Jen Zen Weinstein
San Francisco, d.19.August.2018
Jen was a walker at Aero when I started on Hiro's board in 1989.
Wheels and Cat and Rocketman and Woody where there along with O. The
scene was electricdynamo, we were all young, free and wildcrazy, we
were immortal, still are. We can never really stop being there for
we never really stop being, we are, we just are. Jen was burning
like a house on fire, she was hard to see, so bright it hurt my
eyes. I knew she was a sister right away, a lost member of my tribe.
No, I was lost, she helped me get found. I found myself in all of
us, and Jen was right near the center of our world. We all knew her,
we all loved her. She was tough and sweet and cool yet
vulnerable...perfectly flawed, she shone, she shimmered, she quaked
with toughness.She called me on my bullshit, I can hear her right
now, "Bullshit" she would tell me, dozens of times. (i'm a
bullshitter) How she came to be our Dogmother is not really
important, the fact is she just belonged there. She was a natural
born leader, a compassionate fellow worker, she loved her dogs and
they worshiped her, she nourished them and they would fall on their
swords for her. I know some who would have died for her, who are
dying inside now. Jen Zen is the closest thing we got to a true to
life fuckin saint, she suffered and made our sufferin bearable, how
could we not persevere, she did, we must. By sheer force of will she
made us all better, Jen pushed so we could coast and I will never,
ever forget the love for life she exhibited. Jen darling, your
fortitude will forever be an example to us all. Your life had
meaning, we should strive to find some in our own by studying yours.
See you some night soon in my dreams baby, then; rest until we meet
again. - Xander Robb
Jen Zen passed away on August 19th, 2018. She courageously fought
cancer for so long and demonstrated her incredible strength. Jen
touched the hearts of so many: decades of messengers, clubs, concert
makers, sport arena providers, wherever she went- she made friends
all over- she was a Queen. It is hard to imagine this world without
her. She will be cherished always. – SFBMA
fun fact I actually met Jen Zen and Bok Choy for the first time at
the messenger champoinships in Berlin 25 years ago August 1993. I
had seen them around SF on the streets and elsewhere but had never
hung out with or talked to either of them up until that point in
time. Never laughed harder never had a better time in my life. I
love you guys – Matt Royston
Carla and I are deeply saddened to hear of Jen Zen's passing. I am
forever honored to be her friend she will never be forgotten. Huge
respect to Bok Choy Mark and Chrissy Slamon and just everyone so
many people I can't name you all or thank you enough for what all of
you have done for Jen all of these years. This is what happens when
people really stick together. We send our love to all her friends
and family near and far – heartbroken – Matt Royston
i may not have ever known Jen Zen as well as some, or even many, in
the sf messenger community - and i may not have even really been in
any sort of contact other than this facebook stuff since i left sf
for portland... but her passing today, even knowing full well it was
coming, even knowing that shed decided it was time, that the cancer
shed fought tooth and nail for years now had won and it was all
inevitable, is a colossal punch in the gut - because its not just
hitting me, its hitting my whole, far-flung community of sf
messenger friends old and new, and the knowledge of what she meant
to ALL of us, has walloped me. i will remember all of the good, and
there was so very much of it. RIP Jen - the worlds a little less
bright this evening, but i dont expect that to last, on account of
the brightness of all of our memories of you. – Joel Metz
Many times we'd come into Black Dog to hang out,she'd have
Teletubbies kids TV on.Id said I wouldn't stop by the hospital,but
glad I did,things went so fast...once she got home.Must have been
ruff when Black Dog went to Pelican as Bryan,Ralph and I fit
in,moving with the tags.Black Dog was a special place...with
her.Bryan gone too,and who knows who else...but we all knew
that,just not when,do what you can.I feel a deep sense at her
passing on,so much of all our party life for so many years,we all
knew her.I wasn't ready for it so soon,I haven't had time to let it
sink in yet. - Jr Junior
