John was a man with a big smile and an even bigger heart. With a soft-spoken and extraordinarily kind demeanor, he had a way of coaxing the very best out of people, cheering them on to do more than they thought they could. But mind that twinkle in his eyes! It usually meant you'd soon be belly laughing at a quick-witted comment or joke.
The Master Gardener Class of 2017, of which I'm a member, is blessed to call John a dear friend. We miss him more than words can express, and I'm certain we will be expecting John to stroll around the corner whenever we work in the Memorial Garden.