Hannah Ku

COMM 231-0101
Susan Simon
July 9, 2015
A#16: Jerry Garcia Obituary Rewrite

The Death of Jerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead, dies at 53
Jerry Garcia, the lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead,
died last night. He was 53.
Garcia died in his bedroom at Serenity Knolls, a
rehabilitation center at 4:23 a.m. The Marin County
Sheriffs office said the cause of death was a heart
attack.Garcia had suffered from diabetes and general ill
health over the years.
Photo courtesy: The Rolling Stones

Garcia, who became an American and cultural icon that symbolized the counterculture
movement, inspired a dedicated fan base, identified as the Deadheads. Garcias musical
influence of incorporating blues, bluegrass and folk to traditional rock music, became known
through the song, Touch of Grey.
He continued to move through his own rhythm, broadening the areas of rock music and
remaining true to his ideals even with fame.
Ideally I would just like to disappear gracefully and not leave behind any legacy to hang people
up, Garcia said in an interview with KFOG-FM. I dont want people agonizing over who or
what I was when I was here when Im not here anymore.

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The news of Garcias death affected Deadheads significantly. Fans crowded Internet sites to
express their thoughts his death.
Initially named as the Warlocks, the band unintentionally became the Grateful Dead when Garcia
opened an Oxford Dictionary and saw the word The Grateful Dead. He suggested the name to
the members of his band because the term grateful dead had many folkloric interpretations in
many cultures. Thereon, the Grateful Dead received attention through hit songs, Truckin,
Casey Jones and Friend of the Devil.
Growing Up
Jerome Jerry John Garcia was born on Aug. 1, 1942, in San Francisco, California, to Jose
Ramon Joe Garcia, a musician and bar owner, and Ruth Bobbie Garcia. His mother raised
Garcia after his father drowned in a fishing accident in 1947 when he was 5 years old.
Named after the Broadway composer, Jerome Kern, Garcia took an interest to playing electric
guitar and painting when he was 15, even though he lost the tip of his right middle finger in a
wood chopping accident.
His visit with his maternal grandparents in Nashville introduced Garcia to folk and country
music at the Grand Ole Opry.
After attending high school for a year, Garcia dropped out and worked as a salesman and teacher.
Later, he enlisted in the Army. After an early discharge, Garcia took art classes at the San
Francisco Art Institute. His art work earned him more than $30 million. Later, Garcia came into
contact with the future members of the Grateful Dead in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Moving At His Own Rhythm

Throughout his life, Garcia was admired for his reputation of a do-your-own-thing aesthetic,
Tony Sclafani said, a contributing writer for TODAY. His attitude made it apparent that the public
admired the way he expressed himself.
Ben and Jerry named the ice cream flavor The Cherry Garcia, after Garcia and it became one
of the most popular flavors today.
Garcia moved at his own rhythm, understanding that critics will always be there.
Were like licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice, he said.
Struggles and Addictions
Garcia had health issues including diabetes. He also struggled with heroin and cocaine
addictions. In a 1994 interview with The New Yorker, Garcia said he scuba dived as a way to
overcome his addiction
However, during his drug relapse, Garcia checked himself into the Betty Ford Center and later to
Serenity Knolls treatment center in Forest Knolls, California. At Serenity Knolls Mr. Garcia died
of a heart attack on August 9.
Mr. Garcia was survived by wife, Deborah Koons Garcia, a Marin County filmmaker and four
daughters: Heather, 32, Annabelle, 25, Teresa, 21 and Keelin, 6.
Funeral services are undecided at this time.

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