Popovich ceremony

CLEVELAND ROCKS: George Saadi, another industry veteran whose life was touched by Steve Popovich, shared his experience at the memorial service. “I don’t have much experience at funerals,” he wrote in an email. “I’m not an emotional person, but I was overwhelmed with sadness. Curiously, I found myself simultaneously wiping the tears while laughing throughout the ceremony. At the cemetery, the pallbearers carried his casket to his plot and placed it above the hole. I noticed a lone table with a boombox strategically positioned on it not too far away. As the pallbearers stepped away, very loudly, you heard, ‘Hello. How y'all doing tonight? This is Alan Freed, king of the moondogs. And it's time again for another one of your favorite rock & roll sessions, as you enjoy, the moondog show!” The blaring guitars of ‘Cleveland Rocks' pumped out of the distorted speakers, Popovich’s sound equipment of choice. After this, a polka was played, followed by more of the soundtrack of Steve’s life. Many dozens of dazed people still trying to cope with their broken hearts from Steve's unexpected passing milled around just to be part of it. I absorbed the audio and picture, and what was supposed to be a supremely sad moment had me walking away with a huge smile on my face. Russ Regan summed it up best. ‘I will miss him forever.’” (6/15a)