For those of you who have been following The Green Dandelion the past few months, you see a familiar pattern: Amy, our recycling coordinator guru blogs on Mondays, Pat, our director of Support Operations blogs a ‘tip of the week’ on Wednesdays and yours truly wraps up the week with items and issues that are both relalted to sustainability/recycling and what we in facilities do at UR. We try to keep it light and fun, but there are times when ‘fun’ seems so, so far away. This is one of those times.
Earlier this week, Ya-Sin Yawn a painter with River Campus Facilities/Residential Life lost his life. He was the victim of a cowardly, senseless act of violence. So many people lost so much the day Ya-Sin died: his family, his friends, his colleagues, the University and the world, too. Ya-Sin was a gentle, kind soul. A man with a smile for EVERYONE. A good man, taken way too soon. Ya-Sin was a painter, a working-class guy, making ends meet and doing his part to be a good man. He was also an actor; so he shared his talent with others. We will miss his generosity, his vitality, his smile and a lot of us will miss his hugs. I am angry and sad that I’ll never get another hug from him. But I want to do something for him. You all can do something too.
Ya-Sin had a healthy respect for this planet and I know there will be many times in the upcoming weeks where he’ll be remembered. If you knew Ya-Sin or even if this is the first time you’ve heard his name, please perform an act of kindness for the earth in his name: some extra recycling, turning off lights and air conditioners, unplugging unused appliances, biking or carpooling, the ideas are endless. I’m going to do something positive and life affirming for him, but I’m doing it for myself and my planet too. RIP
For the University’s official statement regarding Ya-Sin’s passing, please follow this link : http://www.rochester.edu/@rochester/archive/issue.php?iss=1013
Great tribute to Ya-Sin. My sincere sympathy goes out to his family. He will be missed.