I was sorry to learn of Jon’s passing.

During my adolescent and young adult years, he had been a meaningful friend.

From 1982 to 1992, Jon published a bimonthly fanzine about Little Lulu, in the months opposite those that he co-edited the one about Annie…. I had been the main contributor for the former publication.

Jon visited my family countless times. Being an only child, and having developed a passion for the Lulu comics from my Mom, it was the right time and place for such a friendship. Even as a teenager he treated me with such respect, the same way that he would an adult. That meant a lot to me.

I remember him as kind, attentive, and generous. He usually brought me a surprise, to add to my Lulu collection. We would have talks about almost everything, including our shared interest in comics, and the things that I aimed to do, as I got older. Much of who I am today was formed by this early friendship.

Eventually, our lives took divergent paths, and we went our separate ways. Such is the way of life. We never did reconnect.

Jon will always remain a special part of my memories. He had provided me with opportunities to share my experiences through writing, at a time when I needed encouragement….when I needed a friend the most.

I shall be forever grateful.

Sincerely,

Bradley S. Tenan, MLS

Wethersfield, CT

Jonathan spent many happy weeks with my family from early childhood through his early twenties. He was my cousin, only 3 years older than I and a year and a half older than my brother. One summer visit, when we ranged from 6-9 years old, Jonathan came up with the idea to build “The Mudpie Bakery”! We cut and taped cardboard to make very small bins that the three of us filled with tiny round clay Mudpie. Then roads were constructed to run all my brothers Matchbox cars and trucks. What fun! When we weren’t making mudpies, we were playing Monopoly, which Jonathan affectionately referred to as Quit It Allison (I’m Allison, by the way. A few years ago I asked why he called it that. Apparently as a 6 year old I was more interested in playing with the gamepieces, especially the dog, which interrupted the game.)

After my family moved from the east coast to California and Jonathan was going to college there, he’d come and spend all vacations except summer with my family. He made friends with all my brother’s friends and mine, too. He’d take off with my brother and friends and just fit in with them all, including cruising Colorado Blvd. (same blvd as in The Beach Boys song.) and dating a friend of my brother’s girlfriend. And, of course, we all played Monopoly, a lifelong favorite of his.