Comments on: In Memoriam: James Langergaard

By: briandoomer

briandoomer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:34:58 +0000

WOW this is shocking.. I cant believe i stumbled across this page because i remember i was on my way upstate that friday and i passed by the scene of the crime. I remember there weremany cops and news vans in the area. I also saw his mangled bike, his shoes on the ground, his bookbag, and the silver sedan that hit him, which i believe was a VW Jetta. Wow, and i was wondering to myself “I wonder who just died” so so sad. RIP James Langergaard, may god be with you

By: Philip

Philip — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:06:12 +0000

As some of you probably know by now, a young cyclist who happened to also be a beloved TA volunteer, James Langergaard, was struck and killed by a car at Queens Blvd. and 69th street on August 14th (if you are hearing of this sad story for the first time, you can find the full story here).

This Friday (October 2) there will be a special Queens Boulevard Bike Pool ride in honor of James. Please come out and join us to help send a strong message to the community that these casualties of the Blvd. will not be forgotten, and that work to prevent future tragedies is ever-increasing.

As of now, we will be meeting at the Queens side of the Queensboro Bridge for a 6:30 PM departure, as usual, on Friday, October 2nd. We ride on the service road of the Blvd. eastward towards the Queens Mall and will stop for a tribute to James at the site of his accident.

Please save the date and make this ride a priority if you can. It is a short, slow ride and every rider’s presence will have a significant impact.

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:13:40 +0000

I only knew James for a little while, but he was a nice, considerate human being and hearing of his passing makes me wish I had made the effort to get to know him better while he was alive. We shared some laughs, but not nearly enough of them. He will be missed. The sun will shine less brightly.

By: Daniel Convissor

Daniel Convissor — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:06:18 +0000

Oh, my…

I just read TA’s email newsletter and was shocked to learn this awful news.

James was a sweet, clever guy. His energy and dedication are legendary, as we can see by the outpouring here. We met when he first started volunteering at TA. I’ve been running in other circles for a while now, when I’m in circles at all, so haven’t seen him much. But when we did meet, I was always happy.

My condolences to everyone who knew and loved him.

By: alex

alex — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:59:25 +0000

I didn’t know James, but am almost totally overwhelmed by the outpouring of love on this site. I’m just starting to get more involved in TA, and recently did route marking for the NYC Century ride. I think I would’ve liked James and his sense of humor.

By: Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:51:32 +0000

I only just learned about his death from the TA Street Beat. I was an occasional volunteer from ’95 to ’98, then my life changed and I couldn’t as much, but I still remember his energy and charm.

To all his friends and collegues: I am very sorry.

*************************************************

“Song” by C. G. Rossetti

When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.

By: Chris Amato

Chris Amato — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:54:31 +0000

^ Dave Perry

You can grab a “LANGERGAARD” sticker here,
http://www.cafepress.com/langergaard

All proceeds go to TA.

By: Elektra

Elektra — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:22:40 +0000

James,

The world is a different place without you. I will always remember your avocado-based vegan chocolate pie, your Dostoyevsky classes to read (and meet chicks), your beloved cats and plants, your tales of juicing and biking, and, most importantly, your laid back personality and humor while working together in the temp office at Morgan Stanley. You remind me to live my life to the fullest, as I never know what tomorrow will bring…

Ride on!
E

By: Kristina

Kristina — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:47:48 +0000

I lived 2 doors away from James growing up. Although I have not seen him in over 20 years, the way he is described by friends as a man, innocent, quirky, vulnerable and sweet, is exactly as I remember him as a child. We shared birthday parties, run and bases, & bicycle rides in the community driveway in Maspeth, where both of our families still reside. I remember his dad’s air conditioning repair truck driving up the “alley” at the end of each day and being in his home when Kai came home from work and flipped him upside down and left shoe prints on their ceiling. I am deeply saddened. A sweet soul, rest in peace.

By: Bobbi Bongard

Bobbi Bongard — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:38:57 +0000

James, I loved working with yu, and will miss you very much.

By: Edie Nugent

Edie Nugent — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:37:09 +0000

Just happened to have a fabulous geek debate with James at the Bronx Science Reunion a few months ago. I didn’t even go to Science, my significant other did-but I happened to chat with James for a good while. It’s always awesome to meet a geek-brother-in-arms and hearing this news & seeing this page really hit me-thinking of all the awesome people we meet in our lives for even a second & how sometimes we don’t even get a chance to experience who they really are…I’ve been meaning to recondition my old bike for years now, the bike that got me back to college (had to commute from off-campus) and means a great deal to me. Now I’m going to make sure I do it before the summer is over. It was good to know you briefly, James.

By: Joyce Friedman

Joyce Friedman — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:38:05 +0000

Not much of Jame’s other volunteer work and activism has been mentioned here so I thought I would honor James, the vegan animal activist and wonderfully compassionate guy to all creatures. I met James when I was a NYC coordinator for In Defense of Animals (IDA), an animal rights organization. James came to animal circus protests, activist meetings, vegan outreach events, Earth Day tabling, and of course was an ethical vegan because he knew of the tremendous suffering animals experience at the hands of so many exploitative industries, and he wanted to try to stop this unnecessary suffering.

I would often spend time with him at NYU’s vegan dinners. We walked together at the anti-war march and held signs that said silly things like “Make Tofu Not War”, and we handed out Why Vegan’s as a way to spread a total message of peace to all.

James, as others have said, was completely non pretentious, would always always make me laugh and as well, made me think about things differently, and make me feel good when we spoke, IM’d or emailed about relationships, dating, animal rights, and life.

Each day it is harder to accept that he is not with us anymore. I read on someone’s post that he was going to go to cooking school. Does anyone know which one and was this a plan he definitely had? Sorry to discuss his plans but I am just interested in knowing and I guess in an odd way it makes me feel good, alongside feeling miserable, that he did have a plan and something he was looking forward to.

He’d asked me for advice recently on what to do with his beloved cats if he has to move to a no pet apt, needing to move from his his then current apt. I reminded him of how he and they all love each other and to push for a plan to live with them, and was so happy and proud of him when he emailed me to say he did that and is moving into this new apt with them after all.

James, I’m sorry I had not gotten to visit your new apt and have that vegan potluck we were planning. I miss you so much.

Joyce

By: Alice Lum

Alice Lum — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:11:32 +0000

I remember James very fondly back in days of Transportation Alternatives basement roughing it out, heat or cold, doing “green” long before it became popular. There were no such thing as PDF’s or cell phones. The monthly T.A. magazine was delivered lovingly by bike and bulk mailings throughout the country. He was there and staying late. He loved what he do.

Always wearing different checkered shirts, he reminded me of the perpetual poor college student, always go by bike.

James was the epitome of volunteerism; always get his hands dirty into the spirit of activism. Day in and day out, one can find him at the forefront of action.

He wholeheartedly gave 100 percent for the pursuit of a safe way to travel in this traffic congested city, searching for essence why people love to bike where obnoxious drivers block the bike lanes. Past history is not far away.

James came a long way for 18 years since I first met him. As I can see, he has given us fond memories. He is ever so sweet, touching, always the “spokes” poet of people power. He is sorely missed.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:00:58 +0000

Hope you’re cycling w/ Kai. Love you

By: Pamela Rice

Pamela Rice — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:02:41 +0000

James was a fun fun guy with big big heart with a wry wry sense of humor. He not only did a lot of volunteer work with Transportation Alternative, he volunteered for the Veggie Center of NYC. Yes… James was a true environmentalist… a vegan on a bike. How much better can you get? Oh Oh, I’m in shock. So young. I just found out today, Wednesday. And though I have not seen him, nor thought about him, since he came to the Veggie Pride Parade in May, I thought of him today. I did! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone from behind–and I thought it was James. It wasn’t. It wasn’t. Too too bad, it wasn’t. Sad sad. Awe. I’m bummed bummed.

By: Stacy Irwin

Stacy Irwin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:14:04 +0000

James will be missed, here, and everywhere. I am more upset with each passing minute. I’ll always remember his fantastic sense of humor and charisma, all the TA events where I volunteered along side him. Much too young to go…

By: Fatima Colman

Fatima Colman — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:37:55 +0000

Last night as some people sat quietly, others were laughing, sometimes quite loudly at the funeral home. Those laughing were sharing stories of his adventures. The messages left here as well as the stories shared at the services made it clear to all how unique and incredible a human being James was. I was lucky to have known him. I wish I had more time with him, but I can only hope to be so loved in my life.

By: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

Clarence Eckerson Jr. — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:23:51 +0000

Actually I have to agree with Katherine. I went back and re-read every quote and can’t find any malice or anything inappropriate. In fact, the posts on here have been far and away the most civil I have ever seen, usually there will be trolls who come to and post things to get people divided and upset. I expected I would have had to delete some comments by now and it just hasn’t happened.

James was awesome. Last night about dozen of us at the wake were huddling from time to time talking about all these amazing stories of heroism (workbike), volunteer effort (there were a few years where he must have been TA’s #1 volunteer), and just plain coolness (James was one of the coolest guys ever, but he never made you feel uncool or spoke down to you) I’ll miss him immensely.

By: Katherine Roberts

Katherine Roberts — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:15:55 +0000

Melissa –

Who is doing that? We are all of us in deep shock about the loss of James, and I haven’t seen anyone on this page express anything other than that — why would they?

I know you are upset, as are all the rest of us, but please — that type of tirade is really inappropriate. It doesn’t help, and it makes it very hard for me, as I am struggling mightily with my grief over this tragic occurrence.

As far as drawing larger, political and/or philosophical conclusions from this — well, that’s all a part of what happened. James’ death didn’t happen in a vacuum, and I’m sure he’d be the first one to acknowledge that. He wouldn’t have dedicated his life to improving things if he weren’t acutely aware of the problems that killed him. What infuriates me is that the people on the front lines are the ones to be cut down. But this does not in any way diminish James’ worth as a person, or the effect his early, sudden, unexpected, and totally undeserved death is having on all of us.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:04:12 +0000

The width and design of Queens Boulevard create these inherently dangerous four-stage crossings that killed James. They are deathtraps by design and no amount of calming will change that. Not to mention, the road is hideous. The center lanes should just be removed and replaced with parkland, like on Pelham Parkway.