Stories about John
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From:
Norman C., life long friend
Never did I think I would ever be writing this about my dear friend John. It’s not that I thought he was immortal, but John was always there whenever and wherever I needed his help on anything. He was always available to assist in anything and it never occurred to me that one day he would not be there. We often talk about ordinary people doing extraordinary things but John was a very extraordinary person doing some very extraordinary things - although you would never hear that from his lips. A very humble, curious and bright individual who was foreign to the word “no”, John was everything to anybody who was fortunate enough to be his friend.
The last time I saw John was purely accidental. My wife and I had just finished a long bike ride in Davis when John, from behind, walked by us in his characteristic upright ram rod posture and fast gait which could never be mistaken for anyone else! We called out to him and after catching up, he invited us out to his hanger to see his much storied ultra light airplane which he put together himself. So we finally got to see the real thing in person, a vehicle that he has invited me to fly in with him on many occasions. I was struck by the fact that it was far from being a Lear jet and instead more like a very bare bones skeleton of a hawk who hadn’t eaten in days! On closer inspection, I swear I saw paper clips, rubber bands, band aids, scotch tape, and dental floss holding some parts together! I respectfully say this not as criticism but as a humorous and playful testimonial to John’s inventive, resourceful and creative skills which underscore the planes safety in the many hundred of flights he took without incident.
Well, John asked me again if Myra or I would like to fly with him. Ever being the gentleman, I offered Myra to go first! Well, after a stern gut punching, body piercing glare, I got the distinct impression that she wanted me to go first! In light of this and observation that perhaps John’s pride and joy might be on the receiving end of a recall, I seriously thought about this for about a split nano second and politely said I would take a rain check as I suspect many before me have done. I would trust John with my life and maybe it’s just me but I was just a little nervous about flying 5000 feet in the air without a life line, cramped in a sardine tin can held together by sticky, gluey, string like stuff that I’m sure wasn’t FAA approved! That was the beauty of John. He always had a peaceful zen like oneness with his natural surroundings wherever he was. I think this was honed by his survival training in Vietnam which always gave him a very profound understanding of his surroundings which allowed him to manage threats rather than being intimidated by it.
I thank you my dear friend for the happy memories we shared in Chinatown and Diolase and will never forget you. We will miss you here but you will live forever in Karina. I can now smile knowing that whenever I look up to the heavens, I know that you are up there taking the flight of your life! Take care my friend.
Best, Norm
From:
Margaret L.
I first met John when he dated Karina's mom. John was a kind, gentle soul, with a single raised eyebrow or giving a playful grin. I can attest that John was a wonderful teacher and was a treasure trove of scientific knowledge. He had the patience of a saint helping me with my chemistry homework. Even helped my lab partner over the phone to make sure our joint lab report was written properly. Besides mine, John enriched many other's lives with his knowledge, allowing them to become successful. Simple case in point...that chemistry lab partner later became a doctor.
John loved to fly and he enjoyed sharing the experience of flying and camping with others.
My fondest experience with John was when he flew my sister and me on the Cessna to see the snowcaps of Mount Shasta. We watched an amazing meteor shower and slept under the stars near the shores of Shasta Lake. I have no photos of that trip but I still remember the images of that experience as if it was only yesterday.
John, I am grateful you were part of my life and I will forever cherish it till we meet again. Soar high and free.
From:
Wouter De Laet (partner to Karina Rink)
Unfortunately, I was only able to know John in the last few years, but he made quite the impression on me. He told many stories and we discussed science, technology and politics.
One of the memorable stories was how he went camping up in the mountains with his airplane and at night he would walk around in the dark, to train his navigation skills. One time he kept hearing noises as he walked, but couldn't identify them. He thought no more of it until daylight and he back-tracked his route. He found mountain lion tracks in the snow, right next to his own footprints. The mountain lion had stalked him for several 100 yards during his nighttime walk.
John seemed unphased by the experience, as he returned camping many times after.
John, I only got to know you for a short while, but you are a great man, you will be dearly missed. Be free and enjoy the flight!
From:
Karina
Dear Dad,
6 weeks ago…
We had just celebrated an early 80th birthday for you and had a wonderful visit going through photos and stories from our family’s history. We marveled at the adventures you had lived through in the last eighty years and joked about the many more you were supposed to have in the next twenty. It was always the unspoken assumption that you would be the one to make it to the century mark.
5 weeks ago…
I was scouring Pinterest for the perfect pot roast and blackberry mousse cake recipes to cook for your birthday later in August. You stopped by our house, as you’ve done many times before, and we laughed at how this was the only year that you would be exactly twice my age. As we said goodnight, there was no hint of what would happen to you in less than 24 hours.
4 weeks ago…
I was terrified but insistent that you would beat the odds as you always have. I desperately clung to hope regardless of the poor prognosis given to me by your ever increasing number of doctors.
3 weeks ago…
I fought tooth and nail for another medical opinion to give you more time, unable and unwilling to accept that you might not make it.
2 weeks ago…
This morning, I held your hand and said goodbye to you for the very last time. Heartbroken and numb, I left the hospital for my final trip home.
Today…
Much of my daily life has returned to some semblance of normal, barring the giant hole in my heart that nothing seems able to fill. As your 80th birthday approaches in a few short days, there will be no excitement, no catching up on your latest discoveries, no sharing of delicious food…only the empty realization that this is my new reality.
I am struggling to accept the sudden, inexplicable loss of the person in my world that most embodied health, vigor, and the endless love of life. Your calm self-assuredness, never-ending curiosity, and unrelenting positive outlook (regardless of how bleak the situation may appear) was unmatched and is a genuine loss to the world. I will try to carry on in your absence, as you would have wanted, but there will always be the grief that comes with a life cut too short. The sorrow that comes with the knowledge that you never had the chance to be a grandfather, a role which I know you were looking forward to more than anything else. The anguish that comes with knowing that I will never again get to create new memories with you is overwhelming.
This was the last photo you and I would ever have together, taken six weeks ago at your early birthday party. This is a memory I will cherish forever. I love you and miss you so much Dad, I always will.
From:
A friend
More stories coming!