Dear Shannah, Nico and Mía my deepest sympathies and condolences for this tremendous loss. Words are insufficient at times like these to fully convey what a profound loss we all share with all of you. 

In life we encounter ordinary people, but there are rare cases when we meet extraordinary people. JP was one of the extraordinary people I had the pleasure and privilege to come across when we both served in the Psycholgy faculty  on the WSU Vancouver campus. Like many others shared, I came to appreciate the caring, compassionate and committed person JP was for his family and friends. Somewhere I read that the value of a well lived life is in the relationships we live behind. As I perused the long list of experiences others have shared, it is evident that JP’s life while short in human years was rich in terms of love and friendship. That is the legacy he left for all of us to share with each of you. Please know that while he is not with us, each of us carry a bit of him to share with you. Remember that and reach out, especially on those tough days. 

Great One, you are profoundly missed! Rest in peace knowing your lovely family will be comforted by the many loved ones and friends you left for them.

Love you my brother!

AXE

Our hearts are greatly saddened by John Paolo’s passing. We have known him since his birth in Madison and have followed his activities throughout his life. We send our most sincere condolences to his wife and family, and to his father, Silvano, and his three brothers, Robert, Peter, and Sandro. We will long remember his vibrant personality and his dedication to family.

Chris, Marge, Steve, and Mike Kleinhenz

Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Shannah, Nicco and Mia - my deepest condolences to you, this is such an unexpected and huge loss. Holding you in my thoughts and wishing you peace and strength.

I did not know JP well, really just through stories from Shannah. But I do remember one thing clearly about JP: for Shannah's 40th birthday he organized a wonderful surprise party in Lake Oswego for friends & family.  JP contacted me in advance (I don't know how he got my phone number without Shannah knowing) and asked me for names of Nike coworkers to invite. It was obvious that he was a very caring and thoughtful person and wanted the best for his family. He will leave behind a big hole...

A friend of mine called me the same day I heard about JP.  He said he had just been at a wake for one of his close buddies, going way back. He said as the group of them stood there telling stories and sharing, one friend says, "hey we got to call xxx.." and another and another "oh yeah, he'll know...call xxx.." and, as they collectively reached for their phones, they realized the person they were about to call was over there; why they were gathered. My friend tearfully contemplated to me, "so...who do you call when the person you always call is no longer with us?" 

This was JP.  He was technically a co-worker, but really my mentor who quickly morphed into a friend and trusted confidant. I imagine this was a part of who he was to many. He was the one you thought "oohh I got to tell JP about..." the idea, the article, the funny, the hey how's it goin'? what's your weather out there?  He was the person you knew was on the other end of the phone, always in your corner, cheerleading you on, even if your own pom-poms were droopy that day. Maybe that's how we cherish who he was. Striving to be that person to call for someone else.  

Blessing and prayers to you all.