Itchy is dead.
The lifeless body of this talented
rock musician, whose band Shock Therapy was a popular group especially in
Europe, was found in a field in Detroit last Wednesday, November 5. The Wayne
County Coroner's office informed father Glenn McCormick that the body of his son
Gregory, better known to all of us as Itchy, bore no signs of trauma. Glenn
said that Itchy, who had been living at his father's dental lab in Detroit, had
been drinking to excess for some time. While the toxicology report has not been
released yet, the general consensus seems to be that he drank himself to
death.
Our agency, while still named
INNOCENT, first got involved with Itchy in 2005. The Detroit native, who called
Germany his home, got involved in some unfortunate activity that placed him in
the Michigan State prison system on a charge of arson of a dwelling. It was
really just a bonfire in an alley, but an alleged parole violation placed him in
prison for 1-20 years. I personally sat with Itchy for his final two parole
board interviews. He had been flopped, or refused parole, by the Michigan
Parole Board five times. There was no reason for this man to remain in prison,
and he struggled in the prison environment. I agreed to
help.
Meanwhile, we worked with his team in
Germany on a regular basis with communications, and assisted regularly with
financial arrangements while he remained in prison. Our office has two huge
files labeled Gregory McCormick.
We finally helped him to obtain his
parole, he was freed in June, 2007, and I was at the prison gate to welcome
him!
But alcohol became a problem almost
immediately.
He had such big plans to hold
fund-raising concerts for Humanity for Prisoners, and to take Marcia and me to
Germany in thanks for all of our work on his behalf. But he couldn't get his
emotions together, seemed to resist professional help, and just could not get on
top of things. Whatever stamina he had before incarceration was shattered by
the prison system.
We can't win them
all.
There will be no funeral service.
Glenn McCormick is hoping for a simple cremation, and is making an effort to
have the ashes sent to Itchy's beloved Germany.
Persons wishing to remember Itchy may
do so by sending memorial gifts to:
HUMANITY FOR
PRISONERS
20 W. Muskegon
Avenue
Muskegon, MI
49440
USA
I am sad. He was a dear friend. I
extend sincere sympathy to all of his family and friends.
Auf Wiedersehen,
Itchy.
Doug Tjapkes,
President