Hi there,
My name is Cornelius Raats and write from Dunedin, NZ. I remember Jon from our studies in Psyg. The department had a lovely old house next to the main Psyg building and some of us in the know had obtained keys so we could study there in the evening. There were only 5 or 6 of us at the time so some time more talk and discussion then nose in the books. Jon also had a heavy leather coat, real Gestapo style, that originally had belonged to a friend of mine who had it made in Holland for on his motorbike. I wonder whether he took it with him to the States. I also remember his father in the Psyg department. Furthermore we also did some skiing together at Coronet Peak and stayed in the Otago Ski Club hut and one day went in my car for the day to Wanaka to ski at Treble Cone which had just opened. We finished very tired that day as there were no chair lifts yet just 3 very long tow ropes so going up was harder then skiing down. Must have been round about "74 or "75. My condolences to all his family and fiends. R.I.P. Jon.  

My wife (Wendy) and I met in grad school and, as she was a student in Immunology, I was always invited to the Immunology department parties where Jon would demonstrate how to make liquid nitrogen ice cream! Jon’s liquid nitrogen ice cream was fantastic, and the (always hungry) grad students and post-docs never left disappointed, but the best part about those little celebrations was just enjoying Jon’s generosity of spirit and warmth; he really cared about his students, staff, friends, and colleagues, and it came through. I will never be able to enjoy a dish of homemade ice cream again without thinking of Jon. Over the years, we (as did many of the students at BCM) came to consider Jon and his wife Kelly as friends. Jon was an amazing cook and we could always count on him to bring something delicious to a party. Years after graduation, Wendy told me how on her first Thanksgiving away from home at BCM, Jon and Kelly invited her to Thanksgiving dinner and how much happier and less alone she felt because of their kindness. I will never forget the time Jon (upon learning that Wendy and I were traveling to Toronto to visit family) asked us to smuggle back as much Sambal Bajak (a type of Indonesian chili sauce that’s not sold in the US) that we could find! We ended up sending him two cases and as a thank you Jon prepared us a fantastic (and very spicy) dish of southeast Asian green beans. People like Jon are a rare gift to the world, and we are all poorer for his absence, but better people for having know him. Goodbye Jo

John,

We not have agreed on every call but I always respected you call. Cause you knew the rule book from top to bottom. Westbury LL will not be the same without you. I always knew when I put on the um uniform I with you and was in good hands. Thank you and we love you 

Will be surely missed. His Volunteer dedication to little league baseball players made him an honorable man. RIP BIG GUY