Where would I start?  When working at Highlands John would come to our office (Nancy Slone and me), pull out his cigar, light up and start discussing a variety of topics.  We would frequently review the latest popular video we had both seen and would oftentimes pop it into our VHS player and select specific scenes to view together and provide commentary - John always had a strong opinion but we tended to agree on most reviews.  We even considered starting a column in the hospital newsletter - a Siskel and Ebert sort of thing.  We would also discuss books on occasion - I was a more voracious reader than John.  I convinced him to read A Prayer for Owen Meany and at first he would bitch everyday about how he didn't find it to be as impactful as I did.  Then shortly thereafter he was off on a 3 day weekend and actually finished the book during that time.  Come Monday he was in my office telling me how much he loved the book and how he cried near the end. (It is an outstanding book by John Irving and made into a movie -John Birch I think - that did not justice to it at all).  If you read it now just think of John reading it, complaining every day and then finding himself so moved that he actually cried.  I spent so many hours with John and this is just one instance that stands out in my mind.   My life was made much richer by not only knowing him but also calling him a friend. Your friend for life and beyond, Lisa Parlier

John with Hannah

— with John G. Boswell MD