Greg Muskewitz ::: Dec 28, 1981 – April 22, 2005 ::: R.I.P.
Ten years ago today, I lost my friend Greg to cancer. He was only 23 years old. Quite a tragedy when somebody dies so young, yet Greg said ahead of time it was okay because he’d already had such a full and wonderful life. He loved being with his family. And he was already living his dream job: being a writer and film critic. He blogged in LiveJournal, and posted on websites and message boards, read books, and watched, reviewed and talked movies.
Greg wanted to be remembered and he is impossible to forget. To learn more about this incredible young man who accomplished so much, please follow me.
By his 23rd birthday, Greg had already been battling Ewing’s Sarcoma for nearly two years. The intensive treatment including chemotherapy, radiation and leg amputation seemed to knock down the rare but usually deadly cancer for awhile, at least. Greg felt well enough between the tough times to help coach his sisters’ cheer team; look into going back to college; write poems, stories, and online features; and continue viewing films and writing reviews. But by December 2004 Greg began coughing so much he couldn’t catch his breath, and I remember encouraging him that it “sounds like it could be pneumonia, maybe....” But when he had it checked out, it confirmed that the cancer had spread to his lungs. Greg called me to say he had been given a stark prognosis of only six months to live and asked me if I’d inform the online world of his passing when it happened, and tell his story. It has been an honor to carry out his request.
I first met Greg online in 2001, and his engaging and ebullient personality made it easy to strike up a fast electronic friendship. We both planned to attend the NY Public Theatre production of "The Seagull" directed by Mike Nichols and starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Natalie Portman; and had searched the web for details on how to score tickets. In August 2001, Greg and I met in person in Central Park in New York City and waited in line overnight with over 1000 other people for Free tickets to the fabulous, star-studded stage play.
A life-long resident of San Diego, Greg had just embarked on a year of writing, film-viewing and study in NYC, courtesy of his grandparents’ home in Brooklyn. We had a blast hanging out together – discussing films, singing Bjork songs, talking about our families and lives off-line, even though I was practically old enough to be his mother. I felt like I loved Greg as an exceptionally accomplished "surrogate son"; at the same time I felt like Greg was my contemporary and equal; a soul mate and an "old soul."
Prolific Young Film Critic
Greg’s passions were film and writing. He joined his local San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) and combined the two loves into his life work to become one of the youngest and most prolific online film critics ever, writing over 800 reviews and dozens of features in just four years time. He wrote for movie sites like ReelTalkReviews (Memorial to Greg), Hollywood Bitchslap (Memorial to Greg); and ReviewExpress. A partial archive of Greg Muskewitz’s film reviews can also be found at Rotten Tomatoes.
Greg especially loved David Lynch movies and French cinema, particularly Agnes Jaoui films.
Musky Greg was not afraid to introduce himself at film festivals, and met both directors:
Greg loved prognosticating on the Oscars. He presented the “Best Actress" trophy at the San Diego Film Critics Society awards luncheon, where he could sit next to and chat up the winning actresses. Some of his favorite actresses were: Julia Stiles, Liv Tyler, Thora Birch, Ludivine Sangier, Natalie Portman, and Alexis Bledel.
Through his work as a film critic, writing, and by chance encounter, some of Greg's dreams came true when he met many of the actresses he admired most.
Film School Confidential, the student film festival sponsored by the SDFCS, the Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA) and Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD); featured an encore screening of The Egg Incident starring Greg. Each year the student film fest honors Greg’s memory through the "Greg Muskewitz Scholarship Fund" awarded to young filmmakers in the MACSD's Teen Producers Project who display not only a passion for film but an interest in making their communities a better place, two things that Greg always championed.
Greg also Loved the WB program Gilmore Girls and his Last Wish came true to meet the cast and visit the set, thanks to Greg's dear friends and Make-A-Wish, The Warner Foundation. For the episode, Greg sat in the background in a scene in Luke's Diner. Afterward he said he was thrilled he'd become "an official denizen of the world's most awesome town, Stars Hollow."
By 2005, Greg's SDFCS colleagues, friends and family had raised money for his dream trip to Paris and Germany, where he’d meet up with another online friend. Greg might yet fulfill his wish of personally presenting Natalie Portman (at the time located in Berlin filming V 4 Vendetta), with a SDFCS 2005 Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance in Closer. (Hey Greg: Nat won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2011 for Black Swan!)
I’m so happy Greg had that Gilmore Girls experience in March of 2005 because shortly afterward he began getting sicker, and it seemed he was in the hospital every few days or so. It soon became apparent Greg would not go to Paris and Germany after all; not in this lifetime. He was having trouble breathing and the medication was making him sick, too. Sadly, Greg died early in the morning on April 22, 2005.
Over the past nine years, Greg's loving family has continued to celebrate his life and memory. They've scattered his ashes in his favorite places like the Pacific Ocean and New York, held gatherings in remembrance, and his mom planted a sunflower garden. And no matter where we are, there is still a tradition of "going to the movies for Greg" to celebrate his December 28th birthday.
I won't forget you, dear Greg.
I miss writing and talking with you,
and am thinking of you fondly, my friend.
Rest in Peace.