It has been so fun reading all the stories and looking at all of the pictures and having great laughs through a really sad time!  I met JJ as an Intern at LP.  He used to call me Nelly... I kept correcting him saying Kelli and he would say, Nah, you're Nelly New Girl!  At the time, I didn't realize that would become one of my many nicknames from him.  JJ was everybody's greatest friend in the world, including mine!  I have been thinking about how you could work with someone for 12-15 hour days (I believe that is when he received the nickname "EPPY") then "have a few" (I am confident we paid the mortgage at Angies) and start over the next day and never grow tired of one another, that was a great friendship.  For the mentoring, the really fun outings, the great bike trips, the countless stories, and the endless laughs, thanks JJ! 

When we used to work endless hours, with no sleep for days at a time, clients (mostly, Bob Barnett) would ask us if we had slept and at the same time we would answer..."don't worry, we will get plenty of sleep when we are dead"... although it's way too soon... it is your time to rest easy!  Thank you for being my friend...

Aloha! Go Bears!!

Phyllis here:...  You were a big, beautiful man & you lived a big, beautiful life. Your beauty came from the inside out.  You saw beauty in all those you met and in your surroundings whereever you travelled.  We always looked forward to Nitty Gritty Dirt Band shows because we would get to see the Chicago bunch!  We have so many good memories of fun & silliness with you.  Curt and Bunior were a force to be reckoned with when together and chanelling Madeline Kahn.  You knew how to be real and keep it real.  You were sharing a story of a solo trip you took on your Goldwing through the Rockies.  You were stopped to repair something and were all alone in the woods hoping you wouldn't be eaten by a bear.  I picture you charming the bear with your rendition of "I'm tioowd" in your best Madeline voice.  I know our paths will cross again. You are beautiful & I love ya!

My Boss Bob (Swag) introduced me to Bunior & Chicago bunch at a Nitty Gritty Dirt band show many years ago. They all treated me like we had been friends for years. Bunior & I loved to recall goofy lines from Blazing Saddles until the wee hours after Dirt shows. Working for the band was nothing like being with Bunior & the "Chicago Bunch". It was always the funnest times I can remember. I loved seeing how close this group of friends were. Once after a Dirt show we were in a little VFW bar (Wisc. ?) Bunior sat at an old upright piano & floored my wife (to be) Phyllis & I  with the Dirt song "God Bless the Broken Road". It was so beautiful we both had tears in our eyes. I never knew at that point he could play. Bunior, our hearts are heavy with sadness because even when I could not always be with you, it always made me feel good knowing you were heading to a show on your Wing. I will always remember Boone riding his Goldwing somewhere out west with a Bluegrass band playing on the radio & a smile on his face. I choose to believe we will meet again in a better place.  God Bless your broken road my friend.

Nearly everyone who knew Boon was assigned a nickname.  I received the nickname McF--k (hint: its a 4-letter word) and it stuck.

Back when I lived on River Rd south of McHenry, Boon and others would swing by while out on rides.  One day I was not there, so Boon left a message.  Off to the side in front of the entrance to my garage was my firewood pile. So Boon methodically spelled out my nickname in 10 foot tall letters, making sure to use the entire pile of firewood, which I had to then restack before I could get into the garage.  Took me an hour. 

I think Boon was the epidome of the term "GO BIG OR GO HOME".  At least he lived it.

From the moment I walked up Boons driveway he called me Swede. Soon everyone knew me as "the Swede" all thanks to Boon. ☺

I have a lot of memories with Boon that I will forever hold dear and when I think of them I smile. Boon was all love and I never knew a kinder man.

When I first came to this country I knew nothing about football. During one of my first Bear games overall at Boone’s I made a comment about the game. I told Boon that “football is just a bunch of grown men wanting the same toy.” That afternoon he taught me football. Though I am not as optimistic about the Bears as Boon was, they are my team because of him.

You will forever be missed! Love you Boon.

Swede 

Boon and I shared a passion: Skiing.  When he was at SIU, he and his roomate, Eno (if you were friends with a Jorian, you had a nickname) were planning a ski trip to Breckinridge.  He sent me a letter asking if I wanted to join them.  He assumed I would, since "yes" was always my response to a ski trip.  I sent him back a letter explaining that I was planning on spending spring break helping to plan my upcoming wedding.  About a week later I received a letter with an SIU return address on the envelope.  There was no paper or note inside, just an envelope full of ashes, and the corner of my original letter to him.  He had burned my letter telling him of my spring break plans, but left a corner of it so I would know it was my letter.  I talked to him by pnone after his trip and he let me know how pathetic I was to pass up a trip to Colorado to plan a wedding.  After all, he was founder and president of the NDA.

Probably not the coolest thing for one guy to say about another, but Boon was the kindest person I'd ever met.  Never did I hear him speak a negative word to someone or about someone.  There was not a mean bone in his body.  There was no malice in John Jorian.  A great friend who will be missed.

My fondest memory of Boon (and Ken Haller) were those Motorola Super Bowl meetings we did at Innisbrook or Saddlebrook where we set up the 'makeshift' backstage TV studio and Ken was the 'on camera' talent. We would cut to Moto commercials (from VHS!) during the real commercials. I was video director and John was the "on-the-fly" producer driving the train from out front...good times! He will be missed. (Bob Lockley) 

I had the unique experience of being John's roommate for our sophomore and senior years in college.  I learned early that Boon was not like other people I knew at the time. From the moment our lives touched, I knew that I was not just dealing with another "guy". The best way to describe the Boon that I knew is as a LIFE FORCE. During our time as roommates and students at THE Southern Illinois University, this individual never ceased to amaze me with his depth and span of knowledge. In addition, he was always willing to share his wisdom & perspective. Those of us that had the pleasure of experiencing part of our lives with Boon will understand:

Boon taught me:

- That the NGDB isn't a band, it's a way of life.

- To have a working knowledge of the Native American languages of both Crow & Flathead.

- The ability to "goof around" is sometimes all a friend needs.

- That Mood lighting and the right background music can make all the difference. 

- That Sometimes having 2 spare tires isn't enough for one road trip.

- The value of the variable vapor density and flammability of methane.

- That no matter how many biological brothers you might have, there's always room for one more.

- That one can never watch too much Caddyshack while crushing Gold Medal Ribbon

- That It's infinity better to include people than to exclude them.

- How to skitch in untied Timberlands.

- That Playing "Misty" on the piano can be COOL.

- Asteroids is a sport.

- How to be unafraid of following your own chosen path.

- How to appreciate exotic foods like gyros, Mountain Dew, and cheese "pra-nas".

Most importantly, Boon was/is the finest example of a man who always sought out the good in every person he interacted with. 

I am just one of countless people who love him. I will never forget my friend & brother...... I will see you again.....Eee-chick, ah-ho

Tommo

So many great memories with Boon, but one of my favorites was when we were at Poplar Creek for a concert (circa 1987) with the Dirt Band and Alabama and Bunior and I snuck backstage and pretended we were on the Chicago Bears. I was Mike Tomczak he was Cliff Thrift. The roadies started introducing us to the band members as Chicago Bears and next thing we knew we were on the tour bus with John Mcewen. It was a great memory I'll always treasure and have many more like that with Bunior. I miss him and will always treasure that smirk and the constant witty repartee. Boon was Truly one of a kind!

We are heartbroken.  Without you - now when we wander, we will be lost.  Love you so much Boney.