So this blog has primarily been revived (recreated?) in memory of Jasper Beck, who used to run a blog for this office back when the office was a tiny stuffy houseboat lacking any semblance of climate control.
"In memory of Jasper Beck?" Yes, Paul & Jason explain below what we are dealing with:
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We in Amsterdam have had the pleasure and privilege to work with someone that epitomizes the best part of work life. That is the sense of a family-structure, with people who express themselves and believe that the whole work experience should be positive and fun. This someone is Jasper Beck. He was one of the first employees here in Amsterdam. Part of the early crew on the boat. He embraced the culture of the company, added his beliefs to it and applied his intellect to making Naked tangible in all the work he did. He understood what family meant as he came from a very strong family background and brought those values to work with him every day. His parents are still together even now in their 80's. We tell you all of this because in a family, even one as widely dispersed as ours its important that we celebrate the people that keep this sense of family alive. They are our social glue and at times aren't rewarded for the things they do that keep us social, smiling and on the right track even when times test us.
Unfortunately, as seems to be the case, a very cruel twist of fate has removed our chance of telling Jasper all of this as, after a very innocuous stomache complaint that materialized just ten days ago, he passed away on Monday morning still shy of 30. The cause of death was a ruptured artery in his groin. A "one in a million" condition.
We will miss Jasper as he was the best of us and a great example of what we can become. His death has cut short a blossoming career and taken from us one of our own. A true example of what we should strive to be.
He leaves behind his family, his partner Bibi and whole host of friends within the Amsterdam community that will all share this loss.
In the short term we would ask you all to raise a glass to Jasper and remember him as he was one of us. And please, feel free to spare a thought for Jasper; and if you feel under the weather, go and see your doctor and don't be a dick thinking you are hard and that it'll go away.
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RIP Super Jasper 21.10.78 - 15.09.08
As this blog itself is dedicated to Jasper, we will look to remember a bunch of funny mishaps, jokes, and experiences from current and past Naked folks that they shared with JB and invite you to share some in the comments as well.
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5 comments:
Hello you lot
Ive not been at Naked very long. For most of the time ive been here though Jasper sat in front of me. That is apart from a brief sojourn when he decided to change the world by working for the Dutch government. Fortunately this state of mind lasted little more than a couple of months until his sanity returned, at which point he came back. I remember at the time him telling me and Jason that although the government had money, power and a working week that gave him every second Friday off, it didn't have chaos. As Jasper said " i don't like chaos but i like to see where it can take you" I like to believe he missed this spiritual home. He was one of the lads here. A partner in crime. And the place just wasnt the same or function as it did when he wasnt here. Both he and Jason brought order to this place and the work we do. He also swore like a trooper and was the easiest person in the world to wind up, be it about his very small effeminate man bag, pulling muscles at his boxing class (because of the weight of the cards he had to carry around the ring between rounds) or his complete dislike for curry which we tried to get him to eat every Friday. He once complained that the salami sandwich from small world was to spicy to eat!!!!! We affectionately called him 'Chart director' but the truth was he was the master of order and precision that combined with Jason our 'head of spelling' to get the work done while i (head of mockery) took the piss. He was the man that could see the words, thoughts and themes of what naked wanted to talk about before they made it to a page. As a company we will miss him but as a person we will see him every day. sitting opposite us. Pointing out our stupidity and laughing along with us as we all ripped the piss out of each other. And although we will see him with that little man bag and terrorist scarf wrapped round his neck, arguing why another curry was the dumbest idea we'd ever had, i will miss him.
Heres to you super Jasper.
Paul
Hey I wanted to also share a few thoughts about the short time in which I knew JB. Or as the name tag above his desk reads: Jasmine Black.
I only met jasper a few months ago (circa may 08) when I came in to talk about doing a thesis here. From the outset we clicked, had a few good conversations and all that developed further once I began sitting in the office during the summer. Well, I believe JB thought the guys would take the piss out of him less and shift some attention to me.... well he was wrong, we just ganged up on him in the piss taking (mostly since I also love a good spicy curry).
But from I got here, the valuable support, interest and encouragement he gave to me first in terms of my thesis and second in terms of joining the family never went unnoticed. In fact, JB had told me straight up that he wanted to attend my graduation in december with ma family, a conversation I wont forget soon since it showed genuine interest and the makings of a great friendship. I expect to hear stories similar to this from all the other friends of his in the future simply because I believe that was the kind of guy JB was: compassionate, thoughtful, and a person who possessed an eye to see into people and really understand what they are about. That, or he just liked the sound of knowing someone from jamaica who didn't stand behind the bar of a coffee shop. *shrug*
In effect, the loss of JB to me personally is a loss of someone I looked forward to getting to know further, working with for years to come, and most importantly - learning from and sharing fun experiences wtih. In essence we had just opened a new book, not even a chapter, on times to come, and now the book is lost. Saddening.
RIP JB (I'm keeping that Jasmine Black name tag)
I didn't know Jasper, but it's clear from the huge outpouring of sentiments from the folks at Naked Amsterdam that he was a heck of a guy and will be greatly missed. I'm thinking of all you there, and send my love.
Goodbye, Jasper. May your memory live on forever in the hearts of all your friends.
While I only met Jasper a few times when I was over in the Amsterdam office, he made a big impression on me as one of the most level-headed and generally sorted-out people I've ever known. A tragic loss.
I first met Jasper in 2004 at .Bone whilst he was an intern. What a remarkable character. We use to talk about him moving abroad and taking an opportunity to have an adventure in life outside Holland. Jasper was always curious and inquisitive. Always wanting to know more about people who had come from far away. Stories to be discovered from far off lands. A couch navigator he enjoyed people coming to him to share their adventures. But I hoped one day he'd just take off and go around the world for himself.
After I left Holland we kept in touch via Hyves. It was through this channel I learnt of Jasper's untimely departure. It upset me deeply for he was a young man with so much more to achieve. Wise beyond his years and just one of lifes lovable characters.
I think about you Jasper quite regularly and on my continued global travels I'm partly living it for you also. Looking at life in a way to always be curious and always have an open mind - I'm even eating spicy food on your behalf!
We constantly planned upon my return to Amsterdam we would sit down and share life stories together. He always insisted that I share with him my journeys and give him intimate insights to my adventures. I always told him to get off his ass and come out of Holland and explore the world for himself.
I'm deeply saddened you are not here to meet my beautiful daughter Sophia as I'm sure she would have called you uncle Jasper!
Thank you naked for this blog and when I return to Amsterdam in early 2011 let's all meet up and have a drink to celebrate his life and share our Jasper stories. Thank you.
Andrew
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