2nd Annual (sort of) Kick Ball Game

Recall last year's commemoration of John's birthday which included a beer cup kickball game. This year, June, of course, was a very busy month with three very important weddings of the sons of the Brussels crowd, to include Mike & Gina. As such, although JW was very much in everybody's thoughts this June, the 2nd Annual beer cup kickball game was not practical that month. Nonetheless, John's little sister, Jes, turned a quarter-century old this month and she wanted to ensure that her brother's presence was incorporated into her celebration this past weekend. As such, a beer cup kickball game was the highlight of the celebration! In that all present were participating in the game, unfortunately no photos were taken -- yet somehow we all knew that John was present, cheering his little sister on.

All of John's family, friends, co-workers, kickballers, flip cup teammates and any and all who love life the way John did should mark their calendars now for the 3rd annual beer cup kickball game to be held June 20, 2009, John's 33rd birthday.

"Southern" John

This past weekend we had a wonderful time with Charleen & Tom and Joayn & Steve at Tom & Charleen's place at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. Traveling there and back we had to go though Richmond, VA, which brought back memories of John's youth. Although New York born, JW spent the ages 2 through 7 growing up in Chesterfield County south of Richmond. I knew it was time to get JW back north when he came home from school one day and I noticed that he pronounced house as if it had two syllables as in "hA-OOs". The thought of having a "southerner" for a son was something I never thought this New York family would ever have to countenance. As it turned out, through living in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Belgium and the District of Columbia, and being a world traveler to boot, John would prove to be a very cosmopolitan man indeed.

One of John's Ultimate Gift Recipients

... has thoughtfully corresponded with us over the past couple of months. It is very heartening to hear how John's gift has been put to extraordinary good use, and with Joe's permission, his notes are included here. Just click on the image in order to read the text.

For those who have not considered it before, perhaps Joe's story will inspire you to go to www.beadonor.org to learn more about what you can do to enable similar gifts.

John's Technology Fund

Recall earlier posts here, here, and here, with respect to the technology fund established at Mother Catherine Spalding School in rural Southern Maryland as a part of John's continuing legacy. This part of John's bequest continues to grow exponentially, as does his impact on the lives of so many others. Earlier, over $50,000 in contributions had been made to John's fund. Since then, contributions continue to be forthcoming. In addition to a number of individuals who have contributed to John's fund in memory of his Papa as indicated in this link, Mike and Gina, in memory of their "everlasting bro," have contributed $30.00 to John's technology fund in the name of each attendee at their wedding for a total of almost $3,000.00.

In addition to the above, as an extension of their mission to provide comfort, Georgetown University Hospital has contributed an "unrestricted donation of $25,000 to the technology fund established in John's memory at Mother Catherine Spalding School."

All together, the technology fund in John's memory is now in excess of $80,000. As Mike says, this fund will allow the "big geek to foster a lot of little geeks."

Words cannot express the gratitude we feel in response to the extraordinary generosity of so many who have enabled the continuation of John's legacy with respect to youth who share John's love of technology.

Go Geeks!

Summer Memories

As a reminder, this blog was created to allow ALL of John's friends and family to share their remembrances of JW. It is a virtual and hopefully perpetual memorial to his life here on earth. The below is another great example of such a remembrance which was recently shared with us by John's "second" family, the Drumgooles. It is reproduced with their kind concurrence.

Clarice&Bill:

I wanted to share an old picture of one of our beach vacations with you. We went back to the beach this month and John was in our thoughts and hearts.

My last memory of John was him and my granddaughter Ava playing on our living room floor with her toys and John amazed at how "cool" the toys babies today have. One of my Christmas gifts from my children was a digital picture frame that they filled with pictures from their albums. Ava loves to look at it and was asking about the pictures of John and where he was. I told her he was one of God's most special angels.

This spring Ava was frightened when she heard thunder and I told her that was Uncle John rollerskating in heaven . Ava and I collected the shells and sand to bring home to John....but of course we know he was with us. We've never gone to the Outer Banks without him.

Blessings...Barbara and all the Drumgoole's

Thank you so much, Barbara, for sharing this special memory and we encourage all to share similar remembrances.

John's Toast to Mike & Gina

John's "little" brother, Mike and the love of Mike's life, Gina, were married this past weekend. John, of course, was the best, best man at the wedding and through his Dad, who was standing in for him, John offered the following toast:

In addition to your never ending love, may you forever be each other's best friend; and when you are blessed with children, may they grow up being each other's best friend; and may you be especially blessed so that when your children become adults themselves, they become your best friends. To friends, to best friends, to family, to Mike & Gina.

For some great pictures and a beautiful description of the wedding, be sure to check out the blog belonging to Mike's best friends, Aaron and Angie at this link.