Claude Jason "J-Bone" Abernethy
San Francisco/Denver, d.31.July.2020
RIP to a real legend J-bone Abernethy. The word legend was created
for people like J-Bone.
He was a bike messenger and activist in San Francisco and Denver
going at least all the way back to the 1980’s and perhaps further.
He appears in the 1987 documentary about San Francisco bike
messengers, “Proof of Deliver.” You
could argue J-Bone was one of the many creators of messenger
culture. He started the Road Rash Bash in San Francisco in the
1980’s and continued it in Denver. My introduction to J-Bone was
through Rebecca Reilly’s 1995 piece in Mercury Rising “Cops and
Couriers - A six city Overview” describing how in Denver he
fought to stop police harassment and targeting of messengers.
He was known for his signature Mohawk, his punk Hanx jacket and his
BMX bike. J-Bone along with Stef Furano from Montreal gave the
International Federation of Bike Messenger Associations” its name.
By 1998, I had heard many stories about J-Bone’s work for many
years. I tracked him down in Denver and called him to ask if Denver
would join other cities’ bike messenger associations in joining
together to support Boston messengers. One of the first things he
said was “I have been waiting for this phone call for 15 years.” We
talked for hours and he educated me on battles he fought and won for
messengers. I met him in person later that year in Washington at
CMWC. He has been a friend and mentor ever since. He will be missed
by generations of people around the world who still benefit from his
work, his authenticity and his wisdom. RIP my friend.- Joe Hendry
WELL, I figured out why the energy felt so strange and off on Friday
evening and night! There was a GREAT disturbance in THE FORCE!!! A
JEDI MASTER fought for his life in an EPIC battle which had been
raging for months with terminal cancer! That fierce and ominous
storm that rolled in from the west feels like it was his grand
finale!!! And all that lightning was a lot MORE than just lightning
I know now! "TODAY IN CREATION" as he would often say, to begin his
FB stories and check ins (although it was Friday evening) KING
J-bone Abernethy left us and dropped his body and transcended
through the veil my friends! I pray his journey home is swift and
safe and heralded by God's Angels upon his approach! A great fixture
and agent of change and justice within the bike messenger Scene of
San Francisco (first), then here in Denver! He effected much change
for the betterment of the bike messenger community and was always a
ray of sunshine and a great and jovial, positive energy to all who's
paths crossed his on a daily basis! His prescence, heart, mind and
spirit will be missed greatly by many for years to come! A legend in
his own time! And yet, such a humble man! To know him, was to love
him! You couldn't help it! He was one of the kindest, most good
natured people you could ever hope to meet! And I am grateful to
have been his friend and his brother all these years! He was my
friend, but also a supporter and a follower of our night and our FB
page NECROMANTIC! He was a BMX riding, Punk Rock superhero! And
don't get it twisted, he was wise beyond the reaches of his 68 and a
half hard earned years here on this planet as well and was a JEDI
MASTER! So yes, there has been a great disturbance in THE FORCE...
May you REST IN POWER J-BONE!!! I love you brother! And we will meet
again dawg!!! Count on THAT!!! BE WELL, STAY BLESSED AND GODSPEED
GOOD SIR!!! ALL hail KING J-BONE aka HANX 13 aka J-bone Abernethy /
DPBMA / SFBMA / FOSSIL / JEDI MASTER... A life well lived! WELL DONE
SIR!!! -Love, your friend Bhajan aka Lord Hyperion Visigoth - Bhajan
Williams
I'm out of Facebook Jail! (A 3-day sentence. Bad timing!) At least I
can now respond "Like" to all the kind words that have been posted
about my brother, J-Bone Abernethy, who passed away on Friday, July
31st. Since there will be no services until the end of COVID-19,
check out his Facebook page for a wonderful tribute to him!
#CancerSucks B| - Chuck Abernathy
The SF Bicycle Messenger community lost two awesome brothers today.
Joseph Moody an j J-bone Abernethy. You will be greatly missed. -
Peter Skyler Watts
💜💛💚💙Today in creation ❤️🧡🤍💚Angels are singing. I just
learned that my friend J-bone Abernethy lost his battle with
cancer yesterday. But he did not really lose, he has simply moved
on. I knew J-Bone years ago as a fellow Denver bike messenger. He
was one of a kind. He was a constant presence of joy, with his horn
timed glasses, colorful Mohawk (never knew what color it would be on
any given day), leather jacket and bright smile. I would continue to
run into him over the years (always on bikes) and it always made me
happy. I know that he loved BMX, was instrumental in starting the
San Francisco Bike Messenger Association prior (and I still have a
t-shirt), and was involved in other bike initiatives in Denver as
well. What I know most about him was that he loved his bikes, was
the kindest, gentlest soul, lived in grace and died in grace. The
angels are singing. May your light ever shine and put a smile on the
many faces of those of us lucky to have had our lives touched by
you. R.I.P. J-Bone - Leona Cohen
Thursday, I dug out my road rash shirt. No particular reason, just
felt like wearing it. I felt overwhelmingly nostalgic, thinking back
to those days of riding all over Denver, hanging in your back yard
and jamming out, thrifting and looking for silver for you. You
taught me how to ride your long board! They were good times with
great company. Yesterday when I read you were gone, it broke my
heart. I was looking forward to catching up with you and showing you
all I've seen since the last time I saw you. Sorry, the years
slipped by too fast. Give my Kona a hug for me, he'll be happy to
see an old friend. Love you, Bones. J-bone Abernethy - Amy Ishman
We lost a legend yesterday. Jason J-bone Abernethy lost his battle
with cancer. If you worked in downtown Denver in the
past 30 years, you have seen J-Bone riding around town. He was a
gentle, giving soul that always made people smile. I can
remember the first time I saw him in the mid 90' with a blue mohawk
in Cherry Creek North. I also remember the last time I saw him, at
NACCC in Denver 2015. He gave me a small crystal, and told me it
would take care of me during my travels. That crystal has been
around the world a few times, and will remain in my travel bag. I
will continue totake J-Bone with me on all my trips. You did
so much for bicycling and the couriers in Denver. I hope the road is
smooth, and the skate parks are rad in heaven. Rest in peace my
friend, you will be missed. - Paul Reardon
Grounding meditation in honor of a veteran bike messenger and a
really good influence in my life and others', J-bone... Sidestepping
the agendas of other people while getting to whatever degree of
self-inquiry about our past & present actions and intentions
that we can, we build a refuge. Or a foundation, if you prefer. This
isn't a refuge to hide from the world in, but rather one to act and
engage more skillfully from. -Jack Blackfelt
The world has a huge empty place in it today. Ride in eternal peace
J-bone . Your optimism and light will forever shine in the hearts of
those who were fortunate enough to know you 🚲🖤 - Leah Hollinsworth
This man right here touched my heart and soul many times in our
conversations; his will was unrivaled, and his strength and spirits
were at an all time high; he always stood true to his faith and
boasted wisdom he sought to spread throughout. Also his Hawks were
sick!! You're a real legend, J-bone; the BMX and Messenger community
lost a fuckin' real one... Don't stop shining bright, and shower us
in your light when we've lost our way. I'll miss you, dawg... RIDE
IN PEACE!! - Sparky Hernandez
The bike messenger community/world has lost another great one.
J-bone Abernethy, One of the kindest, greatest soul I've ever met!
You'll be sorely missed by many friends who loved and cared for you.
Till we meet again, ride in peace friend. 🚴♂️💔 - Frederick
J Lipsett
A life lived, one we can only hope to be excellent enough in our
ways to emulate. I salute you J-bone Abernethy thank you for your
friendship, thank you for your wisdom, thank you for being there
before us. - Austin Horse
