In Memory of Craig Ingraham

Craig passed on March 7, 2020, three days before the beginning of the COVID pandemic lockdown. Having an in-person memorial was impossible, so Debora did the next best thing. On the first anniversary of Craig’s death, 80 people showed up on Zoom to celebrate the life and music of Craig Ingraham. Debora asked many of his musical friends to participate in a virtual choir of Craig’s song “The Golden Thread” that he wrote after meeting the Dalai Lama. Special thanks to editor Richard Andert for his impeccable services.

Debora shares how it happened.

Craig was skeptical of large charity organizations. He was always concerned that the donations really didn’t trickle down to the needy and instead were funding the administrators. But Homeboy Industries, founded by Catholic priest Father Greg was different. Craig had wanted to be a priest and had entered the minor seminary at 14 years old, but was kicked out before his first year was completed. He said it was because he asked too many questions. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church gave him something to work on for the rest of his life. He said he was the loyal opposition. Homeboy Industries founder Father Greg was dear to his heart. He always said that was the type of priest he would have wanted to become.

When Craig passed away and Debora was looking for a home for his recording equipment, it was only fitting that she contact Homeboy Industries. At first, there was no response, but one day, she got a message from a person named Fabian Debora from Homeboy. That’s weird she thought, his last name is my first name? The spelling of her first name is definitely original. “In my entire lifetime, I’ve only known six women who spell their first name like mine, without the ‘h’. Everybody always spells it wrong!”

Fabian Debora explained to Debora that he worked his way through the program at Homeboy. He became a counselor to others, then Director of Substance Abuse Services & Programming and finally, the Founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Art Academy. Fabian’s art has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad.

Fabian explained that they were building a recording studio in order to train their former gang members and previously incarcerated people in the art of recording engineering. Homeboy Industries was interested in the equipment. Debora was delighted to be able to donate Craig’s entire recording studio equipment to Homeboy Industries.