BROUGHT BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
For Danny Derito- 11/26/50-12/8/21
By Peter Vuono
Years ago, I wanted to write a fictional tale about a comedian, who after having a heart attack was brought back to life because young comedians were copying his jokes so frequently. In the ending, the comedian's widow met her husband at a club reincarnated. He proceeded to introduce her to famed comedians under their real names such as Julius Henry Marx and Milton Berlinger. I realized that this is not so far fetched after all when I read Thich Nhat Hanh's "The Art of Living".
In this book, Hahn, a Buddhist Monk, mentions that none of us really dies because of a phenomena called "continuation". When one sees a cloud, it slowly dissipates but it then changes to rain falling to earth and then continuing above in the water cycle.
If my students remember anything about me they will remember many laughs and perhaps facts that I taught them. I still mourn the passing of my friend and magician Don Savoie However, I still do many tricks that Don taught me. Therefore, Don's body is gone but his memory remains forever. This is what made me think of a dear school friend-Danny Derito who recently passed before Christmas at a young age.
Danny and I were good friends in the 70's at Massasoit Community College. We dined together, went to restaurants together, visited friends together and were on an intramural hockey team together. More than anything, I remember Danny's perpetual warmth and humor. He was so funny, that even now, 47 years later I STILL use his jokes.
Before Danny became self employed he was working maintenance at a popular restaurant. I walked in one evening and he was arranging the flower pots and floral arrangements. He immediately exclaimed, "Look at this, they've made me the plant manager".
At an awards ceremony that I attended at school, Danny was, of course the MC. He was dressed to the nines in a new tuxedo. Half way through the ceremony, Danny announced, "I'm terribly sorry for the way I'm dressed, my tailor had the flu". There were dozens like this that I still use today.
Thich Nhat Hanh, was right; although I mourn the absence of Danny's corporeal self, his warmth and jokes remain in my heart and mind and it is there that I frequently visit him. This will hold true also of all your friends, loved ones and inspirations who have passed. They are not truly dead; they live on in your memory and in your heart. They will ALWAYS be brought back by popular demand.
"THE KEY TO IMMORTALITY IS BY LIVING A LIFE WORTH REMEMBERING"- Bruce Lee
