I hired Syl at Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC) after luck introduced us at a seminar he was giving.  I learned from Syl.  I listened to Syl.  He was so gifted and I feel so fortunate to be in part of his life’s arc.

My expression of sympathy to the family of Syl Jones.  I still recall how wonderful my first meeting with him while working as a physician at East Lake clinic where we connected over the importance of each person's story and his experience in narrative medicine.  I believe that skill allowed him to see the humanity in me and he brought it out in everyone he met.  Then his leadership and vision not only in health equity work and trauma-informed care at Hennepin Healthcare, but also his voice in the community, has been enormous.  I feel honored to be walking in his footsteps by continuing the work I am doing.  

Syl taught me to see differently. He approached diversity, equity, and inclusion with a curious eye and a fierce pen. He was passionate about his work and was always willing to bring others along. He helped me build our first ever Story Slam at Hennepin for physicians in training, it has since expanded to be city-wide and even helped inspire the creation of the Center for Art of Medicine at UMN. He partnered with me to help our residents of color who felt unseen or excluded from the group. Syl helped change how I see the world and I am forever thankful for that. 

I first met Syl when I was working for Minneapolis Public Schools. Early in my career, I looked up to him as  a mentor. He gave me and signed his book "Little Roundhead" which I reread after learning of his death. We reconnected at HCMC where he was a vanguard in health equity before the term was coined. We worked on several videos and a play for HCMC. He was a master in storytelling and bringing out the best in people. 

I was blessed to work with Syl at HCMC. I will always remember his kindness, integrity and talent. His play Because allowed us to share the struggles of people with mental illness. He made a great impact on those around him, and I am thankful for his time with us.

I have thought so much about Syl over the years since he left our organization. He was so welcoming and kind and changed so many of us for the better. I often think of his warm and gentle approach to each person he encountered. We are all so lucky to have known him. He is the personification of Maya Angelou’s quote of how we never forget how someone made us feel. Just thinking of him warms my heart.

Syl was one of a kind. He was sweet, caring, funny, creative, patient, and wise. I met him at HCMC as our first narrative medicine fellow. Though exceedingly humble, his brilliance and wit were quickly apparent. I remember meeting him and thinking that here was someone who could see the future and imagine what we could be as an institution. He quickly became a friend to me and so many others as he became Hennepin's 'story catcher'. He always smiled when he called himself this...He liked the title and it fit! He had a remarkable way of deeply listening, paying attention, and sharing back stories and speak truth in creative and compelling ways through written and spoken words, videos, and theater. Syl taught us the power of stories to deepen compassion and connection, and to open us up to new ways of seeing. Among many other contributions, he also helped lead the trauma-informed steering committee bringing together people from throughout HHS to learn about the impact of trauma, white supremacy, and everyday racism. Syl did a lot of visible and invisible work with all kinds of people and groups in formal and informal roles and his work was essential in shifting us and our culture. As an institution, we owe so much to SyI. And on a personal level, I'm so grateful to have known him and will really miss him, particularly now with the world on fire. I imagine he would be encouraging us all to get to work, be kind, pay attention, listen to one another, and tell our stories and make art in all forms.

To his children, family, and friends I am so sorry for your loss. May Syl's beautiful spirit and memory be a blessing to you. Take care and God bless. xoxo helen kim