Memorial to Dr. Jason Roussos
The Asiatic Society of Japan mourns the loss of one of its long-serving
councilors, Dr. Jason Roussos. A memorial service was held for Jason at
St. Anselm's Benedictine Church on the May 20, 1996. The following words
were delivered on behalf of the ASJ by ASJ Councilor Dr. Terry Wilson, Chair
of the ASJ Membership Committee:
Tonight, as we mourn our loss of Jason Roussos, we celebrate his vibrant
and far-reaching life.
I speak not only as a member, councilor, and committee chair of The Asiatic
Society of Japan, but as a friend. That Jason was my friend, our friend
-- in itself -- speaks volumes.
I knew Jason for some six years and a half years; the past five, quite well.
Many of you knew him, and enjoyed the pleasure of his companionship, far
longer than did I. Undeniably, he left his mark, indelibly, permanently,
upon us all.
Jason kept in almost daily contact with so many of us -- his telephone was
in constant use. We miss his calls; we miss being uplifted and buoyed by
Jason's unfailingly arch wit and sense of humour.
Moreover, although the age of polymathy is far past, Jason was an acknowledged
master-scholar in so many diverse areas. Many forget that he was a prize
physics student at Brandeis before embarking on his brilliant Oxford career.
He was, in the words of our esteemed colleague, Aaron Cohen, an intellectual
bon vivant. He possessed an excitement, extraordinary bonhomie, if you will,
that ever-so-rare energy and passion, about not only his own scholarship,
but also in so generously encouraging the aspirations and work of so many
others.
At a time when standards have all but disappeared, Jason stood fast with
unerring judgment. He detested mediocrity and mass culture. He held us,
and others, to the highest of expectations.
The Asiatic Society of Japan benefited greatly from Jason's vision. He was
a dedicated councilor, attending his last meeting -- in excruciating pain
-- just two and a half weeks before his untimely death. His vision -- and
his voice -- served to propel the Society forward and sustain our quest
for quality. Jason founded our concert series program only last year; Jason's
love of music, ballet, indeed all the performing and visual arts, was legendary.
At the many concerts where I sat next to him, he had always listened to
recordings and memorized the musical scores -- sometimes in multiple versions,
in advance.
Jason was already with God when just a few days before his tragic departure
from us, he grasped my hand with his good arm as we parted for the last
time. The piercing, penetrating gaze in his eyes told all -- he was fully
healed and at peace, in spite of his continuing hope for a physical cure.
He loved life because he loved living, and sharing, and caring -- he felt
even a single, one percent, chance of prolonging his time with, and among
us, was worth enduring the misery and suffering of refusing palliative,
pain-relieving narcotics. Jason had much work left to complete.
I regret that there was so much between us that was, and will remain, unspoken;
however, Jason's courage, Jason's generosity of spirit, Jason's enthusiasm
for celebrating the Paschal mystery, as well as Jason's love for his friends
in The Asiatic Society of Japan, will always remain with me -- and you.
Like you, I think of Jason, now, in the Company of Heaven -- where God's
perfect, sweet music is not confined to the select hours of the concert
halls Jason frequented.
May Light Perpetual shine upon him.
Amen.
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