Jana’s Room

On November 22 (Jana’s birthday), a small group of North Star staff, current members, and friends gathered to officially rename our Music Room to “Jana’s Room.” We will celebrate this change publicly at our Staff Appreciation and Variety Show on Friday, December 9th. The room has new signage, as well as a photo of Jana and the guitar she purchased with the support of the Ozzy Klate Memorial Fund.

We all continue to miss Jana. Here are the words I offered at the re-naming ceremony.

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Welcome.

Thank you, Nini, Jen, Kizzi, John, Melanie, Loran, Josh, Susannah, Kim, Olivia, Ellen, and everyone who has been part of bringing us to this moment.

I, along with the rest of the staff, have been waiting for this moment to do something on behalf of our organization to recognize our feelings of loss and pain, and to permanently memorialize our love and admiration for Jana Abromowitz. Naming a room here offers a small bit of resolution, and naming this room for her is particularly satisfying. I hold memories of walking by and seeing Jana here, sometimes alone, sometimes with others, but always with her mischievous grin. Of course, she was always up to something good, something creative, something that filled her spirit with joy. Her name, her photo, and her guitar obtained with support from the Ozzy Klate Memorial Fund will reside here with us.

I, and the rest of the staff, look forward to directing people to “Jana’s Room” and each of us will have our own feelings as we do so. This small, regular reminder of saying her name is one active way we will keep Jana’s memory fresh and alive. May her smile and her spirit infuse joy to our current and future members here as they explore music, creativity, and feel the awe when it all fits together.

We now officially rename this room: “Jana’s Room.” We will celebrate this moment publicly at our Fall Variety Show and Staff Appreciation Event on Friday, December 9th (5:30 pm – 8:00 pm) at the Montague Common Hall. See you there.