I spent a lot of time with Jon on various projects and I could not believe when I saw this news. My sincere condolences to his family. One of my favorite stories was sitting in the kick off meeting with Jon for PetSmart and having his phone go off, loudly, with the song Black and Yellow to which he just shrugged it off and said he was supporting his favorite sports team. He will be missed.
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One of my favorite memories of Jon is running into him at Adobe Summit year after year. It became something I genuinely looked forward to. In a conference full of noise and motion, Jon was always a calm, warm presence. No matter how much time had passed since we last spoke, it never felt that way with him. He had a way of making you feel like the conversation never stopped. Over 10+ years of those hallway moments, breakout sessions, and the occasional dinner, I got to see firsthand what so many others knew. Jon was the real deal. Compassionate, generous, and a truly good soul who showed up for people without keeping score. I will carry those memories with me. Rest easy, Jon.
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Jon's depth and passion for commerce technologies were unparalleled, and his spirit for innovation will be a lasting legacy to carry forward. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work in his orbit for many years and call him a partner who was so selfless with his time and consideration. What an immense loss. My condolences to his family.
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My deepest condolences to the family - our paths crossed many times over the past 20 years and am indeed shocked and saddened to hear the news.
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I am truly saddened to hear of Jon’s sudden passing. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Jon was always gracious and kind -- generous with his time and knowledge, and never expecting anything in return. He made a lasting impression through both his expertise and his character, and he will be deeply missed by so many in our industry.
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The digital commerce community lost a true pioneer with the passing of Jon Panella. His work at Publicis Sapient and his leadership as MACH Alliance Chair left a lasting mark on our industry, and his generosity and humility made him one of the most respected voices in the space. He didn't just shape ecommerce — he shaped the people in it. My deepest condolences to his wife Lynda, his daughter Rachel, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be greatly missed
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So sorry to hear of this loss. My thoughts and prayers are with Jon's family.
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I had the fortune of working with Jon for many years at Sapient. Praying for peace and comfort for all in this incredibly difficult time.
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Such a kind soul - personally and professionally. Humble despite being the expert in so much. His patience and ability to distill complex things into every day language was unmatched. As I happen to be going to Vegas this weekend I will cheers him as he always comes to mind when there. Love, strength, and peace to his family (life and work).
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Jon was an amazing mentor whom I continued to learn from even after leaving Sapient. He was respected by everyone and was a walking eCommerce encyclopedia. Thank you Jon for everything, you will be dearly missed. Rest in peace, friend.
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Jon will be so missed, by so many. A true “Commerce OG” and a role model for so many in the business - how to be both a great competitor and a gracious, humble, kind, and giving soul. Over the many, many years I have known Jon he was always on the short list of people whose opinion I could count on to be balanced, thoughtful, honest, and often wise. Jon, may you rest in peace and love - knowing you had a wonderful impact on so many. My sincere condolences to Jon’s family - know Jon will always be in our thoughts.
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Jon was a close friend, a partner, a mentor, and one of the finest people I have ever known. Anybody who knows JP will understand that this is not an exaggeration. My deepest sympathies to Lynda and Rachel.
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Jon was one of a kind. smart, thoughtful, and an advocate for what was truly possible. he will certainly be missed by the technology community and so many others. condolences to his family and those closest to him.
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2023, Shoptalk, Las Vegas
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I was lucky enough to get to know and work with Jon. A wonderful, brilliant, kindhearted person. He made everyone around him better and led with a kindness and empathy.
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I am deeply saddened to hear about Jon's sudden passing. I had the privilege of learning a great deal from him—his wisdom, kindness, and generosity left a lasting impression. He was truly a gem of a person and will be greatly missed.
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Really saddened to hear about Jon’s passing. He was our “Godfather of commerce” and someone I personally learned a great deal from.
What always stood out was his passion for commerce architecture - he didn’t just talk about it, he genuinely believed in building better, more flexible systems and pushed others to think differently. His perspective shaped how I approach modern commerce today.
Beyond that, he was incredibly generous with his knowledge and time, always willing to share insights and challenge your thinking in the best possible way.
Grateful for the impact he had on me and so many others. He’ll be deeply missed.
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I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Jon. He was such a thoughtful presence and was a terrific colleague in every way. You will be missed.
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I had the pleasure of meeting and collaborating with Jon over a number of years as we partnered across two of my previous companies. Jon always took the time to include us in key conversations. More importantly, we had personal conversations about life and family. He was a pleasure to work with and will be surely missed.
My condolences to Jon’s family and close friends.
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I knew Jon as a work colleague. I’m very sorry for your loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. Wishing you and your family strength during this difficult time.
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