A Long, Long Time Ago

08/21/2005

Kurt Harms’ grandfather, Art Jentoft, and my grandfather, Phil Jentoft, were brothers.  Though we saw Uncle Art and Aunt Jenny frequently enough, Kurt, Greg and Lucy we’d met maybe half a dozen times most over they years.

Despite the fact that we seldom saw the Harms, we got frequent updates via our grandmother, Georgie Jentoft, and of course, the annual Jentoft Christmas newsletter.

Oddly enough, when I saw Kurt’s photograph in the Seattle newpaper and learned of his tragic accident, I had to read the text to be sure the person matched the name.  The photograph was of a man, not the young boy and teenager I had last seen.  In fact, the Navy photograph of Kurt at the periscope is the Kurt I immediately recognized.

The distance created by geography and experience are no match for the bond of family and common history.  Our family and this world have lost a bona fide appreciative participant in the journey of life.  Best wishes in this next adventure, Kurt.

Jay Jentoft