Jennifer Murphy Clement - Online Memorial Website

A FEW OF JENNIFER'S FAVORITE THINGS

Places: Hawaii, any Beach/ Ocean, NYC, Coxon Lake.

Color: Aquamarine, Sage.

Clothes: workout/athletic/sweats, Hawaiian beach clothes, sandals/flip-flops, "Life is Good" brand, surfing shorts and hoodies.

Foods: Buttermilk, Cottage Cheese, Green Olives, New York Style (thin crust) Pizza with green olives and extra cheese, Teriyaki wings, California Rolls, Ruffles & Onion Dip, Chicken Noodle Soup, M&Ms, 7-11 Slurpees, Lite Beer & Chardonnay (Jennifer and James stopped eating red meats in June, 2003).

TV: CSI, Numb3rs, House, Murder She Wrote, ER, The Apprentice, Project Runway, Top Chief, Quincy M.E., any mystery on the Lifetime Channel.

Music: Brother IZ (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole), Whitney Houston, Commodores, Culture Beat, Diana Ross, Sade, Seal, Frank Sinatra, U2, M People, Outkast, Pearl Jam, Earth, Wind & Fire, Weather Girls (It's Raining Men), Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Talking Heads, David Byrne, Pink Floyd (esp. The Wall), Yes, Laurie Anderson (esp. Strange Angles), the car radio was always on the '70's Classic Rock" channel.

Movies: Harry Potter series, The Lion King, Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, A League of Their Own, Mona Lisa Smile, Freedom Writers, The Year Without Santa Claus.

Books: Harry Potter series (had to have the first day they came out), Patricia Cornwell (Scarpetta series), James Patterson (the Women's Murder Club series), Janet Evanovich.

Sports: NY Giants, NY Yankees, NASCAR, Surfing, Golf.

Misc. Sunflowers, Candles, Sea Shells, Swatch watches, hip Sunglasses, Tiggr (Winnie-the-Pooh), Cats, Giraffes, the latest sports cars & Jeeps, Halloween, Fourth of July, her Birthday, the Brooklyn Bridge, shopping at Target, Whole Foods, & Ross.

As soon as the last day of school was over, we packed up the car and headed to the lake for the summer. These summers were the greatest, for they truly captured the essence of childhood and I got to share them with my best friend Jennifer.

From the time we were about 5 until we had to enter the real world (summer jobs), Jennifer and I would spend the days and nights of our summers on one adventure after the other. My childhood lake memories are of joy, innocence, friendship and family. The friendship I had with Jennifer during those summers was ideal — I hope my son (and soon to arrive daughter) will find similar bonds of friendship.

The following are abridged highlights of my summers with Jennifer:

• Skinny’s
• Jacob’s ladder
• Catching crayfish and red f’s
• Berry picking
• Mrs Murphy’s pizza night
• Sleepovers in the loft
• Waterskiing
• Trying to sail
• Trips to Scranton (big shopping adventure)
• Lake Day — egg toss and 3 legged race
• General Hospital at Murphy’s (no TV at the Grace’s)
• Miss America Pageant
• Red Rover
• Capture the Flag
• Flashlight tag
• Crashing into the display of glassware at Grand Union and leaving Jenny Grace in the cart helpless
• Alice's Cow Palace
• Mopeds
• Walks to the tree
• Chocolate Licorice (Mr. Murphy’s favorite)

This is a picture from Coxton Lake, circa 1975. It is taken in the backyard of our green cottage. From left to right; Jean Butler, Jennifer (in pink tie-dye and checkered pants), Tom Grace, me holding my sister Jenny, Cass Grace, Cindy Fitz, John and Jessica.

At that time we lived directly across the lake from the Murphys and we spent much of our summer with them. When school got out, we waited for the Murphys to arrive, we knew that’s when the fun would begin. We had endless happy days full of swimming, exploring, playing games, walking to the mailboxes, camping out and waiting for pizza night with Mrs. Murphy. Our summers were simple and quiet and pretty close to perfection.

Jennifer and my sister Cass were inseparable. Jennifer was at our house when we woke up in the morning and she was there at the end of the day. All the lake families were an extended family and Jennifer was a solid part of ours. She visited my grandparents in Susquehanna, went grocery shopping with my mother, and (amazingly) helped clean on Monday mornings.

She was a great sport, sweet and fun and good-natured. I will always remember her white blond hair and freckles and that deep voice and throaty, infectious laugh. I will miss the yearly possibility of a summer reunion or chance meeting at the lake, although for me, Jennifer will always be at the lake

On her first day as a student in my lithography class at Pratt, Jennifer seemed so effervescent and happy, I wondered if she had just gotten some really great news. That was before I realized that every day was really great news for Jennifer.

Not long after that first meeting, she invited me to her studio to see some of her previous work.  She explained that this work was a reaction to something bad that had happened to her.  I saw chaotic compositions with bold color, energetic mark making and just enough order to hold them all together.  I loved the work, and I was amazed by Jennifer's capacity to conquer adversity by staring it down and transforming it into something beautiful and positive.  As her work evolved, she went on to produce an impressive body of beautifully dynamic black and white lithographs for her solo thesis exhibition.

After 41 years of teaching at Pratt, Jennifer ranks high as one of my all-time favorites.  Her smile defined happiness and lit up a room like a thousand candles.  Her mere presence radiated a spectacular energy, and her enormous spirit inspired enthusiasm for life itself.  She lived more in her 38 years than many ever will.

I will always remember her this way.

• Jennifer's sunny outlook, energy and quirkyness.
• I had only known Jennifer briefly when she asked if I would like to join her shopping in Syracuse, I didn't have my wallet with me, so she loaned me any money I needed.  After shopping we went to Armory Square and had sandwiches at Clarke's, and found out our mother's are both named "Alice".   A few days later Jennifer called to ask me if I still wanted the shoes I had liked that were too small, as she had found them in a NYC store in my size. 
• We would visit the state parks and hike the trails, half way around, when I would be ready to rest, Jennifer would tell me that she had already ran miles earlier that day and would be five feet ahead of me.
• Her laugh when I mis-spoke and said I liked the "side effects" of a movie instead of the special effects. 
• Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge with Jennifer and viewing lower Manhattan. 
• The ferry ride across Lake Champlain and the long drive back to Ithaca after the weekend in Burlington.
• Camping out at a summer party in Morristown, I think that was Annie's.
• Visiting her grandmother's grave in Trumansburg late at night and falling over headstones, I still have a scar, just 'cause Jennifer wanted to introduce me.
• Looking behind me and seeing Jennifer with her t-shirt over her head shouting "I am corn-hole-io". 
• She talked me into a bowling team "Seoul Mates" - we won the league!
• The hundreds of e-mails from Panama, picking her up when she returned and seeing her sunny smile.
• Visiting her in Florida.
• Jennifer was chief-matchmaker for me and my now, husband.

One of my fondest memories of Jenn, was when J&J were waiting at the top of the airline ramp as we exited the plane in Orlando.  There was Jennifer, acting like a "Court Jester," jumping up and down & waving her arms in anticipation of Ben & Charlie as they raced up the ramp & leaped into her arms with lots of hugs, kisses & Giggles!!!       Oh, how she loved her niece & four nephews! 

May we all remember the JOY that she brought to so many of us!

"Rest in your new found Peace, Jennifer."

"Me"...my first memory of Jennifer was when she came next door to meet my dad.  He asked her name and she replied, "Me?"..and "Me" she will always be to poppy who is profoundly sad at the news.

The fondest memories of Jennifer were at the lake of course.  Her tickling our feet under the sun on Memorial Day when we were supposed to be doing some kind of work to get the houses ready for summer.   Her wishing to always be apart of everything Jess and I did, her striving to be the best field hockey player she could be.   Those "clinics" I held in the backyard to get her ready for the season.  What really makes me smile and also makes me sad is remembering our running together with Mr. Murph to get in shape.  The most special thing about Jennifer is her deep and kind heart.  Her smile.  The way she truly cared about her friends and family.  The way she would listen, genuinely when you spoke.  She was a friend who you wouldn't see for years or even decades but you could always talk with her as if it was yesterday the last time we spoke.  Jennifer will surely be missed by all who were lucky enough to know her.  There is an another empty space in my heart as I think that I will never speak to Jen again.  Going to San Diego at the end of the month, I know when I look out into the Pacific, I will see Jennifer and as each wave crashes upon the shore, I know she will be with me.  Jennifer will always be a part of our lake as well.  May God bless you, Jen.

It is almost impossible to stress how deeply and profoundly Jennifer touched my life. I have never had a friend who listened and genuinely cared for me in such a selfless manner.  To lose Jen is painful; and wounding. From the moment we met in Ithaca New York, we developed an instant friendship that we continued for well over a decade. No matter where Jen moved to, we always stayed in contact. Her yearly visits to her moms house in Trumansburg provided us with a special time that we could catch up on all of the events in each others lives. Jen never forgot my bithday; and was always there with a sympathetic ear and words of encouragement. Fortunately, I've saved every single piece of correspondance that I have ever received from Jennifer. From letters, cards, and postcards; I'm grateful that I will have these memories to last me a lifetime. The cards that she sent me reflected her great sense of humor that I will miss. My favorite card from her said: " We're not friends just because we like the same things."  And on the inside it read: " We also dislike the same people." She sent me that card to cheer me up; and knew that it would make me laugh. I miss her; and our talks that lasted for hours. I will carry her memory forever.

I remember having a blast playing basketball with Jennifer in the barn on Swamp College Road. She was so fun because she loved to laugh at herself and rib everyone else!

I'll never forget the wonderful weekend Jennifer, James, Mike and I spent in Monterey not long after we'd moved there. We went to Point Lobos (picture attached), watched "Weeds," and had Korean food - it was a treat.