Benjamin Seidman, July 17, 1983 - February 28, 2007
I got an email at 1 am last night. Technically, I guess that makes it this morning. Anyway, it was from Courtney, an MC alum, letting me and several other grads know that our friend, Ben Seidman, had passed away.
Ben was 23 years old.
I don't know yet exactly what happened. I don't think anyone does. Ben's mom called Ben G (as we called him, because of these two guys had the same name, clearly) to give him the news, and he proceeded to tell several people. I think he sent an email to the old Mirecourt list, which I'm no longer on. Seidman had diabetes, so the guess is it may have had something to do with that. I suppose we'll know more after BenG is able to get in touch with Seidman's parents again.
It's unreal. I mean, it's not like Seidman and I were best friends. He was a sophomore and I was senior, so it's not like we spent every waking moment together, like BenG did when they were roommates. But Seidman lived on my hall senior year, and me and Scott, we liked hanging out with the younguns from time to time. They were a good bunch of guys and we got along with the four of them really well. Seidman was quiet most of the time, but he just oozed comedy. And not always of the intentional variety. I admit, he was the butt of more than one joke. But he could take it just as well as he could dish it out. You know how guys get in college dorm settings. But I liked him, you know? He was really smart and interesting to talk to, even sober, haha. And just by virtue of him being in Mirecourt, I feel a certain closeness to him. Everyone in Mirecourt doesn't know everyone at the same level. JC, Ernie, Scott? Those guys are like my best friends. I know them very well. They know me. I didn't know Seidman as well as I know those guys, but there was still a connection. I was surprisingly sad when I got the news. I mean, I didn't expect to just shrug it off or anything like that. And I admittedly hadn't really spoken to him since graduation, some four years ago (if you can believe that). We may have poked in through Facebook from time to time, but that hardly counts as really being in touch with someone. Despite all that, when I heard, I was sad. I am sad. I immediately began to miss him.
He's Ben Seidman. The Package Shitter. The guy who "hit it." Part of the crew that pooled their money and bought me and Scott a bottle of Courvoisier as a sort of "senior gift." The guy who's funny intentionally, funnier unintentionally, and was always up for a good time. How could I not miss someone like that?
He was Ben Seidman. And he was only 23 years old.
Ben was 23 years old.
I don't know yet exactly what happened. I don't think anyone does. Ben's mom called Ben G (as we called him, because of these two guys had the same name, clearly) to give him the news, and he proceeded to tell several people. I think he sent an email to the old Mirecourt list, which I'm no longer on. Seidman had diabetes, so the guess is it may have had something to do with that. I suppose we'll know more after BenG is able to get in touch with Seidman's parents again.
It's unreal. I mean, it's not like Seidman and I were best friends. He was a sophomore and I was senior, so it's not like we spent every waking moment together, like BenG did when they were roommates. But Seidman lived on my hall senior year, and me and Scott, we liked hanging out with the younguns from time to time. They were a good bunch of guys and we got along with the four of them really well. Seidman was quiet most of the time, but he just oozed comedy. And not always of the intentional variety. I admit, he was the butt of more than one joke. But he could take it just as well as he could dish it out. You know how guys get in college dorm settings. But I liked him, you know? He was really smart and interesting to talk to, even sober, haha. And just by virtue of him being in Mirecourt, I feel a certain closeness to him. Everyone in Mirecourt doesn't know everyone at the same level. JC, Ernie, Scott? Those guys are like my best friends. I know them very well. They know me. I didn't know Seidman as well as I know those guys, but there was still a connection. I was surprisingly sad when I got the news. I mean, I didn't expect to just shrug it off or anything like that. And I admittedly hadn't really spoken to him since graduation, some four years ago (if you can believe that). We may have poked in through Facebook from time to time, but that hardly counts as really being in touch with someone. Despite all that, when I heard, I was sad. I am sad. I immediately began to miss him.
He's Ben Seidman. The Package Shitter. The guy who "hit it." Part of the crew that pooled their money and bought me and Scott a bottle of Courvoisier as a sort of "senior gift." The guy who's funny intentionally, funnier unintentionally, and was always up for a good time. How could I not miss someone like that?
He was Ben Seidman. And he was only 23 years old.