature Memorial at home before installation at MM@CCM

Gregory's Miniature Memorial installed in his "My One Cabinet."

A close-up of the installation in his cabinet.

I also placed his photograph in the "Curator's Collection" along with the new addition of a drawing made by our God Son Isaac when he was just a small lad!

Curator's Collection (Before new additions)

With new addition - G's photo on left middle - Isaac's drawing (with little people) on the right

Close-up of Gregory's photo in the Curator's Collection with a photo of his mom and dad and my mom and dad.

Even more close-up of Gregory's photo in the Curator's Collection

Close up of God Son Isaac's drawing now in Curator's Collection

Even more close-up of Isaac's drawing

Copy of my comments at the ceremony

People who attended the ceremony: Katie, Michele, Mark, Peter, Stephanie, Natalie, Jon, Amy, Jennifer, Jenny, Michael and Rick. Louise called in her regrets but was with us in spirit (as I am sure was Gregory.)

Afterwards, everyone joined (at Gregory and my treat) for lunch at DMK Burger and Fish Bar, a new restaurant on Navy Pier.

P.S. If you have been following the "Miracles," last night I woke up at 3:33 and then again at 5:55!

Gregory

It has been over half a month since I have written here. I find that I am still spending most of my time on the Alzheimer's Blog processing Gregory's passage.

So much has happened in the last month including his death, the arrangements for cremation and the cremation itself, writing an obituary for him which in part informed the obituary in the Chicago Tribune and in full was reproduced in the Windy City Times with my name in the "by-line."

There was also the planning of and experience with Gregory's Memorial at the condo (attended by over 100 people) and the Thank You Memorial at the Lieberman Center (attended by over 150 people.)

The condo memorial was comforting in the traditional Deli Tray Jewish Way including so much food: corned beef, pastrami, turkey, beef, lox, white fish salad, egg salad, chopped liver salad, onion rolls, rye bread, bagels, cream cheeses, cheddar, swiss, munster, cole slaw, potato salad, beverages, and more pastries than you would hope to gain weight over.

The Lieberman memorial brought family and friends as well as residents, residents' families, administrators, department heads, staff, CNA's, custodians, and more. Gregory was so well known and so loved by everyone at Lieberman. Food included pastry leftovers from the condo plus cookies, brownies, chocolate nut toffee, mini-candy bars, MandM's, coffee, tea, and lemonade.

The "More Than Ever Education Fund" is in full flight as Casa Norte plans for its unveiling at the First Annual Spring Education Luncheon. We raised close to $3,000 in contributions in memory of Gregory.

I drove to Battle Creek, Michigan to spend the weekend with Gregory's family. His brother and sister-in-law planned a Memorial Dinner with several of friends as well as family. Many memories were shared and stories told.

So if you haven't already, check out the Alzheimer's Blog for photos, processing, and tears as well as joy. http://mhorvichcares.blogspot.com