My message at Johns memorial.

Hello, my name is Helen Jo Paden but most people just call me Jo. I met John at DMS. Also known as the Dallas Makerspace. For those of you that don't know what a Makerspace is, it's a place where people make things. Make do create is the motto. It's also a social experiment. People of diverse backgrounds meet and socialize. DMS was one of many Makerspaces and each one is as different as the people that are a part of it. John was part of what made our Makerspace great. Makerspace provide tools and classes on various arts, crafts and trades and things like ceramics metal working, automotive, electronics, programming, 3D printing and almost anything you can imagine. John taught classes and attended classes at DMS. We worked on some programming projects together and we became friends. John reminded of my kids. He was fun to be around. He was energetic and intelligent and a very good friend.

John was an old soul with the heart of a child. John was a great conversationalist we had a lot of deep discussions. I once said to him, Que sera, sera and our deep discussion turned into a discussion about a shared love of old Doris Day movies and the classic Cary Grant comedy, "Arsenic and old lace".

I remember a few of the things that made him smile.

He loved collecting anime figurines. He enjoyed programming and woodworking and building electronics. I remember an amazing laptop he built. He made a steampunk looking wood case and made the laptop from a raspberry pi computer and added various electronic parts.

John was extraordinarily gifted, talented and creative and was very well read. We had quite a few philosophical discussions. He could quote Chomsky and Nietzsche. He could always outwit me with his vast knowledge and cultural experiences. The only time I was able to surprised him was that ockham's razor wasn't the only razor. The "Razor" metaphor meaning keeping it simple; cutting away or shaving off the uncessary or overly complex parts. His child like smile and delight in knowing more "Razors" were out there was joyful to him. He was excited to research the others. And it was revelation to me that, that was the essence of who John was, he was complex yet he wanted to keep things simple and uncomplicated and fun. But as we all know life is seldom uncomplicated.

John had a very kind, gentle and loving heart. He was blessed as well as burdened by his intelligence and he loved his friends and family with a rarely seen intensity. He absolutely adored his mom (Jana) and was never shy to share how much she meant to him. It was one of his most endearing qualities. John lived his life to the fullest with great love and determination.

John could see the world through the eyes of a child in spite of having the knowledge and understanding of an old soul. John had boundless energy and according to the law of conservation of energy, energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Stephen Hawking believed in a multiverse and I choose to remember John as a boundless positive energy that has been released back into the multi-verse because as we all know one universe isn't big enough for John

Johns boundless energy will eternally be a part of the multi-verse and forever a part of our lives and in our hearts.

John was an exceptional student in my class. He was thoughtful, engaged, and always eager to contribute during class. Many times I would gently say, “John, slow down,” and he would smile and reply, “Yes ma’am,” with that familiar warmth. His absence left a real emptiness in my class and in my heart.

One of the things I will always remember is how he was always the last to leave the classroom. He would wait while I packed up, using those moments to talk about his life and the pressures he was facing. In the weeks before his passing, he was under so much strain, and I did my best to reassure him that even behind the darkest skies, there is always a ray of light.

It still feels unreal that he is gone. But the moments we shared and the impact he made remain with me, and they always will.

John was my dear student. From the very first day of class, I could tell he was an intelligent and thoughtful young man. He asked insightful questions and contributed meaningfully during discussions.

Some weeks later, I noticed he started arriving late to class. He had shared with me that his girlfriend had left, and despite his efforts, he had been unable to reach her. I believe this situation deeply affected him.

Sadly, he is gone. I pray that his soul rests in perfect peace. Amen.

I’m very sorry for the loss. It’s really sad. But God is with you all and His presence will never depart from you all. 

John has also been a kind hearted person with great love and empathy for mankind. He lived a purposeful and fulfilling life, leaving a positive impact with those he encountered. He will forever be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. We love you John but God loves you most. 

Jana, please accept my heartfelt condolences. Losing a loving son like John is a pain no mother should ever face. May his memory bring you light in the dark moment. May God’s presence surround you and may His love bring you healing and hope each day. On behalf of the Alpha Bah family I say please take heart and be comforted in the LORD.