Obituaries

All his life Jimmie struggled with autism, cerebral palsy, and asthma. He learned to walk, and to communicate, in the face of a negative medical prognosis. He memorized all the States and their capitals, and 30 countries and their capitals. He associated every speck of his knowledge with people he knew, or things he read in books. He knew one of his beloved teachers came from Argentina, capital Buenos Aires, and another from New Zealand, capital Wellington. He knew that the Komodo dragon at the West Palm Zoo was from Indonesia, capital Jakarta. He had a doctor from Egypt and another from Peru. He loved McDonald’s, Spiderman and all of Tomie De Paola’s books. He loved Jerry Garcia’s Not For Kids Only album and Raffi‘s Singable Songs. His favorite music was Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, and he listened to them for hours. 

He loved Family Central Library, and the Broward County library system. He worked on his computer. He memorized opposite words. He enjoyed the Fern Forest. He treasured his memories of Coconut Creek Elementary School and of the wonderful Bright Horizons Center. A creative art teacher at Florinada Elementary School taught him collage. 

The hole he leaves in his family’s heart is enormous (the opposite of tiny). He served as a channel of grace to those who encountered him. He is survived by his parents, Elsa and Richard Labonski, his Granny, Mary Lu Schwarz, resident at VIP Care Pavilion, his siblings Rich and Debbie Labonski of Maryland, Peter Labonski and Maureen Fontana of Connecticut, Zuberu Kawah of Maryland, his beloved Uncle Tim Schwarz of Missouri, Ted and Joyce Schwarz of Boca Raton, Peter and Linda Schwarz of Tallahassee, Liz and Dan Stump of Illinois, and James Labonski of Pennsylvania. He loved Max, Zac, Cal, Bryce, Mackenzie, Brooke, Olivia, Griffin, and Wyatt. 

We are grateful to the wonderful doctors, therapists and nursing staff at Broward General Hospital and The Florida Medical Center. 

In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Jimmie’s name to your favorite organization that spreads peace and joy. 

Viewing Sunday January 27, 2013, 6-9 PM Savino-Weissman Funeral home, Margate, FL, with internment Monday, January 28, Queen of Heaven Cemetery, North Lauderdale, FL.