Eulogy

There are only a few people I’ve met that truly know how to bring out the best in someone. My cousin Peter was one of them. 

He was genuinely fascinated with the experiences of those he met. Drawing stories out of people with his boundless curiosity. Peter was a celebrator, an amplifier of all that is good in someone. Leaning in, eager to learn & share what he learned with others. 

To Peter, a good story was something to savor for retelling. Something to tuck away in your back pocket and carry with you so you can lay it down on the table like a poker hand at the right moment to enhance the conversation. Something to share and make into legend. I loved hearing his stories, his own and of those he met along the way.

My cousin was an accelerant, a magnifier. As long as someone was enjoying themselves, that was good enough for him. I think that’s why he loved the Grateful Dead scene so much. It truly made him happy to see so many people just digging the music with wild abandon. Pure, ecstatic, unbridled joy. The world could use more of that.

He showed me a clip of a concert he went to where a downpour broke up the set and while most people ran for cover, he zoomed in on the lone hippie out there just splashing away and having fun, not a care in the world.

Peter celebrated that man’s joy.

We were born only a few months apart. My dad came back to New York from Japan a newlywed and my mom and Peter’s mom became fast friends. My understanding is they both visited their doctor together and, on the same day, both found out they were pregnant.

Our first years we grew up together. I have only a flash of a memory from that time. It was after some dinner party and while all the grown ups were relaxing after their meal in the living room, listening to The Beatles, Peter and I decided to crack everyone up by bursting into the room dancing a jig when that nonsensical song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da came on.

Peter, spreading joy again.

Our parents went their own ways as us Kennedys tend to do and I only saw Peter a few times as we left New York and eventually moved to Japan. You can ask me later about a visit to Kenny’s Castaways on Bleeker Street with fake IDs and a couple of years after that, an epic week spent in the Bahamas when we were thirteen highlighted by bumping into members of Iron Maiden and my first kiss on the beach.

Tyler, our son, first met the Franklin Kennedys when he moved out here to go to school at BU. We were living in California but Peter’s took him in like a long, lost son bringing him to Shelter Island and showing him the places he loved. He met Beth, Sam, and Emmett and they immediately welcomed him into their fold. Later, when our daughter Julia moved out to start school at Clark in Worcester we knew we could count on the Franklin Clan to be there if necessary.

When Izumi and I moved back to New York City six years ago, I finally got to spend some time with Peter and get to know him again. During our visits I got to learn about his adventures and shenanigans as a young man in New York. He taught me how to look at New York and how to move around the city. The neighborhood we live in, a remarkably quiet cul-de-sac just a 15-minute stroll from Grand-frigging-Central was introduced to us by Peter. Walking around New York the first couple of times was like learning to ride a bike with training wheels. Peter gave me his cheat code to the city. In some ways, he was like the brother I never had.

The past week has been increadibly difficult but it’s during times like these you really learn what a family is made of. Beth, you are an amazing woman – Peter is so lucky to have met you. Sam & Emmett too – you both have been remarkable in your ability to keep it together.

Beth, thank you for the tribute. Your post was beautiful. A few days ago, Julia texted that she was eating a bowl of ice cream and cereal in Peter’s honor. I thought it would be fun to treat everyone today to ice cream and cereal but when I texted Beth to ask how many were coming, I had to reconsider the logistics.  Beth, Sam, and Emmett, you have an incredible group of friends and family that have come together to support you. I’m sure you know it but all of us in this room are here for you, always

Tonight, everyone go home and eat cereal & ice cream in honor of Peter.

Celebrate his joy.

The Playlist

A couple of us who knew Peter’s love of the Grateful Dead put together a playlist of music to be played as background music to a slideshow of photos that played at his service. For those that are curious about the origins of the music, here’s the curated list including a few other tunes requested by his family that are sprinkled in as palate cleansers.

Artist	Song	Source
Grateful Dead	Bertha	New Haven, 1977
Grateful Dead	I Know You Rider	Fillmore East, 1970
Bob Marley	Exodus	Album
Grateful Dead	Mister Charlie	Hollywood, 1971
Grateful Dead	Ripple	Fillmore East, 1970
Blue Öyster Cult	Godzilla	Album
Grateful Dead	Box of Rain	Album
Grateful Dead	Big Railroad Blues	Copenhagen, 1972
Bob Marley	Three Little Birds	Album
Grateful Dead	Cumberland Blues	London, 1972
Cat Stevens	Father and Son	Album
Grateful Dead	The Stranger	London, 1972
The Cure	Just Like Heaven	Album
Grateful Dead	Cassidy	Buffalo, 1977
Grateful Dead	Sing Me Back Home	Philadelphia, 1973
Grateful Dead	The Wheel	Atlanta, 1977
Paul McCartney	Here Today	Album
Grateful Dead	Bird Song	Atlanta, 1980
Grateful Dead	Peggy-O	Sacramento, 1979
Grateful Dead	Fire on the Mountain	Ventura, 1985
Grateful Dead	To Lay Me Down	San Francisco, 1980
Grateful Dead	Terrapin Station	Red Rocks, 1983
Grateful Dead	Brokedown Palace	San Francisco, 1980
Grateful Dead	Cold Rain & Snow	Buffalo, 1989
Grateful Dead	Baby Blue	Philadelphia, 1982