Farewell Memory Joan Stein

There are literally too many stories to share, but let’s start at the beginning.

I grew up going to Young People’s Synagogue (YPS), a modern Orthodox congregation in Squirrel Hill. We had no rabbi, we were lay-led and for the most part, Shabbos (Saturday) services was all we did. I had no concept of what a spiritual home was.

My sister, Mimi Botkin, had been a member of Temple Sinai and was very happy and involved there. I attended services at special occasions for her daughters, so I had met Jamie Gibson and had gotten to know both he and Barbara through my sister.

In June1995, Jamie did a Temple Sinai Family Trip to Israel. At the same time, my late husband Mark got very ill and was hospitalized in Shadyside Hospital for an extended length of time (30 days total). I’d had an unpleasant interaction with the hospital rabbi and was very upset. I called Mimi who asked Jamie, who was JUST home from the Israel trip, to visit us at Shadyside Hospital. 

That’s when it all began. Jamie waked in, sat on the edge of Mark’s bed and just started to chat. He repeated that for several more times before Mark was discharged.

Several months later, Temple announced the New Member Orientation. I had decided to join, although I did not expect Mark to participate as he called Temple (particularly Saturday morning minyan) “my thing.” He read the invitation and said “I want to go.” I was surprised but, of course, did not question.
We arrived at Temple, entered through the mansion and walked up the steps. Jamie was about 30 feet away, saw us, spread his arms out and exclaimed (loudly) “Mark, you have clothes on!”

This was the affection and love that Jamie and Mark had for each other. Through so many illnesses, hospitalizations, and Mark’s eventual death in January 2014, Jamie was ALWAYS there. Numerous visits to the hospital, rehab or nursing home. Burials, simchas, and other family occaisions, he has always been there.

I thank Jamie for all of that, PLUS leading me to a true love and understanding of Judaism, which I had never had before. As I stood on the bimah at age 40, chanting my Torah portion, he had given my parents, my siblings, and me an incredible gift that will live on forever.