Hospice Situation – Randy Jorgensen

Randy is in Solvay House, 801 Baylis St., awaiting a liver transplant. I don’t believe he’s on the short list. You know what your duty is. He’s not the Rugged Fish he once was.

42 Comments

Dave Sorensen

about 15 years ago

I was told he got on the list for a liver when he was in the hospital , but now he may be too weak to receive one even if one becomes available. I saw him a couple of weeks ago. He had been napping so he was a bit confused, but he was able to visit a bit.

Christian McShane (Gwanto)

about 15 years ago

He's not actually on a list. If he regains strength and stays strong for at least another month or so, the doctors say he can get on the list. I really hate to be pessimistic, but I honestly don't think that's going to happen. He's too weak and his health has steadily declined to this point within the past year. In the 20 years I've known him, I've never seen him this bad, not even after he had a stroke 4 or so years ago. 

My point is, if you're planning to visit him, visit him now. It may be your last chance, and I'm not being overly dramatic. 

For those of you trying to put a face with the name, Randy is on the cover of Charlie Parr's "King Earl" album (in the foreground).

Thanks much for posting this, by the way....

Christian McShane (Gwanto)

about 15 years ago

Thanks, Paul. Here's a fun little background story for y'all. 

Charlie told me he wanted an intimidating, pissed-off, scruffy-looking guy for the cover and I instantly said I know exactly who you're looking for - Randy Jorgensen. The three of us went out on a photo shoot a couple weeks after, and the two of them became instant friends and laughed like crazy. Which sucked for me, because no matter what I did, I couldn't get a shot of Randy or Charlie looking anywhere near intimidating or pissed off (scruffy was no problem). Not to mention, it was a really nice bright sunny winter day. After about three hours shooting photos all over Duluth with no luck whatsoever, a quick thought came to me. I told Charlie he had to stop his truck and hop out (we happened to be in the West End at the time). He hopped out and walked around while I walked directly into the sun. I put by back to the sun, lined things up quickly and told them both to look at me and shot the pic. That's why they both look pissed off... really, neither of them are... they're just trying to look at me while I'm directly in the sun.

zra

about 15 years ago

that *is* a great shot, uncle no hair.

Gwanto

about 15 years ago

Thanks, Zra - one of the best I've ever taken for an album. I was lucky. 

Some asides - the two in the photo are a couple of the most salt of the earth guys you'd ever like to meet. I know we all know about Charlie, but same goes for Randy. I think both of them may have been cut from the same switch, which makes the photo even more weird for me, given Randy's current state. Back in the day, Randy was punk icon in Duluth, which Baci can back me up on. He's not as old as you may think - he was only 47 when this photo was taken (6 years ago).

One last aside.... the truck Randy is sitting in is the same that Charlie drove to Montana to star in a movie that was accepted by Sundance and nominated for awards.... that no one will ever see. Only the soundtrack is available. 

There's a lot of history in that photo....

baci

about 15 years ago

I had dreams of Randy last night. I was in his house sleeping on a couch. Cats and huge rusted gears. Sun light was streaming through the dusty windows, highlighting all the dark objects with a rim of gold. He was sitting in a chair, cat in his lap, rocking. Another friend who was in town to celebrate him was there...we were both staying there .. kind of like crashing on his couches.

Dave Sorensen

about 15 years ago

I just got back from Solvay Hospice. Hope springs eternal- he looks and sounds way better than he did 2 weeks ago . The nurses tell him the same thing. I don't know what to think.

purple

about 15 years ago

Wow. I don't know this guy at all. but I'm glad he's doing better. My brother died of liver failure (he was not on a "short" list) and I was unable to be there in his final days. Does he have family that needs a hot dinner? I'd love to help out, just tell me how I can...

melanie

about 15 years ago

ohm Randy. 

20 + years ago and yet I for one will never forget your silent charm.

love and blessings to you.

CANNON CROMBIE

about 15 years ago

AT THIS TIME,  MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU RANDY AND YOUR CAST OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO SPEND ANY REAL AMOUNT OF TIME WITH  YOU .THOUGH WHEN I DID ,IVE ALWAYS ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATIONS.I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST.

Scott Anderson

about 15 years ago

Keep up the good thoughts!  Randy has always been an inspiration to me.  He shall survive!  Long live Randy. I cannot express what he means to me.

Dave Sorensen

about 15 years ago

Just heard that Randy has taken a turn for the worse.What to say?

BlondieRamone

about 15 years ago

I'm so sorry to hear that, Dave. If you or anyone else sees him or talks to him, please tell him I wish him well.

BlondieRamone

about 15 years ago

(I suppose I should sign that, considering I've not yet posted on this board.)

This is Tanya Moldenhauer, formerly Tanya Warwas-Jorgensen.

colleen

about 15 years ago

Hi Tanya This is Randy's great niece,remember me.I just saw Randy for the first time in years.My mom and I and Paulie went to see him.The nurses say it is just a matter of time.He is real weak.Not really making any real eye contact or any communication.It is so amazing how many people know him and have sent him wishes. Thank you. Colleen

Tanya

about 15 years ago

Thanks for the update, Colleen, of course I remember you. I'm going to try to stop by on Thursday after my classes. Hopefully it won't be too late. Thinking of you and all the rest of Randy's friends and family.

Tanya

about 15 years ago

Hey, ToWaRd, thanks for the e-mail update on Saturday. If you see this, please check your inbox.

johehir

about 15 years ago

After seeing Randy a week ago I've been trying to process the experience. A skeletal figure asleep to the their surroundings, at least it appeared to me. The occasional blood-shot eye zoning on something, then closing in sleep. Can you interact with someone in that state? Do I do all the talking? Would he even here me? And what would I say? Do you say good-bye? I'll miss you? I wish we were not the reclusive procrastinators that we are so we could have spent more time together in recent years before you leave?

Some of you may have had long conversations with Randy where emotions were the subject. During this conversation a wide range of emotions may have been discussed. The lonely and dark places were probably brought up. These lonely dark places I believe have led Randy to the physical state he is now. And so in this time where Randy is at possibly the loneliest and darkest place he's been, but I don't know, I am reminded of parts of those conversations where a brightness was mentioned. Moments in life that he described as "being so beautiful that tears of joy just stream down your face." 

On September 1st, 2004 I was sitting in a hospital room when I noticed a familiar silhouette appear by the nurses station and an exited voice began to be heard. I walked to the doorway and gave a wave. His face brightened and he began to cut through the nurses station toward me. "Sorry sir, you'll have to walk around." "But that's my son, right there!" "Yes, I know, but you'll have to walk around to the other side." Ok, ok." And a moment later around the corner comes an exited Randy. "Oh, man, oh man, wow, oh man," he said with slightly trembling lips. And into the room we went and then Randy was able to meet, just a few hours old, his grand daughter.
 
http://www.cpinternet.com/~johehir/randy001.jpg

When you leave us, may the place you go to be bright and your beard dripping wet.

colleen

about 15 years ago

I just talked to my mom and uncle paul (randy's brother) Randy is having a good day today and is rallying back.

Tracy J

about 15 years ago

What you wrote was very touching, Jer.  I'm glad you posted the picture.  That's the Randy I remember.

I remember Randy anxiously looking through the delivery room window the night you were born.  He looked both terrified and excited, jumping up and down trying to get a better look.  He was always looking at you with wonder wherever you were; the crib or running around the yard.  And is it any wonder that, being Randy's son, your second spoken word was "amplifier"?  We were both so flabbergasted and then we couldn't stop laughing.

He called me a few months after our granddaughter was born just to make sure everything was going well.  He was still crying and amazed at how beautiful she was.

It is so hard to think of him wasting away and I hope that, if it's his time to go on, that it is as easy as possible and he finds peace.

Tanya

about 15 years ago

Jeremy, your daughter is beautiful! Thanks for sharing that story and the photograph. 2 years ago in July, I had the joy of meeting my newly born grand-daughter, and there's no sweeter feeling in the world. My thoughts are with you.

Christian McShane

about 15 years ago

Jeremy, I never knew you were so eloquent. I am impressed beyond words. You are truly your father's son. 
I've heard nothing positive from the nurses at the hospice, nor anyone I know who has visited recently..... though Colleen's post is heartening. For now, I'll put my hope in what she wrote. 
By the way, for those who never knew or took the time to know Randy, you've missed out on quite a lot. He was, is, and always will be one of a kind - - and I'm not just saying that under the duress of the situation at hand.

colleen

about 15 years ago

sorry Christian to give false hope. He has a few alert moments when his girlfriend comes each day but that is about the only time there is positive response from Uncle Randy.He is not eating or drinking.His throat just isn't working much.His girlfriend,brother,and sister see him daily along with friends.There isn't much improvement.He takes swabs of water from a sponge.He communicates with his eyes when they are open.He sleeps alot which can be healing as his brother says.But we have hope

Christian McShane

about 15 years ago

Thanks, Colleen, for your honesty. I live 2 hours away these days with an overly-demanding job. We've only visited twice now, but I wish it could be daily. The quickest my family will be able to visit is the 17th. Selfishly, I hope he can make it until then so I can shoo everyone out of the room and give him a heartfelt goodbye.

colleen

about 15 years ago

Just heard from my mom Randy has went to a better place.Last night at midnight.Colleen

Tanya

about 15 years ago

Although I saw this coming, in no way was I prepared to read that yet. I hope he went peacefully. There are so many things left unsaid, but it is my belief that now he knows.

R.I.P. Randy. I'll miss knowing you're in this world.

Tanya

about 15 years ago

For anyone who may have some input, there are two songs, that for years and years Randy said he wanted played at his funeral, the first being, Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division, and the second, This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) by Talking Heads. I promised him many times over that I would do anything in my power to ensure that happened for him. Perhaps this has changed over the years, but I had to put it out there. A promise is a promise.

Oh, I'm so sad... I'm going to listen to both these songs in his honor when I get home from school this afternoon.

colleen

about 15 years ago

Tanya, Randy and his girlfriend Ali preplanned his funeral awhile ago,when he knew that he didn't have much longer to live.Uncle Paulie knows how to get ahold of Ali.I'll see what I can do.His Funeral/memeorial is Monday at 3:00 Colleen

Christian McShane

about 15 years ago

Tanya, thanks for reminding me about the two songs. Randy made me promise to play one more: Here Come the Warm Jets by Brian Eno. I'm planning to bring at least a boombox and I'll play the songs even if I have to blast them from the parking lot.

Tanya

about 15 years ago

Thanks again, Colleen. That's good to know. I'm sure if his wishes remained the same over all these years, they would have included those selections. Please give my love to Paul and the rest of your family. Is the funeral at the Cremation Society in West Duluth like I was told? I'm not certain of the address, but I'm sure I can google it.

Peace,
-T

colleen

about 15 years ago

4100 Grand ave. I just talked to Uncle Paulie.He was going to call Ali.They couldn't remember the name of the song but knew it was talking heads.thank you.My kids are 10 and 14 and never got to meet Randy but I brought them up to see him at hospice.Not the best time to meet their great Uncle.

Tanya

about 15 years ago

That's definitely an appropriate selection too, Christian. Another appropriate artist that comes to mind is Adrian Belew, I think it's The Final Rhino, off of Desire Of The Rhino King, not to mention, if anyone has a recording of the piece he wrote for ArtBeats, which is very Belewesque, and beautiful. He poured his heart and soul into writing and recording that one. Then there's always Einsteurzende Naubauten...

One way or another, this should be no ordinary memorial service, as Randy was anything but ordinary.

Tanya

about 15 years ago

Once again, thanks for the info, Colleen, and you're most welcome. If there is anything at all I can do, please let me know.

I'm sorry your kids never got to meet the "real" Randy. I'm sad that his grand-daughter will never get to know him either, but knowing him, he's watching over her, and weeping those same tears of joy that Jeremy mentioned in his post.

CANNON CROMBIE

about 15 years ago

R.I.P RANDY JORGENSEN. 

 YOUVE TOUCHED ALL OUR LIVES IN SO MANY SPECIAL WAYS .

  ILL NEVER FORGET YOU .THOUGH ARE MEETINGS WERE EXCEPTIONALLY RARE, IT WAS ALWAYS A TREAT WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH YOU. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL HIS LOVED ONES .

Venus DeMars

about 15 years ago

Miss you Randy.
We only re-connected a few times since the old days when I lived in Duluth. I remember our old talks, and music explorations. The time you kept watch over that month long installation I did up there so long ago now, after I'd moved to Minneapolis. 
How you painted yourself blue, and performed musically (with Rugged Fish,) in the middle of it all during the opening night.

I trust you've finally found what you were always looking for.

Rest in peace.
-Venus

M Renee Rautell

about 15 years ago

Tracy, is this Tracy Wold ? I graduated with you if it is...I am Emsley...and I am sister in law to Randy's brothers. Sorry to hear about this...didn't know how sick he was. My sympathy to you and your son.  Renee'E. PHS '77

Tracy J

about 15 years ago

Hey, Renee.

Yes, I'm Tracy (Wold) now Julian.  I remember you well.  Thank you for your thoughtful words.  This all has been pretty devastating for all of us.  While Randy and I were only together and married for around 7 years, we always remained friends.  We produced a wonderful son and shared the joy of having a beautiful granddaughter.  His love for his son and granddaughter was off the charts.  I truly wish he could have stayed around to see his second grandchild, who's due to be born at the end of this year.  I'm positive he'll be there in Spirit, though.  My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Ali and all his friends and family.  We've all lost someone precious and unique with his passing.  We'll all miss him and I hope with all my heart he has found some peace at last.

Tracy Julian

Scott Anderson

about 15 years ago

I once visited Randy, and had an opinion.

   I said:

   "Is that a mint-green van parked out on your street?  Who would want that, I mean, a mint-green anything?

   Randy, petting Tiny, silently laughed and said:  "That's my van."

   I have been putting my foot in my mouth ever since.  It's a good thing.

Christian McShane

about 15 years ago

I was going to say something about that van. All the shocks and struts were broken and it barely had brakes. I called it the "clown van" because it so ridiculously loomed down the road in all four directions that I half-expected a never-ending stream of clowns to come pouring out of it some day. He would always laugh. The only way to slow it down on the Duluth hills was to throw it into a lower gear, or you'd end up in the lake. I kept telling him he really should at least get his brakes fixed. I mean, the thing was dangerous... all he would do is laugh. One night during winter ('93, '94?), we stopped at Last Chance Liquor to pick up supplies for a party and when he stopped the van, I heard a huge "BANG!" I told him I'd crawl under the van to see what happened while he bought supplies. I ducked my head under the driver's side wheel well and saw that the entire brake caliper had exploded off the front driver's side tire (literally exploded!). I've never seen that happen since. He still drove that beast for a couple of weeks thereafter before getting another vehicle - a 1960's Dodge Dart. He really loved that van. In the back were things he'd collected - rusty metal things, dried shelf mushrooms, sticks, bones.... I told him he should really think about cleaning it up, especially when he had a first date with Susanna Hogan (anyone know what happened to her????). He emphatically told me no. That wasn't junk, he said... those things were treasures. 

Such was the life of Randy.

ToWaRd

about 5 years ago

10 years. Wow. Hard to fathom. I started this string to make sure everyone who knew this man had a chance to say goodbye. I'm not sure I really have done that myself. I still see him everyday, on the front of my Lim. Ed. copy of the double 10" vinyl, "King Earl", (thanks Bob Monahan), which I framed and hung on my wall right next to the tv. He was such a major influence in my musical education at a time in my life when I needed a new direction. He and Tanya took me under their wing showed me a whole new Mpls. I was unaware of. I'll always be beholding to them and forever remember them as kindred spirits of a higher order. I'm so glad I revisited this site, to find so many had the same respect for him as I.

Tanya Kennedy

about 5 years ago

Today marks 10 years since his passing. Thank you, ToWaRd, for starting this thread. I think of him often and hope he is somewhere he loves doing something he enjoys with people he loves and who love him back.

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