It is with great sadness that I have to tell you our jbou has left the building, for good.
My dear, goofy, smart, annoying, smart ass, bewildering friend, who had a heart bigger than most people know, suffered heart failure on 10 May.
You can read his obituary here.
Jon and I often spoke offline, having one of those truly weird relationships that Life gifts us with from time to time. We argued, we shouted, we laughed, and we grumped. We’d get angry and not speak for a few days or weeks. But we always came back to our friendship.
jbou was maddening, there is no doubt about it! He was passionate about what he believed in, and just as passionate about what he did not believe in. He often accused me of believing in fairy tales (smile) and I accused him of being a nihilist. We were both right and wrong.
He cared more about other people than most of us ever suspected. He had a wicked wit, and a funny way of doing just about everything. His diaries almost always made me laugh, and his polls were a thing of beauty! He had such talent for writing with acerbic wit, and could remind you that the Emperor was truly buck nekkid! He also had a kindness in him that was too often overlooked.
His dad passed away earlier in the year, and he was concerned about how his mother would cope. He adored his niece, Jessica, and thought his nephews Evan and Griffin could do anything they set their minds to. And he loved “the puppies” Bo and Honey, who greeted him the way only dogs can do...”Oh, you came back!! It’s been forEVer!!!” Meaning he had just been out to put the rubbish in the bin.
For all his faults Jon was truly one in a million. He cared deeply, and I am so very proud that he has been my dear friend.
Guess he’s finding out that those “fairy tales” had more than a little reality to them...go sing among the stars, Jon. Godspeed and rest easy.
Much love,
Marti