1993, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
John with me (Gwynn Thayer) at Brown University graduation
0
From dear friend, Barbara Ackermann:
Phoebe was John's pride and joy. He saw her as the most precious thing in the whole world, and his love enveloped her with safety and warmth. The day that Greg and John's daughter legally became Phoebe Okin-Kelleher was a milestone in the family's life. I felt humbled and fortunate to be in court for this momentous event. There was no dry eye in the courtroom when Judge Henning proclaimed Phoebe to be joined with John and Greg forever. John's kindness, gentleness, and unconditional love made an indelible imprint on Phoebe and will be with her all her life. Likewise, I will always remember him for his generosity of spirit, his zest for life, and his courage and resilience through his illness. John's love lives on in my heart.
0
"If I can stop one Heart from breaking/ I shall not live in vain/ If I can ease one Life the Aching/ Or cool one Pain/ Or help one fainting Robin/ Unto his Nest again/ I shall not live in vain." Emily Dickinson
John was one of the kindest people I've known. Genuinely nice, not in a syrupy, Pollyanna way, but just in the kindest way where you're truly seen and loved. I miss him.
0
To know John was to love John, especially as he made one of my best friends from childhood the happiest that I have ever seen him. He and Greg made an amazing, strong couple. Every time I visited them with my girls, I would think to myself what a blessing it was for Sofia and Emma to experience such a warm, loving home. Phoebe only made this home happier. I am so happy that I was able to experience John's funny sense of humor and wit. He always made me laugh and I just loved being around him. He is greatly missed.
0
John was, quite simply, one of the nicest human beings I have ever known. He had many other great qualities--he was smart, funny, cheerful, hardworking, a good friend, and incredibly dedicated to his patients--but what I remember most is just what a genuinely good and kind person he was. We met during orientation for psychiatry residency at UCLA and he was immediately friends with everyone. I was always glad whenever we were on the same rotation: John was extremely competent, always upbeat, and always looking for ways to help the people around him. He and Greg threw wonderful parties, which were a welcome break during residency and even more welcome afterwards--opportunities to spend time with them and to get to know their many interesting friends. John touched a lot of lives. He did a lot of good for many people, and he is sorely missed.
0
From colleague Lisa Selin: John is and will continue to be deeply missed. He is remembered for his warmth, unique sensitivity to others, care and compassion, hilarious sense of humor, and above all his gentle, loving nature. He will never be forgotten by those lucky enough to have known him.
0
I have a wash of memories of John as consistently kind, generous, patient, and wise during our med school years together. The specific details have been obscured by the years, but I can still picture his smile, and feel his warmth and the sense of safety I felt in his presence.
1
John and I met at our medical school interview and instantly knew that we would be friends. We quickly realized that we both had been theater people prior to making a transition to medicine late in life. And that we even had both been at Brown as undergraduates around the same time. So after that first meeting we decided to live together in our first year of medical school. We went to look for apartments together in Providence and discovered our quirky And comfy apartment on College Hill. We had such a wonderful community in our neighborhood and as always John was at the loving hub of that community. I was so lucky to have had John as a fellow traveler on that strange journey of late in life medical school. He made delicious food and laughed with me and studied with me was an overall fantastic friend. John’s quiet, and occasionally raucous, and loving presence will always be with me.
2
2007, Providence, RI, USA
John at a med school award event
— with
John Kelleher,
Melissa Donahue,
Pebble Kranz,
carly levy
and
Greg Okin
1
Share with others
