I am so deeply saddened, after almost two years later, to hear of John’s passing. Shortly after his diagnosis, we kept in touch sporadically and then lost touch. Now 2023, I though of John and felt it was time to re-connect. A brief Google search sadly brought me here.

I really don’t know where to begin but the beginning. John and I worked at Davidson and Associates, but as I was a composer in the Sound Department we had no overlap. Tyler Wilson set up a meeting, because Tyler knew I had all sorts of weird ideas about all sorts of things. Fortunately, John was born to hear weird ideas about all sorts of things and we grew closer in our personal and professional lives.

We lived around the corner from each other in Belmont Shore and I fondly recall walking to his house for fascinating conversation. In 2000, I moved to Massachusetts to pursue a doctorate, but John kept me close by in every way.

At Neurosmith, John flew me back to Long Beach where we engineered the play pattern for Musini. I recall that week well: John standing up at his work bench behind me, furiously coding, and me cranking out fragments of music chunks that could be used to prototype. We were very sympatico in our working styles and I feel honored to have contributed to several Neurosmith toys.

After that, our ideas became even more fun and strange. As part of my Psychology research, John prototyped a box that helped me code entropy in human conversational patterns. It actually worked. For a while we had an idea for sensors in a restaurant that registered the ambient volume and adjusted a playlist of music to suit the energy in the space. We dabbled in an ambient version of Musini, and John and his team at Symbeeco championed Lumies (later SymbeeStars). While the product never quite manifested, it was a fun, wild ride.

I recall John’s visits to me and my family in Winchester, MA, and regardless of the weather, we would take a stroll with his ever-present flip-flops, taking a lazy, meandering route both in space and thought.

These walks ended up representing John’s indomitable positivity, for after his diagnosis, John would often tell me how much he was still able to do and how much he appreciated the ability to hike in nature, even after he wasn’t driving anymore. His spirits always high, John astounded me with his ability to focus on the gifts that he had been given.

In kind, John truly was a gift that had, and still has, been given to me.

It seems strange to be writing this, to be writing ANYTHING about someone who is no longer earth-side with us; who continues to live on through his contributions he made to society and the impact he had on others..

From people he’s spent even small amounts of time with, to inventions he helped bring to life... that gave so much joy and learning.

In college while I was getting my degree in Early Childhood Education my dad was my BIGGEST fan!

I told him “there’s no money to come from this” and he told me “choose a job you love and you never have to work a day in your life. By teaching others, your work creates a legacy and love of learning”

I would often talk to him about the things I learned/saw and I was particularly excited to pick his brain about a certain preschool center that was “Reggio Emilia” inspired—

A really amazing concept if you chose to look into it!

Anyway the children had maybe 30 full minutes of “structured time” the rest of the time they could do anything they wanted! They were there for 6 hours!

Personally (prior to talking with my father) I felt like “children need structure they NEED direction! In order to learn!”

I remember telling my dad that their philosophy was- if a child wanted to choose to spend EVERY day in the blocks area they would let them!

He smiled and said something like “they are NOT doing the SAME thing every day though- they are learning to build new things and encounter and solve new concepts” ...

He went on to tell me that GOOD teachers can look at a child’s interests and teach them math, language, science and understanding based on what they are interested in.

He was right.. (as always) but the thing about my dad was he was NEVER cocky. You never got the sense of “I don’t even want to tell him because he probably already knows” ... you WANTED to talk to him!

.... To tell him the things you were learning about...And he was always there to listen and provide input.

I had a very eccentric science teacher in middle school that told us the story of Archimedes getting into the bathtub and discovering “volume” and exclaiming “EUREKA!”

I told my dad that story but left the “EUREKA!” Part out... we were at Mongolian bbq having a father daughter date and he listened and then said “eureka! He figured out volume!”

Very casually and not in any sense telling me that “I missed something”

I rolled my eyes and thought it was just something my science teacher said because she was eccentric.. but it truly WAS a part of the story! ...and my father knew it. Which is why he casually made a comment!

Perhaps that’s one of the things I’ll miss most of all- above the hugs, above the smiles, above sharing meals... the fact that he was such an amazing conversationalist and made you feel proud no matter where you were in your educational or life journey.

I was always so proud taking any of his inventions to a “classroom setting” and watching children light up when they figured out “how things work”. Music blocks being one of my favorites to bring in.

Those of you that are familiar with music blocks know that if you put the blocks in order (as per orders of colors of the rainbow) and put the same symbol (star, square, triangle etc.) in order it will create a song beginning to end.

I will never forget one little girl Tilly looking at all the blocks and spent time rearranging the blocks until they were “just right”.

She said “Emily! I did it! I made a song all by myself!” ❤️

Now I don’t know exactly how developing this product went into play... but I feel like my dad (and the production team) had this pure internal dream of “I DID IT!” In mind! And that was so magical to see in person!

This disease, PCA was particularly hard... when my dad was first diagnosed I had recently moved back home. I remember staying up so late one night and reading all about it.. I was bawling. He came out and asked me what was wrong..

I told him “dad, this disease is so unfair, you are going to lose the ability to do everything you love!”

He thought for a moment and said something along the lines of “ Emily, my entire life I have LOVED figuring out how to do things differently. I can learn to do things a different way, I can tackle each challenge as it comes... what makes me sad is seeing YOU sad, but I will be okay”

That’s my dad- so selfless and loving and caring. In his darkest diagnosis moment he was concerned with MY emotional well being?

So eager to tackle each new challenge and take life one difficult moment at a time.

For those of you that weren’t around- I’ll let you know- HE handled EVERY stage of his disease with grace and understanding.

There was one day while I was on maternity leave... I live 2 blocks from my parents house. My dad went for a walk with his best friend Molly sue (a mega mutt that I hoped would turn into a wolfhound.. but alas she was not).

A construction worker saw my dad take his shirt off and sit down for a moment. He thought my dad needed help and wanted to take him to safely..

In reality my dad was pausing and stopping to change his body temperature (mentally) so the heat didn’t bother him as much! Something that he would do regularly because he had control over his mind.. the mind/body connection is incredible and he was tuning into that.

Something he did sooo well before (that many know) he would be in freezing cold temperatures but wear shorts/short sleeves while everyone else was sporting pants/scarves and ski caps. Just with his disease it took some “extreme focus”.

This sweet construction worker brought my dad (and Molly, his dog) to my home. I was so worried when I first saw them!

I thanked him (the construction worker) and after I closed the door I looked at my dad and said “are you OKAY?!” He laughed and said “I’m fine! But HE wanted to help me, I know how much joy it is to be helpful to others so I let him bring me here!”

It was that very day I put the baby carrier on my dad and had him hold my sleeping 2 month old to his chest, to feel my fathers warmth and sleep so soundly so I could get basic housework done and not break my back.

My dad was HELPFUL! I would often come “kidnap him” my words.. but we would get coffee and I would leave him for short bursts with his grandson in the car so I could get dog food or pay a bill or get gas. He was truly a helper until his last breathe!!

I only hope to be half of the person he was. As a child I NEVER heard him raise his voice. As a new parent myself I hope I can channel his strength, his patience, his love.. and be the kind of parent he was.

The kind of parent my child deserves.

Isn’t it so appropriate these memories of my father are helping me to strive for more? Always a teacher. Always insightful.

My father, the incredible teacher. 

Reading these stories and seeing the memories others have of him has brought me immense joy!

I wish I was able to have more time with him... one mor conversation...

However I find comfort in knowing he truly lived, and he truly loved... all of those that have shared have truly showcased that.