One of Fort Lauderdale's Own
The following piece was written by Jaco's Aunt Roseanne
Jaco with Roseanne, sometime between 1980 - 1983, backstage somewhere in Philly
John Francis Pastorius III was born on 12.1.1951 at Sacred Heart Hospital in a town about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. I was there with my brother in the waiting room when the doctor came to get him to meet the new arrival. When he came back, Jack said to me, "It's a boy and his name is Jocko."
That was the beginning, but we didn't have him up north too long. When Jocko was eight years old he moved with his father Jack, mother Stephanie, and two younger brothers, Gregory and Rory, to Fort Lauderdale.
He played little league, was an altar boy at St. Clement's and learned to drum from his father. He also won a prize at school for designing a house – he got that skill from JFP, Sr. who wanted him to stick to that, but music got a hold of him and wouldn't let go.
He was buried from St. Clement's Church on 9.25.1987 but not before he won a Grammy and received many Grammy nominations and also accolades from all over the globe as the greatest Jazz bassist in the world and changed his name from Jocko to Jaco as in taco.
Roseanne visting Jaco's grave last June.
Today, 9.21.2007, is 20 years since Jaco died after being beaten into a coma nine days earlier.
So even though he was Pennsylvanian by birth, he was Floridian by life, love, and music.
God love him, and may he and his father be making beautiful music together in Heaven.
Rest in peace, my sweet boys.
Roseanne
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