A memorial service for Bob London (May 10, 1946 – March 19, 2020) will premiere on Saturday July 25 at 2 PM (PST).
Download service bulletin for Bob London’s Memorial Service here:
Whoever you are and wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome to participate in this online memorial service for Robert “Bob” Van London
Psalm 23
(translated by Stephen Mitchell)
The Lord is my shepherd:
I have everything that I need.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside the still waters;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me on the paths of righteousness,
so that I may serve him with love.
Though I walk through the darkest valley
or stand in the shadow of death,
I am not afraid,
for I know you are always with me.
You spread a full table before me,
even in times of great pain;
you feast me with your abundance
and honor me like a king,
anointing my head with sweet oil,
filling my cup to the brim.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in God’s radiance
forever and ever.[1]
Welcome and Opening Remarks The Rev. Daniel London, PhD
The tradition at Christ Church is to sound the chimes for each year of the deceased’s life.
This is a time for prayer, reflection, meditation, and gratitude for the deceased.
PIANO PRELUDE
As the Deer
Song by Martin J. Nystrom
Based on Psalm 42:1
Performed by Merry Phillips
The memorial service is from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer pages 491 – 500.
The People’s responses are in bold.
OPENING ANTHEM
Said by the Officiant
I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord.
Whoever has faith in me shall have life,
even though he die.
And everyone who has life,
and has committed himself to me in faith,
shall not die for ever.
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.
After my awaking, he will raise me up;
and in my body I shall see God.
I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him
who is my friend and not a stranger.
For none of us has life in himself,
and none becomes his own master when he dies.
For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord,
and if we die, we die in the Lord.
So, then, whether we live or die,
we are the Lord’s possession.
Happy from now on
are those who die in the Lord!
So it is, says the Spirit,
for they rest from their labors.
The Officiant then says
| The Lord be with you | |
| People | And also with you. |
| Officiant | Let us pray. |
O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant Bob, being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of your servant Bob, and grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
The Lessons
A reading from the Book of Lamentations (3:22-26, 31-33)
(Reader: Jon Doyel, Bob’s friend)
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
For the Lord will not reject forever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 119 (Quph) I’ll Wait
Song by James Garcia
Performed by James Garcia
All songs in the service were specifically chosen from a list of favorite Christian songs that Bob London provided the family, including original compositions by James Garcia.
A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (8:14-19,34-35,37-39)
(Reader: Carol Murray, Bob’s sister-in-law)
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ– if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 23 the Lord is my Shepherd
Song by James Garcia
Performed by James Garcia
The video slideshow during Psalm 23 is a portion of a video slideshow created by the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Inc. You can view the video slideshow in its entirety here:
https://burgerfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/6133/Robert-London/obituary.html#tribute-start
A Reading from The Gospel According to John (10:11-16)
(Reader: The Rev. Daniel London)
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away– and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Homily
Pastor Brian Morgan
Peninsula Bible Church
Bob always appreciated the rich teachings of his pastor and friend Brian Morgan. In keeping with the theme of the Good Shepherd and in honor of Bob’s keen mind and inquisitive heart, the family invited Brian Morgan to offer a teaching on Psalm 23 in Bob’s memory.
Download the text of the sermon here: Psalm 23 Bob London
Download the slides of the sermon here: Psalm 23 Bob London slides
Words of Remembrance
Tuvya Zaretsky, Teacher and Friend
The Rev. Skip Fields, Teacher and Pastor
Matthew Abraham London, Bob’s Eldest Son
More Words of Remembrance will be shared after the Eulogy and Mourner’s Kaddish.
Apostles’ Creed
In the assurance of eternal life given at Baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say,
Officiant and People
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The LORD’S PRAYER
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayers of the People
(Intercessor: Elsie Kerchhofer, Bob’s friend)
Intercessor For our brother Bob, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am Resurrection and I am Life.”
Intercessor Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Bob, and dry the tears of those who weep.
People Hear us, Lord.
Intercessor You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow.
People Hear us, Lord.
Intercessor You raised the dead to life; give to our brother eternal life.
People Hear us, Lord.
Intercessor You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our brother to the joys of heaven.
People Hear us, Lord.
Intercessor Our brother was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit; give him fellowship with all your saints.
People Hear us, Lord.
Intercessor He was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant him a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom.
People Hear us, Lord.
Intercessor Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our brother; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.
Silence may be kept.
The Officiant concludes with one of the following or some other prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to you Bob, who was reborn by water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. Grant that his death may recall to us your victory over death, and be an occasion for us to renew our trust in your Father’s love. Give us, we pray, the faith to follow where you have led the way; and where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.
You are invited to join the Christ Church Eureka cantor David Powell in singing one of Bob’s favorite hymns, “How Great Thou Art” (music below). At this time, the online memorial service features images of the interior and exterior of Christ Episcopal Church Eureka CA, including the custom-designed Kegg Pipe Organ and drone footage of the installation of the new steeple cross. Although Bob was never able to visit Christ Church Eureka in person, he supported the parish from afar and felt held by the church’s prayers.
HYMN How Great Thou Art
Lift Every Voice and Sing II, #60
Organ by Merry Phillips
Vocals by David Powell
Recorded and mixed by Paul Gossard
The Commendation
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints,
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind;
and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we
return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying,
“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down
to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints,
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
The Officiant says
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your
servant Bob. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of
your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your
own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy,
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the
glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our
Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through
the blood of the eternal covenant: Make you perfect in
every good work to do his will, working in you that which is
well-pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to glorify God, follow Jesus Christ, and serve all people through the power of the Holy Spirit. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia.
POSTLUDE
How Great Thou Art (O Store Gud, Swedish folk melody) abbreviated
Setting by Wilbur Held
Eulogy
The Rev. Daniel London, Ph.D.
POETRY
“The Victory” by Thomas Merton (Final Stanza)
Look up, you captives, crowding to the water,
Look up, Ezechiel, and see the open heavens
Salute you with the vision of the winged Evangelists.
You with your ankles in the water and your garments white,
Lift up your heads, begin to sing:
And let your sights, exulting rise and meet
The miracle of living creatures
In their burning, frowning flight.
The message of their lamps and fires
Warns you: make ready for the Face that speaks
like lightning,
Uttering the new name of your exultation
Deep in the vitals of your soul.
Make ready for the Christ, Whose smile, like lightning,
Sets free the song of everlasting glory
That now sleeps, in your paper flesh, like dynamite.[2]
A Poem by Bob London (Feb 15, late 1960s)
In my meditation arose an unpronounced pronoun
Invisible flowers bloom in the sun shower
of magnetic Grace.
Lord, I feel your touch and never can I turn away
again.
Where You are, there is where I’ll rush
Where You shine brightest, there is where I’ll
search and stare.
When You call, then I’ll throw away all else and
turn to You with a single mind.
But if in mindless stupidity I don’t notice
Your presence, please pity my idiocy and
call to me louder. And however deep in
ignorance I may hide, please never
forget me.
The Mourner’s Kaddish
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world
which He has created according to His will.
May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days,
and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon;
and say, Amen.
May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored,
adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He,
beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that
are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who creates peace in His celestial heights,
may He create peace for us and for all Israel;
and say, Amen.
More Words of Remembrance
Marty Kaliski, Friend from High School
Ralph Spiegel, Friend from High School
Bruce Hammer, Friend from High School
Daniel Kirchhofer, Friend from Peninsula Bible Church
And the last word goes to Bob London…
“There is meaning. There is meaning to everything, everywhere…
There is life. Full life and eternal life everywhere and [in] everything”
– Bob London
[1] Stephen Mitchell, A Book of Psalms: Selected & Adapted from the Hebrew (New York: HarperCollins, 1993), 12-13.
[2] Thomas Merton, The Collected Poems of Thomas Merton (New York: New Directions, 1980), 115.
Robert “Bob” Van London
May 10, 1946 – March 19, 2020
Robert “Bob” Van London, 73, of Ithaca NY passed away on March 19, 2020 after a long and courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia.
Known as “Van” as a child, Bob was born on May 10, 1946 in Manhattan to Dr. Lewis Bolter London and Naomi Pauline Barger London and grew up in New Rochelle NY. He was bar-mitzvahed at Temple Israel in New Rochelle in 1959 and graduated New Rochelle High school in 1964. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca NY and, at 19 years old, had a powerful experience near Thurston Avenue bridge in which he saw divine light beaming in a single blade of grass and then saturating everything around him with an explosion of life and meaning. This experience lifted him out of a severe depression and set him on a lifelong spiritual journey, seeking the source of this overwhelming experience of brimming and abundant life. He changed his major from chemistry to psychology and eventually graduated from NYU, with a double major in English and Education. He worked as a high school English teacher, a manager at the Harvard Coop bookstore, the owner of an outdoor supply shop, and an Education Specialist for the US Department of Defense. He also served as a stage technician for Shakespeare in the Park in Manhattan, a teacher for Operation Head Start in Harlem, and a yoga instructor in upstate NY.
He attended Harvard and earned a Master’s in Education at Boston University while dating Janet Dixon Burger, whom he later married in Concord MA in 1977. They then moved to California, where Bob earned a PhD in Education and Computer Science at Stanford University while raising his two sons with Janet. He worked as a senior computer scientist, engineer, and product manager at Teknowledge Corp. and Clarify Inc. in Silicon Valley and then founded a computer programming company called Taxonomize. He also worked as a grant writer and education consultant for De Anza College and Foothill College. He was a proud son, brother, friend, uncle, and a true mensch.
His spiritual journey led him to admire and learn from Abraham Maslow, Teilhard de Chardin, Sri Chinmoy, Mary Baker Eddy, Thomas Merton, Martin Buber, Tuvya Zaretsky and Brian Morgan. He ultimately discovered the source of the divine light in Jesus Christ, whom he recognized as the Jewish Messiah and as his Lord. He died on the feast day of St. Joseph, the patron saint of fathers, which is wholly appropriate since he let the divine light shine through him most purely and freely as a husband and father, and it was in those roles that he found his deepest joy and fulfillment. He also died on the first day of Spring, a confirmation of his faith in the promise of the resurrection and the hope that his divine light will continue to shine forever.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Dixon Burger London; his sons, Matthew Abraham London and Daniel DeForest London; his daughter-in-law, Ashley London Bacchi; his sister, Melody London; his nieces, Erin Alexa London and Janet Murray Levine; his nephews, George Benjamin Donnini and Peter Sherman Murray; and his sisters-in-law, Anne (Vincent) Perna and Carol Murray.
Bob was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Lynn Leslie Donnini; and his mother-in-law, Florence Dixon Burger.
Private Interment was held in East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca.
The family wants to express deep gratitude to all who participated in this online memorial service by reading Scripture, offering Words of Remembrance, and contributing music, prayers and love. Special thanks to PBCC Pastor Brian Morgan for offering the homily and teaching on Psalm 23; to PBCC Worship Pastor James Garcia for providing music inspired by the Psalms; and to the PBCC Technical Manager Ray Barbieri. Thank you also to Tuvya Zaretsky and Pastor Skip Fields for offering Words of Remembrance; and to Elsie Kirchhofer for serving as Intercessor. Thank you to the good people of Christ Episcopal Church Eureka for your kindness and generosity, especially Merry Phillips (Music Coordinator and Organist), David Powell (Choir Director and Cantor), Paul Gossard (Audio Technician), and Thomas Swanger (Administrative Assistant and “Virtual Verger”). We are grateful also to Jon Doyel and Carol Murray for reading Scripture and to Marty Kaliski, Ralph Spiegel, Bruce Hammer, and Daniel Kirchhofer for offering more words of remembrance. Finally, we are deeply grateful to Tom Burger and the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Inc. and to everyone who has watched the service with love, respect, and appreciation for the radiant life of Bob London.
Donations can be made in memory of Bob to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, lls.org, or Christ Episcopal Church Eureka, PO Box 861, Eureka, CA, 95502, or online at https://christchurcheureka.org/giving/ or Peninsula Bible Church Cupertino online at https://pbcc.org/giving/.
DANIEL DeFOREST LONDON 