Fritz Perlberg: Weblog

Mysterious

I had the honor to know Fritz for the few years our companies worked together and I just wanted to try to honor him with a few words.

Fritz was always a bit mysterious and complex to me. He didn't fit the mold of the traditional businessmen that I was accustomed to, but I respected him for his intelligence, hard work and unbending integrity. I don't know the word to describe his character, but this is the type of guy who, when times were tough would risk his family's money to make sure employees had a paycheck. In reading the stories on this website, I realized that as much as I respected Fritz, there was so much more to him. So I'll just add one more "Fritz story" to the collection.

Once I took a trip to LA and met Fritz on a Sunday. Of course he was willing to meet and work on a weekend. We worked hard on whatever it was we were working on in those days, shared a meal or two and I recall a few things from those several hours that made me laugh and understand him better. First, we took a drive in my rental car for lunch and when I asked him to, he adamantly refused to put on his seat belt.

I reminded him he was violating the law and he said with an intensity that belied his laid-back nature something about how he wasn't going to let the government tell him how to live his life! I respected his principles even as I disagreed with his logic.

Then, on our way out of the parking lot, there were these menacing looking spikes that would shred the tires off any car that dared to go the "wrong way". It had the sign that said "Severe Tire Damage. Do Not Enter." Fritz directed me to go the wrong way because it would save us a few seconds. I said, "Are you crazy? Look at those spikes. I like my tires with air." He assured me it was just a ruse and that the spikes are a harmless ploy.

I trusted him and of course he was right; as I went right over the spikes which were supposed to shred my tires, they magically they gave way. Afterwards I thought, it takes a crazy fox like Fritz to call their bluff. The rest of us would just ignorantly and dutifully do what we are told. When I headed out to my red- eye flight Fritz gave me a tape. Said he made me a mix for the long flight. Full of jazz greats. I don't know how he knew I liked jazz. He probably asked me and while I didn't notice, he did.

Until reading this blog, I never realized that music was such an important part of his past colorful career. In an age of self promotion, he never felt the need to brag about this or anything else. I always thought Fritz was deep but after reading what others have written on this site, I realized he had so many other levels and lives to him.

I moved onto a different career and years had passed before I thought to look him up, but I found this site instead. Many more years passed before I took the time to write this. Both are regrets.

There is a saying that the candle that burns brightest, burns out fastest. But Fritz, your memory still lives on, and to this day I share a laugh with you every time I go over tire spikes.

Peace always.

plin

---

Miro

It was my birthday yesterday and I have been finding myself missing Fritz. This is the time of year where we would catch up with the new in our lives, and for years now a little special something would show up in my mailbox.

A few days ago, I was going through a pile of papers that were in a box that I haven’t bothered upacking since my move to the island when I came across a card with a Miro painting on it. Miro is one of my favorite so I took it out of the box and opened it. It was a birthday card from Fritz dated 5/13/96.

“Dear Suzanne”, it says,

“Happy Birthday and many other days of birth.

Sure am glad you decided to come back to earth

Cause you make me smile

when upon you I think

it all goes so fast

There’s no time to blink.

Peace sign

Fritz”

For the life of me I can’t remember where off this earth I was in ‘96 but he always found a way to find me.

So for my birthday in 2008..12 years later, our friend Fritz still manages to find me from God knows where to remind me of this blink of an eye we all share and to live it good, to live it well.

Hope this finds you surrounded by the energy of this amazing friend that shared so much with so many.

Suzanne
Vancouver

---

Laurels

Clyde Musgrave writes from Frisco, Texas, just outside Dallas:

Thoughts, from the movie “Out of Africa:”

.

“Now take back the soul of Fritz Perlberg, whom you have shared with us. He brought us joy…we loved him well.”

.

To an Athlete Dying Young

by A. E. Housman (1859-1936)

.

The time you won your town the race

We chaired you through the marketplace;

Man and boy stood cheering by,

And home we brought you shoulder-high.

.

Today, the road all runners come,

Shoulder-high we bring you home,

And set you at your threshold down,

Townsman of a stiller town.

.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away

From fields where glory does not stay

And early though the laurel grows

It withers quicker than the rose.

....

And round that early-laurelled head

Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,

And find unwithered on its curls

The garland briefer than a girl’s.

What Happened

Clyde Musgrave is a scientist with a long pedigree—Sarnoff Labs, IriScan, Efficient Networks, GTE, Verizon, GE. A true modern Mr. Wizard; Fritz and I first met him with John Kluge and Stu Subotnick, when Metromedia took us to Princeton in 1992, to evaluate some new Sarnoff science that might be useful to North Communications.

Over the years, Fritz, Alan Morelli and I developed an increasingly close business and personal relationship with Clyde, a good guy to have a beer with and discuss encrypted biometric digital certificates.

He wrote about Fritz’ medical situation in some detail, to inform those of us who would like to understand what could bring down a person so vital as Fritz Perlberg.

A couple of short excerpts from what Clyde wrote—

..............

Background & Symptoms:

It started one day when he had trouble hearing me & he had some tinnitus. He was always full of life and had spent many of his early years at an Ashram; thinking about transformative processes to change himself and the world for the better. In the past fifteen years, he was a tough negotiator; skills honed by knowing himself and knowing his place. That isn’t to say that he isn’t slightly off-center and somewhat frenetic.

Being around Fritz had its own energy; you knew you were in the presence of someone who understood the mystical, emotional, and communicative properties of human beings.

Then one day, he thought he was coming down with an ear infection. A couple of days later, he noticed a ringing in his ears and an ever so slight imbalance when he bent over the feed a stray cat that had started coming around….

.............

The CT scan came back with a diagnosis of an acoustic neuroma (“AN” for short). Fritz’s specialist suspected Meniere’s disease or a tumor. But AN is really rare; much, much less than 1% of all benign tumors of the brain. There are some that feel steroids are a possible treatment; shrink the tumor and see how it does.

In general, AN tumors are slow growing and the treatment of a person in their 8th decade might be to simply watch and wait.

Then Fritz did something out-of-character when he consulted with UCLA Medical Center and then the University of Pittsburgh about the acoustic neuroma, and did so many times. Fritz was always a great researcher of information and this was no exception. He turned his attention to gathering and learning as much about AN as he could find….

..........

Resolution:

Fritz elected, after much research, to take the most-advanced treatment, gamma-knife surgery, which he had in December 2005, had a good recovery, prognosis 97% survival.

But during the summer of 2006, Fritz’s condition started to deteriorate. Statistically, he fell into the most unlikely 3%. Another round of consultations followed with LA Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh and with the result that his doctors scheduled the full surgical approach to excise the neuroma, in mid-September 2006. With delays caused by insurance-company clearance, UCLA surgical schedule, and his own busy entrepreneurial work, the surgery was scheduled for UCLA Medical on October 27, 2006.

He died on the afternoon of October 26, 2006 while his sister was on the way to pick him up for the surgery the next morning.

.

Click here: for information about acoustic neuroma.

Click here to download the full text of Clyde’s narrative. Click here to visit Clyde.

---

Murphy Bed

from Teresa Laird, who worked with Fritz for many years at North Communications:

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoy the site dedicated to Fritz. I visit it often and I miss him so much. Just knowing that he is not out there creating order in the universe makes me sad.

You know that when North closed I bought his Murphy bed and his black rocker that sat in front of his desk. Both of those things were so Fritz! The rocker is my favorite chair in my house. When I would enter his office for a calm (or not so calm) talk it would just envelope me. I told him the chair reminded me of him. It looked like it would be uncomfortable and maybe a little cold….but damn…it was like an old friend you just loved to be with! ;-)

I tell my children that the bed is a symbol of work ethic. That everyone should have one to honor those among us that were the eccentric bulldozers of the world.

Remember when he got so mad at me that day that he stomped his foot and told me I wasn’t his mother! Paul Kennedy made him apologize and he came into my office and said….you KNOW I love you don’t you???? Then he said PLEASE don’t make me say it.

I STILL laugh at that one! What a wonderful, wonderful man.

I also want to tell you, North was the best job a person could ever have the privilege to have on a resume. It wasn’t just that we were doing work we loved and believed in, it was the camaraderie that we shared with all the wonderful people we had the honor of knowing there as well.

I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but we still have the (by and large) North football pool every year. I won the entire regular season (first woman in our 13 years) and now will be in the Super Bowl this Sunday.

It is so funny that so many of us still trash talk one another and know each other so well. Paul and Nuria, Doron, Tim Stanton, George Dear, among others. Caroline Green and I still are close.

They are life time friendships that I treasure. You really did spoil me for other work environments! ;-)

Good bones

Alan Gaby worked closely with Fritz on nutritional therapies, products, workshop and research. The Wright/Gaby Institute is a leader in this field…specially well-known for its pioneering work in the nutritional prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Fritz helped them get their legal, financial and marketing ducks in a row…

Alan Gaby writes:

“The main project that I have been working on is a textbook of nutritional therapy, which will hopefully improve the way doctors treat patients.

Fritz was my supporter and encourager in that endeavor for many years. When I lived with him, after I finished summarizing a research paper, I’d bark like a seal and flap my arms and Fritz would throw me a candy.

I miss him too.”

---

Ode

Helen Tracey, long-time love of Fritz, sends a poem by the Fritzter from her home in Taos.

He was a longtime student of Yogi Bhajan, the great Sikh yoga teacher from the Punjab who taught kundalini yoga to millions of people around the world, from 1969 until his departure in 2005.

Here’s an excerpt of an ode in honor of Yogi Bhajan, back when Fritz was an active student/teacher in the 1970’s—

—-

Ready or not, the show hits the road

Where you’ll be playing, only God knows

And he’s not telling, just giving clues

A little in a book, a little in the news

A little in your mind, a little in your heart

A little in the wind as it blows some things apart,

A little in the smile shining on your beloved’s face,

A little in the stars at night that twinkle out in space,

A little in the dream you see that dances across the sky,

A little in the beam you be that gleams straight through your eye.

——-

For the complete poem, click here…

---

Good Karma

Today would have been Fritz’s Birthday. I miss him.

He and I first met at the Good Karma Coffeehouse [in Madison, Wisconsin] where together we promoted some of the most wonderful music one could ever hear. Those were truly blissful days and Fritz was always able to keep that sense of Good Karma in his life.

Thank you for coordinating the web site. It’s a wonderful way to remember our friend. I had been calling and emailing Fritz to see if he was interested in joining my family and me to see The Who concert at The Hollywood Bowl.

It was to be the first rock concert my kids were to attend, and who better to join us than Fritz?

I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t heard back from him. It wasn’t until sometime in January that I received a call from Fritz’s sister who had gone through his emails and chose to reach out with the news.

I am still stunned. Fritz truly left such an impression on all of our lives that our wonderful memories continue to keep his spirit alive.

Happy Birthday, Fritz.

- Josh

Josh.Levenson@kaplan.com

---

Happy Birthday

from Helen Tracey:

Fritz loved his gardens, but especially his roses.

He would tend to them daily, and whenever I would visit, would always cut one for me if they were blooming. As the anniversary of his passing approached, I knew I needed to do something special to get through it.

On Oct. 26 I found myself in a florist’s shop buying an armful of roses. I delivered a single long stemmed rose to all the beautiful people in my life whom I love and am grateful for. I felt Fritz guiding me in the gifting…he, the greatest gift-giver I’ve known in this lifetime. They were delivered in his memory and in celebration of life.

It turned out to be a comforting, lovely day.

And now, with his birthday coming in a few days (Nov. 21 – and he so loved his birthday!), back to back with Thanksgiving, I’m finding myself wanting to give more.

So Wednesday I will gather more roses, give them away, save some for myself, eat a piece of carrot cake for him (no raisins), tell more people I love them, walk my mountain paths with gratitude, do the work I love with enthusiasm, and embrace my life with joy.

Happy Birthday, Fritz…

I love you. I miss you.

Helen

---

somethinwonderful

Dear Fritz:

I remember when I first noticed you.

You, unique beyond measure

Busy as a bee

Your good works brought others pleasure

You saw what they couldn’t see

.

As for me you brought light on one of my darkest nights

You came to my dismal city dwelling then drove us to a place where we could fly

If only for a moment my heart had touched the sky

.

We filled our bellies with Chan Dara

Until you drove off to another tomorrowa

I took for granted the time we shared would be repeated

When I learned of your death I almost felt cheated

Until I saw the light so bright around your time on earth

I know you served a purpose – from the moment of your birth

I see reflected in you still the beauty of the ages

You dance now with mystics and with sages

Stars and planetary elements beyond my comprehension

This is where I feel you linger in your present elevation

.

Yet finer still are the echoes which fill my ear

Inspiring me to greater heights by the subtlest of whispers

.

To be gentler, to share, and reach out more to others

And be conscious of the interconnectedness of my actions

To always keep in mind the higher purpose

and remember the well being of the whole tribe.

Also, to enjoy life more, to be a mischief with a joyful heart

Tell jokes, share poems, do good works, keep my friends close. . .

.

And when I don’t feel like reaching out – do it anyway.

.

Thank you,

Much Love,

May you always dance in Light,

.

~Victoria & Blu Starr

.

I was thinking about Fritz tonight as I drove up the windy canyon road to home. . .

I said to myself, “Hmmmm, I wonder if Fritz had anything to do with my discovering this little canyon retreat?” Because I remember telling him about all the “almost times” – like the time I “almost” moved into a house on Hillside Dr. . .

Anyway, from about 2000 – 2006 I looked for places in the canyon but it wasn’t until late Oct/Nov 2006 that I found this place – and then moved in over Thanksgiving weekend with a broken foot. The other weird thing is that the view from my largest window looks out towards Hillside Dr. and I can see a white house, but from this angle I’m not sure if it’s Fritz’s house or the house kind of below it and to the left.

Regardless, when I view the website and all the “Fritziness” his presence seems so strong. Thank you for putting together such a beautiful site :)

Kindest regards, Victoria Hughot

---

Roots

Almost one year ago today, many of us gathered in the Palisades to say goodbye to our fine friend Fritz Perlberg. So much, and so little, has changed in that time.

We do feel the absence of an amazing person -- but realize that much of what he brought, lives on in other forms.

Much of what is lost is restored, in new ways. Through this person, we experienced something I always referred to as "fritziness" -- you can see the term partially defined, in the words, images and sounds on his website.

.

listen to the memorial service, held in California

.

We honor Fritz' distinctiveness by becoming distinct ourselves. Living fearlessly, passionately, alive in each moment. Not perfect, but perfectly intense. Not serious, but seriously strange.

I still find myself reaching for the phone, reaching for the keyboard, to tell Fritz about something in the world I know would tweak him. He, or the part of me that is him, gets the message. I plan to keep doing this the rest of my life.

And to heed the caution in Dylan's words, so often-quoted by Fritz -- to always take time to think, to feel, to understand what is important, to act with integrity --

.

In death, you face life with a child and a wife

Who sleep-walks through your dreams into walls.

You're a soldier of mercy, you're cold and you curse,

"He who cannot be trusted must fall."

.

Loneliness, tenderness, high society, notoriety.

You fight for the throne and you travel alone

Unknown as you slowly sink

And there's no time to think.

.

In the Federal City you been blown and shown pity,

In secret, for pieces of change.

The empress attracts you but oppression distracts you

And it makes you feel violent and strange.

.

Memory, ecstasy, tyranny, hypocrisy

Betrayed by a kiss on a cool night of bliss

In the valley of the missing link

And you have no time to think.

.

Bob Dylan -- "No Time to Think", from Street Legal, 1978

Roots Exposed, taken on a walk with Fritz above Waimea Valley, summer 2006

---

A Year Has Passed

.

Mary Buffett writes from Los Angeles, on October 26, 2007:

I can hardly believe it was today, a year ago that I got the call from Michael North. It seems surreal.. I remember everything that went through my head. Fortunately Rob Gritz was staying with me and I ran into his room in hysterical disbelief.

.

They say time heals; so far there hasn’t been enough. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him. So on this day of his departure, I am burning his incense that his sister Carla so generously sent me…it smells like Fritz, my morning meditation was with him, the white candle that is just his, is again burning…he is all around.

.

For me this Poem By Edgar Allan Poe came to mind:

.

For F—

Beloved! amid the earnest woes

That crowd around my earthly path-

(Drear path, alas! where grows

Not even one lonely rose)-

My soul at least a solace hath

In dreams of thee, and therein knows

An Eden of bland repose.

And thus thy memory is to me

Like some enchanted far-off isle

In some tumultuous sea-

Some ocean throbbing far and free

With storms–but where meanwhile

Serenest skies continually

Just o’er that one bright island smile.

.

Love,

Mary

---

She Looked Me Over Carefully...

Eve DeCoursey (Siri Narayan Kaur) was married to Fritz through the 1970’s and early 80’s—she writes now from Maryland:

———————————————

I’m pleased and saddened to see how many loving friends Steven left behind—pleased that he had so much love in his life, and saddened that so many felt the pain of his passng. Steven was a good man, with a good heart, and incredible intention, intelligence, self-reliance and determination. I did indeed (MOST of the time) feel lucky to be married to him!

But I didn’t know him as Steven, I didn’t even know him as Fritz! He was Datar Singh to me – as he was when I met him and he was when we wed. Even after we left the ashram and removed our turbans, I could never quite make the jump comfortably to “Steven” or “Fritz” ...

We were married seven years, Datar Singh and I — and although we stayed in touch through the decades, the marriage seemed like it belonged to another lifetime … until he died. Oh, to feel that same anguish of our lives being torn apart all over again!

Datar wrote a lot of poetry for me — I saved them all, but they’re currently “buried” with my other treasures in a storage shed while we construct a house. But I did come across this one, tucked into a journal … typewritten probably in about 1983, giving a view into the joy and the final struggle of those seven years…

---

Follow...

Clyde Musgrave writes from Dallas:

Fritz did the following in spades….

“Follow your bliss. If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else.”

...Joseph Campbell

http://www.sapphyr.net/smallgems/quotes-author-josephcampbell.htm

---

Magical Journey

from Terry O’Connor, Ardmore PA; May 15, 2007

I am an old friend of Fritz from Philadelphia. We had a romantic relationship in the mid 80’s and kept in touch from time to time over the years.

Yesterday I was thinking about Fritz and decided to google him to get his email address when I discovered the sad news that he had passed last October 26th.

I couldn’t believe it. He was a dear friend to me even though we didn’t communicate frequently, and he has had a great influence on my life. We took a trip together, I believe it was the summer of ‘85, to the Pacific northwest and we visited the ashram in Vancouver and a few of the remote islands. It was a magical journey for me and a time that I will always remember.

I will always remember Fritz for his wisdom, wit, generosity and strength. I am so sad to know that I will never hear his voice again or receive another special birthday card with his infamous peace sign.

I last spoke to Fritz a few years ago and we talked about getting together when he came east or if I was ever out west. Unfortunately that never happened. I also want to thank you for putting the Memorial service for Fritz on line.

I am grieving and have found a measure of comfort by listening to the beautiful service you all created to honor him.

Thank you for making it possible for me to feel connected to all of those who have known and loved Fritz.

......

contact: Teresa O’Connor; terry@terryoconnor.com

---

Cayenne

Fritz left us much much too early.

The website is just incredible. That house of his, I love that you posted the pictures! (starting here) Such great memories – I can smell it now, the scent of incense (and calm). It was a place you walked into and could just breathe and relax – no matter what.

When I think of Fritz I think of those short black boots, the vast “vest” collection, and the cayenne pepper he kept in his pocket (and traveled with). He was such a tremendous person, and he made such a lasting impression on so many. But his very bright light will shine on, even though we will miss him so much. Fritz is now a winking shiny star, grinning that elfish grin down upon us!

Friend from the East Coast

---

A Mensch Above

12-2-06

—

My complete gratitude to you for the cyber memorial to Fritz.

Thru her unstinting efforts Carla was finally able to reach me yesterday with this heavy news.

My heart is so sad and confused trying to absorb the shock of loss of this most trusted, steadfast & patient of friends. His life it seemed to me was a mitzvah. Your tribute to him is a boon for me in my private mourning. Through it I am afforded participation in the communion of his loving circle; to hear & see & feel the sadness & tears, the joy & laughter, the pride of those who knew him best. I am fortified by this, knowing I am far from alone.

The honor, the forthrightness, the wit & humor that this utterly unique person brought into my life is, as I suspected, a shared experience. I myself wouldn’t know where to begin to speak of the ten thousand graces, the tender mercies, the spontaneous beau geste I’ve felt because of Fritz.

—

Who is like that? Who does those things? Who even comes close? Fritz was a mensch above. And I am so very heartbroken to know I will never again have the grace of his good company. Your memorial tells me I am far from alone.

There is a wide wonderful extended family who feels as I feel & who sadly knows that a very singular soul has passed from our midst. I suspect there are others like me around the globe who will be served as I have been by this fitting memorial.

My deepest thanks. It is quite beautiful. It is just right.

—

to borrow from Fritz,

Peace,

Betsy Oelke

Fawn Grove, PA

---

What If

A poem from Kimbra Brookstein—daughter of Helen and Darrell (San Diego). Kimbra is Fritz’ niece, and lives in Los Angeles.

—

Sadness slowly takes over my body and I am sent into a state of shock

Why him? Why now?

All these questions, no answers.

We walk this earth not knowing how lucky we truly are.

The oxygen we let out, each breathe we exhale; a blessing.

Why does god take the ones we love? Someone full of life, love and positive energy?

A mystery. My heart aches.

For my mom, for my grandpa, for my aunt, for myself, for my entire family and for all his friends.

This feeling, I want it to go away. Helplessness.

I ponder the “what ifs”, the “why him” “why us?”

But it is useless. It just is.

He is always in my thoughts and forever in my heart.

Somehow he has instilled strength at a time of vulnerability and weakness.

He has brought us together in a way that only he could. A circle of love and support.

Steven was my Uncle.

And I love him.

---

Licks

“I liked Fritz. We didn’t get along at first.

When I started at North he would sometimes push me out of the way when he wanted to use the copier and I was in his way. I finally called him on it and got in his face. He mysteriously liked me after that.

That confused me for awhile but I soon realized he now respected me.

I remember jamming with him on a few Beatles songs while we were practicing for an upcoming Christmas party. Every song I knew the lyrics to, he already knew the guitar licks.

His energy and spirit on the earth will surely be missed.”

—

...Tim Quinn, former North Communications manager

email Tim

---

Dragonfly

—

Know Now Wow

—

The attraction of a distraction

or a satisfaction all its own,

Is bliss in the now

growth or inaction?

—

In the instant of knowing

growing is invisible

there’s no past to contrast

no future to project

no demand to neglect

no burden to respect

no goal to inspect

no illusion to reject,

just glowing

and flowing in a bliss-like bubble,

with trouble ahead

and trouble behind

but a mind that reminds you,

Don’t worry

Be happy.

—

...sent by Soula Saad, Paris

---

Everything's possible

addressed to Rob Gritz, portfolio manager at Metromedia Company, New York

—

Deal Creep

—

We sat and we waited and debated the path

That would lead to the least time delay,

From fax to fedex to checks in the mail

To nail down the deal it was a small price to pay

And at the end of the day when all was on the table

We were able to laugh and let the cert stay

We didn’t come all that way to fail.

..

The clock it keeps ticking

The camera goes clicking

As moments in time

Are caught in a wink

And ones to design

Find my head, make me think

‘Bout building the network

That never sleeps or shuts down

That sows as it reaps

And grows in leaps

and bounds across towns

With visions of peace

And a full-service lease

That always renews and views

Time as a friend

A means to an end

Like faith from a leap

..

It may sound too airy

It may sound too deep

But everything’s possible

When there ain’t no deal creep.

..

—- —-

from Fritz after completion of a key financing for North Communications May 10, 1992

a cartoon from The New Yorker and a quote were added; click here to see the original: deal creep

Topanga Cookoff

A memorial celebration was dedicated to Fritz Perlberg in Topanga Canyon: “Topanga Swap Meet, Chili Cook-off and Pie-Baking Contest”. Perfect irony for a lifelong vegetarian.

Stephanie Lallouz sends photos and details of the music that was played; click here:

Topanga Celebration

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Taking Root

I only knew Fritz for one evening of my life, but he took root there, and became a family friend.

I mourn his loss, but celebrate him, his ability to become family, his adorable nature, his lovableness, his joy to be related, his love for Michael and his family, his willingness to be so Jewish American in such an exotic situation!

< an ‘exotic’ highschool graduation in Hawaii —>

Fritz, human beings don’t come any better than you. Thank you for touching my life. Thank you for adopting us, for the extension of legal protection for our daughter and any of her friends in Los Angeles.

You made me feel safe, and loved.

Hele on, brah!

Lency Spezzano, Kahaluu, Hawaii

---

Deluge

from Soula Saad in Paris, a poem written in 2005—when heavy rains caused a mudslide down the driveway at Fritz’ house in Topanga Canyon:

—

__

A rain deluge

The decent of a higher consciousness

Messenger of life and lush

Quells the fire of the burning bush

Flows through the mountains, the rivers and streams,

Keeps the messages alive in dreams

Replenishes all from which it was brought

Can turn all that gets in its way to naught,

Stay away from my hillsides damnit!

I mean please…

Mystery Train

Anew Beat

This poem written by Fritz Perlberg in September, 1993, to Helen Tracey. She shares it here:

—

The beauty of day as we play in the sun

And run for the roses and pose just for fun

Who can blame us for trying, for flying

For applying our will in the way of the one

Who turns ‘round the earth

And brings us through birth

And takes on our woes

And keeps on our toes

And knows the whole future before it’s begun

Yet offers anew, a new point of view

A new chance to start from ahead of what’s done

It’s all so unclear, ‘till we conquer our fear

And strengthen our heart

Through the beat of our blood

And heat of our brain

Which sends us on journeys

Through paths where we strain

To regain awareness and harness our pain

And point to infinity, from whence it all came

Be ready to listen, no time to refrain,

I send you my love and intend to remain

Like grain that is steeping

Like a flame that is leaping

Your friend for the keeping

Your mystery train.

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Here is the original poem: Anew Beat

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email Helen

Sacred Community

Ong Kar and Guru Raj Kaur write from Vancouver, BC —where Fritz helped to establish and manage a yoga community in the mid-70’s:

October 30, 2006

We had a large gurdwara yesterday and we remembered him in the ardas as Fritz Perlberg, also known as Datar Singh, and blessed his passing and return to God. The whole gurdwara community chanted AKAL for him 3 times; it was very powerful, vibrating that he will merge with the Undying Truth!

Go for it, Datar!

It was very moving to feel these community members who had never even met him, pray for his soul. Here was a man whose devotion and uplifted spirit played a major role in this 3HO community here in Vancouver, in the early days of the building of this community, which has now grown into a thriving and powerful sacred community.

And though they were not aware of it, I sure was.

Thank you, Datar, and may your soul find its peace.

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MSS Guru Raj Kaur Khalsa, for the Vancouver 3HO Community

email Guru Raj Kaur

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