Dear John
I guess after celebrating our 50th high school reunion, we should accept the fact that we are now on the other side of the hill in terms of life’s journey. So even the best of us (which you were, in my book), could not live forever. This reminds me that we should live our lives as if it were the last day, and not put off things we want to do and say. I hope that was true for you?

I’m so grateful for the (almost) annual HS orchestra get-togethers hosted by Russ and Katie Button, which allow us renew friendships and catch up with our friends. I was able to chat with you and share the news about our lives and families. This has been so great.

I don’t have a lot of pictures of you, John, but I do have a lot of memories. I’m sharing four photos to bring back memories:

1. 1968?  (black and white at David’s house). L-R are two friends (names unknown), then you, Carol Negro, David Fairley, and my friends Tommy Eng and Matthew Miksak. I’m taking the picture. We were testing our independence and trying to be cool, mugging for the camera. 
2. 1979? (Downtown SF). L-R are Nancy Sitton, David, Stephen Gehl, Myself, and you. Katie Button (nee Reike) took the picture I think. Probably this was shortly after our 10-year high school reunion when we learned Stephen had TB (precursor to confirmation of Aids). I remember we were doing a kind of intervention, cornering Stephen to say we loved him and we wanted to help. We were so full of promise and comfortable in our friendship. A great memory.  Stephen was able to play at my wedding the next year but passed not long after. He was the first member of our "Lowell Pinochle Lunch Club" to go. Ten years later at the 20th you didn't show up! So we went to your house at midnight and beat the drum and played music and sang the Lowell Hymn until you opened the door. It was fun embarrassing you, and that sealed the deal with future reunions! 
3. 2010 Lowell Reunion Concert: We played a concert at Lowell for our orchestra reunion. This picture was of the brass at rehearsal in the band room. A fun time for all, especially to see all the changes and refresh our memories.
4. 2015: At the Buttons house: This was one of the HS orchestra reunions I mentioned above. Thanks Katie and Russ for making this possible.

John, you were one of the good guys. You were a mentor to me in many ways. You never judged or laughed at me when I made a mistake. You were a great listener, and only offered advice when asked. You were a great pinochle player--a gracious loser and humble winner. I owe a lot of who I am to you. Thank you.
You will always be in my heart and mind...and always a part of our tribe.
                                                                                                                  Love, Tessie

I went to high school with John and we played in the same remarkable orchestra at Lowell, he in the horn section ,and I in the violin section.  Because I also played piano, he asked me to accompany him on the Hindemith Sonata for trombone and piano for a regional competition.  He was the master, and I faked it, but we went onto the finals. I would recount that experience with a smile as it recalled our sense of youthful optimism. Though we diverged in our paths after graduation, I remember him with great fondness for his kindness, intelligence, and dedication to music even at those early years.