Thursday, May 5, 2022
I remember living in Singapore when John, my younger brother, was born. Our dad was an officer in the British Army, posted in India. Mom and the kids got to spend time at the pool and the Officer’s Club, with our servants taking care of the baby and the household chores. This was my earliest memory of John and led to a few interesting stories about him.
For many years, we moved frequently with Dad’s assignments. With five to seven kids, we had a built-in group of friends. I don’t know if John, one of the middle kids, was the most daring, but he seemed to be the most accident prone. In Mt. Vernon, we would run and slide down our hallway on a towel. John got a 12 inch splinter through his calf on that one. He also managed to get impaled on a fence he climbed in too much of a hurry. We all survived sliding down the stairs on a mattress without serious damage.
Our dad was always looking for adventure. When he retired from the Army, he brought his family (wife and five kids at the time) to the US. The adventures continued with the family (Dad, Mom, seven kids and the dog) on weekend and holiday trips picnicking and camping in the northeastern states, and diving into the freezing cold Laurentian mountain streams in Canada. John continued with family vacations but to much more fun and exotic places.
We will miss his easy-going demeanor and quick wit. He didn’t complain about anything. He was always upbeat and liked to reminisce about our childhoods and visit the places where the family spent time together. He was a dedicated father and always supported Bonnie and their daughters with his time, energy and resources. When our children were teenagers, we shared stories about them - our endless tolerance of them forging their own lives. His attitude and guidance helped them grow into successful responsible adults.
My sympathy to Bonnie, Nicole, Alex, and Sam in your loss of a devoted husband and father. We will all miss John.
