OMG- the only 2 instructors that I remember from my 2 years at Yuba, and this brings to mind another story from John.  If I recall the story correctly, in the early days of Yuba College, there were only 4 PhD’s on campus- John, Ed, someone in chemistry, and one other.  Only one of the 4 (aka ‘other’) regularly touted his title and the other 3 were apparently offended by his gift of pencils engraved with “Merry Christmas from Dr. So and So”.  After grinding the pencils down to “Merry Christmas”, the 3 took to gleefully addressing each other as “Dr” in the hallways.  Can’t you just picture Ed and John passing each other with a proverbial tip of the hat and a verbal exchange of “Doctor”, “Doctor”? They thoroughly enjoyed this routine until they noticed the nursing program students straining their necks to see who was at the center of such respectful adoration

A perfect comment from a mutual friend, Lisa- "what a gracious man".  While unloading boxes during one house moving (not the actual house, though you've seen pics of that one here...), I had the stupid idea to hide a box of trophies for a prank.  Went very bad, as I also applied juvenile rationale for the hiding place - in a tree.  Instead of finding the box in the tree, John found it on the gound.  John was very quiet about it, but I think that is the least happy that I ever saw him.  Lisa's description is highly accurate.  Last prank I ever attempted.

John was just so, so much fun.  I distinctly recall one Halloween night the doorbell ringing.  Upon opening the door, there stood John cradling his helmet attired in his bike leathers and saying, "Trick or treat."  There were none of the kids there.  Just John and his motorcycle.  It was John and Pam who hosted us at their home for our older daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner. There was also the time John and his telescope lured us out to the countryside at an insane time of night/morning to view Halley's Comet which turned out to be missing in action.  Not to worry, John simply treated us to a wonderful view of Saturn and its rings.  Then there was the phone call three years ago.  It was John.  "Bill, I know you like to travel.  I have a line on a trip I've wanted to make. Want to go to Cuba?"  Hmmmmmm?  Sure! That was it.  John and I spent a wonderful week together backdooring to Cuba through Cozumel.  I delighted in our discussions each night interpretting what we had experienced that day.  "The Professor," as I would call him, was attempting to administer a course final from the s-l-o-w, s-l-o-w Havana internet as I would needle him about running an off-shore scam.  Oh, what fun I had with this wonderful man whom I got to call my friend.  

John enjoyed telling the story of tuning his 68 big block Corvette.  He'd change the timing, etc, then drive it hard for a few miles to see how it was working.  If I recall correctly, at the 3rd or 4th stop, as he was opening the hood, a CHP cruiser rattled and smoked its way to a stop behind him.  Apparently the cruiser expired in an attempt to catch John in a seriously faster car, which would have failed spectacularly had not John stopped for his own purpose.  Otherwise, John had no idea he was even being pursued.  John drove away, with a ticket as I recall, while the CHP waited for a tow.  This is of course the same red Corvette that John on more than one occassion set a pair of 18 year olds loose in.  Generous yes, judgement perhaps a bit cloudy- fortunately, both the Corvette and I returned unscathed.

While I would have been home bitterly whining and complaining, John seemed determined to pack as much into his remaining time as humanly possible.  Clearly an example for all of us.  When Bob's racecar overheated, John wanted to learn the cause.  Here's a tip John might have shared had he been consulted earlier... electrolysis is very fond of dissimilar metals, so don't mix copper and aluminum in a cooling system.

I ‘ll say John definitely made an impact on my life, not only as a mentor but also as a friend.  We all new how brilliant he was in his field and his passion for astronomy, but I want to share some of the stuff we did together over the years.  The after school year gathering at the Collins Lake with jet skis he provided for all of us to have fun … there were a blast!! He could talk about any subject very subjectively, and me being from Spain (just arrived and my English had a lot to be desired…yeah yeah some of you still think that way), always struck conversation over the old country at so many different levels.  One year we all travel together Brit, John and de del Rios to Spain and it was such a joy to show John around: Salamanca (one of the oldest University in Europe), we even went to the “Facultad de Fisica”. Alicante, we had the best paella over by the Mediterranean made the old fashion way with a huge pan over an open fire in an awesome backyard with friends and family. He even came to my home town (Arevalo) and almost run with the bulls , while trying to explain to him why they were not called “Standing with the Bulls”. We are going to miss you John.

It was always fun to get together no matter what the event  Loved the trips John would make to Illinois and Iowa.  My grandchildren Alex and Abi loved having him come and he loved getting back to the farm life, but only for a visit !!!!.  I remember when John and Pam hosted Virginia, Jackie and myself for a week at their home  What a memorial trip.  It was always an adventure when John was around,  Will miss ya