anti-wake
This is the text of the invitation to Rob’s “anti-wake” which took place on June 10, 2006:
If you have been sent a link to this page, chances are that you are either a bad-ass, quite cool, a serious film lover, a history buff, a fan of obscure music or some combination of the above. What is certain is that you were a part of the life of Rob Rivera, who was all of those things.
Rob passed away from complications due to multiple sclerosis on May 26, 2006. His family has held a formal wake and funeral Mass for him already, but if you knew Rob at all, you know that there’s no way in hell he would be satisfied with just that.
Therefore, we will be having a memorial service that’s a little more Rob’s style. This will be a place for Rob’s friends to light up a cigarette, raise up a pint and swear up a storm in memory of him. It is being referred to lovingly as the “antiwake” - a celebration of his life.
Here are the details:
The Independent in Union Square, Somerville
Saturday, June 10th, 2006
2 pm - 7-ish…and on…
We’re aiming for slightly more family-friendly for, say, 2 - 4 pm, but there may well be profanity in stories and songs throughout, so if you’re bringing kids or you’re faint of heart about that sort of thing, please take that into consideration.
There also may be the adjourning elsewhere later in the evening, for movie watching, drinking and more shit talking. We’ll see what happens, yeah?
RSVPs encouraged. (Email address is below.)
Also! We are collecting photos, stories, songs, writing…anything that reminds you of Rob. These things may be worked into the antiwake memorial service, and if it’s ok with you, they will be added to this site, which we hope will grow into a permanent living memorial site for Rob.
So if you have anything that you want to contribute, please email it to antiwake@[this email doesn't work anymore].com or send the originals to Bryan (Bryan Murray, [not at that address anymore]), along with any captions you see fit. (We promise to return the originals really soon.) You can also bring stuff with you to the antiwake, of course.
At the antiwake, we will be taking donations to dedicate a chair at the Brattle Theater for Rob. (Hell, it was that or an ashtray.)
We also want to invite you to make a donation in Rob’s name to the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, a Boston-based organization dedicated to stepping up the research needed to find a cure for this bitch of a disease. Rob really liked them.
Feel free to email questions, comments, memories, rants and ideas, and either Nikki or Bryan will respond.
As some of Rob’s closest friends and loved ones, we want to thank you not only for any way in which you choose to participate in the antiwake, but for having been a part of his life.