A guest post from friend, former coworker, Downtown Orlando neighbor and drummer for Under Arrested band, Joe Bramuchi...
I first met Jason around 2002/2003 and grew to know him only gradually early on. I was working at Marriott Vacations Club International in the Capital Markets group which tended to be a bit sequestered from the broader business and I continued to hear about Jason as a sharp, witty and young VP that easily managed through business matters based on his smarts and his ability to relate to people in an endearing manner. Inevitably, our paths would cross on certain projects and I came to appreciate Jason for all of the above and also for his up-tempo outlook on most everything. This was less about his attitude toward work and more about his attitude on life - it’s short so have some fun diligently managing your affairs and don’t take the lumps too seriously. I came to realize quickly that Jason tactfully infused humor into most any and every situation.
So here and there Jason and I would cross paths on certain business points. At one point I visited Ireland while Jason and Jennifer were living there and I had some time to sit with him over a most bland Irish lunch. That evening would be better over Irish beer and Jason and I quickly discovered our common interests and appreciations: we lived in the same Downtown Orlando neighborhood, we bled Orange & Blue and both of us came with financial backgrounds. I enjoyed quick wit that evening while he effortlessly dispensed it. Perhaps the real point of trust came when I told Jason I needed to find diamonds for my 10 year wedding anniversary and Jason referred me to a family friend, Rick, who came from a family of jewelers. Rick owned a construction company, yet continued to dabble in jewelry on the side. In the end I purchased diamonds from this character out of his house and Rick and I eventually became good friends and fellow baseball coaches. Point being, I was confident that if you came referred by Jason, you’re the gold standard even if you’re selling me diamonds from your garage!
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| DPLL Red Sox Rookies 2010 Connor and Colin in middle - perhaps "inspired" by the movie Warrior's "Yankees" (see photo below) |
Sometime after, a mutual friend, Mat Tyndall, and Jason
teamed up for Delaney Park Little League - coaching for a baseball team that in
our minds became the infamous “2010 Delaney Park Rookie Red Sox.” Jason and Tyndall saw a young Charlie
Bramuchi on the draft list and knew he was a coveted pick- not necessarily for
his prowess on the diamond - but perhaps because he would come with an extra
coach! Our time with the kids on the
diamond was something special. Coach Beaird and Coach Tyndall loved to dish out
endearing caricatures of the kids that still bring tears to my eyes.
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I was always so entertained with Jason and Tyndall, their
constant lampooning of fellow friends and neighborhood characters, their quick
prognostications of kids in later life, and, of course, their outlook on Gator
football was always something I enjoyed. I couldn’t match their wits but I
could fuel their flames and listen to them cut loose with repartee.
Downtown Orlando living is like living in a bubble and over
the years house parties ensued while we and the kids grew together. Jason,
Tyndall, Dave Morrissey (a UM Meatchicken fan) and I would be sure to make time
every 6-8 weeks to get out for a “Coaches’ Night” to scout out new drinking/eating
holes. One Coaches’ Night we were wrapping up at Tilted Kilt out near UCF when
a steady stream of 20-something-year-olds (obviously UCF students) began
trickling in. We decided to postpone our departure and ended up sitting through
several hours of party bingo and thinking- "damn we’re old—who’s got next
pitcher?"
During our first Coaches’ Night immediately after Jason
passed, we ordered a drink and set it up “On the Bar for “JB”. Our Coaches’ Night tradition has continued
and with it, we added another JB to the Coaches’ Night – Jamie Barati; fitting
given how close Jamie and Jason were. (Barati is another Delaney Park coach.) It’s special to us Coaches to know the “One
on the Bar” concept continues and we’re looking forward to the next “One on the
Bar” event on January 9. I am especially
proud of the January 9 event as I have a personal connection to this one…I’m a
member of the performing band, Under Arrested!
The Story of Under Arrested…Sometime around 2008 I took up drums and cajoled some neighborhood buddies to burn off some steam in the garage “studio” (which allowed me to learn playing drums on the job). Several of us had performed little and some of us never played before, but we all enjoyed music so much that we took up sessions and began playing school benefits as Under Arrested (UA). During our first year we signed up to playing in front of 150+ crowds throwing caution to the wind. Somehow, we found the crowds were willing to look past our lack of tightness and perhaps liked the fact that we played songs that many wouldn’t expect; songs ranging from the 70’s to today. Over the years we’ve played at places like The Stardust, The Firestone, The Abbey, Will’s Pub and countless backyards, all in support of various benefits. Like any soul searching band we’ve worked through several bassists and band members, entered rehab, reentered society, reentered rehab, etc., etc., but true to this day we continue to play for the fun of it. This serves us well as we wouldn’t expect anybody to pay for what we dish out. The band is made up of Dads in the Downtown Orlando community and known by many in the Jason Nation. The UA band members are Jack Walsh, Michael Herndon, Dr. Travis Van Dyke, Dave Canella and me- Joe B.
