MOSFET's Marvelous Weekend Adventure

Jory made friends easily.  His friends, from the moment they met, were friends for life.  Each was just as unique as Jory was, but varying in age, gender, and interests.  To Jory, his friends were like gems, each with its own brilliance and radiance, to be respected, cherished, and supported when called upon.  Of course, he complained when friends asked him to fix their computers—a task he detested—but he did it because they were friends and needed assistance.  When asked to help with something fun, adventurous, or romantic, he jumped in with gusto and a grin from ear to ear.

While Jory was hospitalized, and after he passed away, his friends sent us letters and posted on the Internet wonderful memories and “Jory Stories” of their experiences together.  Those stories were the winds beneath our wings that allowed us to carry on each day.  As we faced the ultimate and dreaded future that parents never imagine becoming reality, those untold stories from people we didn’t know, gave us the strength and encouragement to put one foot in front of the other.  We were not alone and our son was universally loved because he made a difference in the lives of others.

One of those special friendships began the day we took Jory out of high school for a college visitation day at CalArts.  He had applied as a potential Music Composition major and was introduced to Scott Looney, a graduate student with the same major.  The two of them hit it off immediately, despite their difference in ages and experience levels.  They were both composers, loved absurd British comedies, and were self-taught Mac geeks, who became technical experts that shared a love of diving into computers to investigate the software and firmware that made them tick.  

“We didn't see each other in classes as I was a grad in Music Composition and he was an undergrad, mainly in the Film school,” explained Scott.  “He was just immensely fun to talk to and be around.”  Scott regularly visited Jory on campus when he just wanted to hang out.

Scott and Jory hanging out in the Bay Area

“When I moved to the Bay Area, I was there only a short while when I got the news that Jory was coming up north to live in the Bay Area and had gotten a job at LucasArts. It was awesome news,” explained Scott.  “I had recently moved from NYC where I was very lonely and picked the Bay Area as the next place to live.  Having Jory there made me even happier.  We hung out occasionally and shared a lot of fun times.  He was a constant presence in my life.“

“One really quintessential, generous Jory moment, in 2001, was when I had a crush on a girl and I wanted to impress her.  I came up with this plan to steal one of her teaching props, a hand puppet, and then take pictures of if everywhere in Fairfax, sort of like the adventures of garden gnomes.  Jory was so wonderful in setting up the various shots, even convincing the Fire Department to let us set up some pictures on their truck, and of course, on his crazy tricycle as well.   She was really touched by the gesture and often referred to it in later years,” explained Scott.  

There is no one who can tell this story better than Scott, so I am grateful to him that I can share his “Jory Story” with you. 

 MOSFET's Marvelous Weekend Adventure

Winding the clock back to 2001-2 for this one, I was working part-time as a lab Instructor for Ex'pression Center (now Ex'pression SAE College) In Emeryville, just above Oakland.  I taught Sound Department students the basics of MIDI and DAW production as a supplement to the lectures they had in class.  I enjoyed hanging around other Instructors and students In an Intense and creative environment and found myself useful as I was one of the few who understood the tech side of Macs and DAWs, so I was often getting called In to help advise or assist setups here and there.

I had gotten into Ex'pression through the advice of the course director of the Studio Maintenance program in 2000, and as I started working in the same work and musical environment with her, I found myself smitten.  She was incredibly smart, down to earth, funny, and a great musician and improviser, as well as being an excellent live recording engineer.  Eventually I got it In my head that I wanted to do a romantic prank to her that I had seen done in the movie Amelie.  In that movie, someone “borrows” a yard gnome statue from someone's yard and then goes off on adventures with it and takes pictures of the gnome in various settings.  Eventually the gnome is returned and has a pouch around its neck contaInIng the pIctures of the gnome's “vacation.”  

In this case, the course director used a furry hand puppet of a rodent, a marmot to be precise, named MOSFET, as an entertaining teaching aid for the students in her classes.  (For those not acquainted with electronic components, a MOSFET is a type of transistor.)  Everyone recognized it and she occasionally even did small funny shows for the benefit of her co-workers.  Anyway, she would leave it on her desk when she left for home, as she considered it more of a work prop than anything else.  So, I began to hatch a plot in my head that I would borrow Mosfet and take him on an adventure and return him with some pictures.  Needing a partner in pseudo-romantic crime, right away I contacted Jory and told him of my plans.  He was only too willing to help and started thinking about various settings where to photograph the puppet.  Eventually Friday night came around and after the teachers left, I went to the faculty area and spirited MOSFET away in my backpack, hoping no security cams would notice.

Jory on his tricked out trike

When I got to Jory's place on Saturday with MOSFET and a disposable camera in my hand, the game was well and truly afoot.  Jory enjoyed every minute of it. This was prior to the existence of Studio Jory.  He was living in a downstairs apartment in a house and had his standup composer shack set up a few feet away.  Oddly enough, I hardly remember the living place itself in that area (maybe he didn't live there but had his shack there? not sure) but I remember the shack very well.  This was also the time period that he had the incredibly tricked out trike bike, complete with streamers, bulb horns and bell, and the attached wagon of course.  So, we started with the area around his shack and we put MOSFET on the trike, of course, complete with sunglasses and all.  It was a lovely day.  For the next picture, Jory thought we should have a photo of a picnic with MOSFET and a friend, so Jory brought along a picnic basket, sunglasses, a checkered gingham blanket, and a stuffed Tigger to keep MOSFET company.  We searched for a place and found an area nearby with a sign on a fence that, among other things, said “Picnics Are Fun.”  He liked the sentiment and thought that would be a good place for a picture, so we set up the various elements and recorded it for posterity.

 After this, we walked over to the fire station and because Jory knew absolutely everyone in town, we were able to put MOSFET on and in a fire truck.  Getting Into the spirit of the thing, the fireman scrounged up a child's plastic fireman's hat that MOSFET could wear for the pictures.  It was still pretty big on him, though, but definitely a highlight of the photo session, for sure!  After this, we journeyed into Golden Gate Park and finished the session with lots of shots of MOSFET next to many flowers and in the Hagiwara Japanese Tea Garden. 

MOSFET's Marvelous Weekend Adventure Photos

I drove Jory back to Fairfax and then came home, mission accomplished.  After developing the prints from the camera (2 copies so I could have one of my own), I put one copy in a little envelope around MOSFET's neck and returned him back to his proper place in the faculty area.  My crush was, of course, very touched by the whole thing and talked about MOSFET's weekend about town with many folks.  Ultimately, nothing came of my overtures.  In the end, I will always remember that Jory made this prank even more extra special with his unique sense of fun and excitement, as he often did with everything he experienced.

Thank you so much, Scott Looney.  Your story truly captures Jory’s playfulness, creativity, and sensitivities.  We are extremely grateful.

Leslye, Scott, and Sam at CalArts

COMMENTS:  

Click on Jorysmother@gmail.com to send comments.

Jory Prum   2008
I am a born romantic.  I enjoy doing things for a girl I'm interested in just because it'll make her feel special and loved.  I want her to have stories she can be excited to tell her friends.

Jory Prum   2008
I enjoy doing things for others.

Scott Looney  

Thanks so much for publishing this. I've been reading the blog occasionally and enjoying the humor and creativity in them, and I hope one day to find them in the book you mentioned wanting to write. Your words eloquently illustrate what a special and unique being he was.

Elaine Socol

I just took the time to read your last 3 blogs of your Jory Story. Each blog makes me smile, but there is a more emotional response to Jory as well. What a joy to read and what a joy to realize how you and Sam equipped him to be such a mentor and role model for others. I’m sorry I never met Jory in person, but your wonderful way of writing about him brings Jory to life.....and makes it easy to envision the ups and downs you experienced with him.....and the patience you exhibited when you took the time to understand and listen to your little guy. 

Elaine Asa
Unfortunately, I don’t have any Jory stories but I live vicariously through the wonderful stories of Jory’s adventures and life experiences. He certainly was 1 of a kind and though he is not here physically he certainly is here through these wonderful stories which give reality to his spirit. May the sharing of these stories continue to bring blessings to Jory’s legacy and may this bring comfort  to you and the family and all those who knew and loved him.



Gail Hara
What a wonderful and unique guy. Keep his stories alive.

Molly Presser

Thanks for another true free spirit, kind, creative and loving Jory adventure.

Thanks for letting us go together with you on this journey.

James Bolner
Your latest Jory story is wonderful!  Thank you. 

© Leslye J. Prum   All rights reserved.   2017