Aloha ‘Oe Dr. John
It is with a heavy heart that I learned today that Dr. John has passed away. I want to send my condolences and Aloha to Betty, their children, their spouses, grandchildren and extended family.
I’m really going to miss Dr. John and Fandango. I have known them for about a year now and in that year I grew to love them as if I had actually met. One of a kind I tell you. Funny, Witty, Smart, Grouchy, Compassionate, Friendly and Loving are just a few descriptive words that come to mind when I think of him. And Pigeon Falls. Quircky, Strange, Odd, Hopeful, Entertaining. Oh I will miss that a great deal. I have never met a man that loved words like he did. Something I will cherish for a lifetime. I can’t tell you what a pleasure it was to get to know him. Our world is going to be a little more empty now because of his passing but my memories of Dr. John will be with me for a life time.
You know when you are a great man you have an impact on everyone. Take a look at this from Susan:
“He can’t play his trains now.”
No son, he can’t play trains anymore.
“Thom will have to play his trains now.”
Well, I hope Thom’s got very very very long arms, the trains are in Wisconsin.
“Where’s West Consin?”
Go. To. BED.
Conversations in our house, oh boy.”
Amazing isn’t it that a young child Dr. John never met in person knew about this great man.
Hey, it’s only my opinion.
A Hui Hou
That’s a lovely tribute to a wonderful friend–he really was all that! Friday 55 and Portrait of Words won’t be the same without his sense of humour. RIP, Dr. John.
–Susan
Thom, I’m sorry your friend died.
–Fergus
Fergus young man Mahalo to you. That means so much to me for you to say that. I want you to do a favor for me. Give your Mommy a huge hug and you always be nice to her and love her okay?
Indeed sister, it’s going to be different. It’s funny how close we become to bloggers. He was truly and amazing man!
Poor Fergus. He didn’t like the news *at* all, and he’s very worried about everybody being sad.
Train people are kindred souls at any age. We’ll have ours going tomorrow I’m sure.
Fitting tribute sister. Have them going all day long
Poor Fergus. Reassure him that everyone will be happy and that when we have a sadness in our lives, our happiness gets stronger and gets us through the sadness.
You know, Thom, sometimes you can be quite profound.
Touche’ Quilly
Q and Bill: It’s something that doesn’t come out very often. I guess when I’m affected deeply it rears it’s head. But Thank You.
Thom, how did you find out about Dr. John? Do you have Betty’s email?
I am so sorry that he died. Love and prayers to Betty and their family.
His daughter-in-law left a comment on Quilly’s blog. I’m sad and sorry as well. I don’t have Betty’s email but I do have Dr. John’s.
Beautiful, Thom.
I am sad.
He will be greatly missed by all he touched.
Mahalo my friend. Sad, yes in deed. He’s going to be missed world wide.
I didn’t know him, but I am so moved by your words and your obvious sense of loss, as well as Susan’s! I am so very sorry, it is so sad to lose those who have brought such a light into so many lives. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sylvia
Mahalo Sylvia. You know I get tears every time I’ve come here to read these comments and every time I think about his passing. He was truly amazing!!
Oh, I am so sorry. I didn’t read him every day but touched base with him here and there. I know he knew the Lord and is now seeing His beloved Savior face to face, without pain or a body that won’t cooperate any more…but I know his absence will leave a big gap and be painful for all who miss him.
My friend those are beautiful words and you are so right. Mahalo for your touching comment. He will be missed by many many people. Rest In Peace Dr. John.
I really appreciate your compassion Thom…
May John’s family be comforted with your words…
Mahalo my friend. He was one of a kind I tell you and I want his family and friends to be all strong during this sad time.
Today even as I have been thinking about and missing Dr. John, I have been reflecting on how lucky I was to have known him.
Q I agree. And you know what, every tribute I’m reading, every comment I’m reading I get tears in my eyes and can barely see. How lucky we were to have gotten the pleasure of being a small part of his life.
Thom I am truly sorry I wish I had known him.
much love, hugs and kisses.
Thank you sweetie. He was an amazing man and I’m going to miss him a lot! xoxox
I’m just gutted.
Thanks for spreading the word. That was a wonderful tribute.
*hugs*
I think it gutted a lot of us my dear sweet Larisa. Spike is very sad today. Mahalo for your kind words xoxoxo
aww this was such a touching post and the video was so moving.
Sending hugs your way
JM
Very much appreciated my friend. He was one of a kind that’s for sure
Beautiful Tribute you gave for Dr John. I am going to miss him.
Like I said at Susan’s we now have another Angel in Heaven watching over us.
I too have postponed my Portrait of Words for this week. I may wait for awhile to post my story.
Thank you Thom for being a friend.
You are so right Bill. Please hold up on your story until you hear from me. Thanks. And thank you for being a great friend to me.
Thom, thank you for letting us know. I will miss his 55′s and his comments that he left on mine. I feel so sad right now. I hope his wife knows how much he meant to everyone.
Indeed it is a sad day. It just seems surreal to me. He was a wonderful man. I wish all the best for Betty and his entire family.
Thom, I just wanted you to know that my tribute to him goes up at midnight. After that my blog will stand silent for 24 hours in his memory. *hugs* to you. I hope you know how much everyone appreciates you letting us know. Thank you.
Mahalo Susan. This was one of the toughest posts I’ve ever written. He was a great man to us all. You are most welcome my friend.
I just came from Quilly’s blog and my tears have hardly dried. This is such a loving tribute. Your words describing him are perfect choices.
He is at peace now and he would want us to accept that and rejoice!
Hugs and Blessings Thom!
It’s a sad day indeed my dear sweet Carletta. I miss him so much already! What a great man but he is at peace now and I’m sure will be watching over ever single one of us. It’s funny every comment every post I read I just well up with tears. Rest in Peace Dr. John.
Dearest Thom,
I just get to know.
I was going to come here and
it is only almost 10.26 am Tuesday here.
You are in my blog roll but I did not see the update.
My deepest condolences to you.
I do not know Dr. John at all but
he sounded like a truly wonderful being.
You are so kind and sweet to write
such a wonderful tribute to him.
Wish I can give you a hug.
Know and find comfort in that
you have had the chance to know him.
Very few good men indeed.
You are a good and kind person.
I am sure you made him very happy too,
as you do to all of us, especially me.
This reminds us that time is indeed short,
when the times are real good.
R.I.P Dr. John.
Know that he is in a better place
and no longer suffers.
We should continue to celebrate his life,
tell me how I can contribute.
hugs
shakira
Thank you for your kind words my friend. I so appreciate your comment. All we can do is send our thoughts to Betty and her family. You can visit Betty’s site HERE. Mahalo my dear sweet friend.
As soon as I turned on my computer this evening I saw the title of your post and clicked to open it… and now the tears are flowing freely.
Thank you for this loving tribute to a wonderful man. I do hope that Betty and the rest of the family can come by to read it and feel the love and support from so many.
I find comfort in knowing that Dr. John is at peace and resting in his Savior’s arms.
Mahalo for your kind words. I do hope they can eventually read this as well and all the other wonderful tributes to this great man. I have had tears with every post, every comment I have written. Tears of sadness and relief that he is now at rest and can breath.
Well Thom…
First of all, thanks for the heads up.
I’ve been around a few blogger deaths, and it’s like losing a friend or family member.
There will be a Huge Void in my Friday Routine from now on.
I’m stunned and saddened right now, but Doc was a Man of God. You know darn well that God is smiling and groaning right now…:-)
Indeed he is my friend. And yes there will be a void always in 55, Three Word Thursday, Wordzzle, Portrait of Words. Thank you my friend for your kind words.
I didn’t know him but from your post and other’s comments I can see that it’s my loss not to have met him. My condolences.
Mahalo my friend. He was a great man and you would have loved him as much as we all did.
He really had such a big presence in the blogging community – ours anyway. I never really knew him, but I certainly saw him… everywhere!
Lovely tribute, Thom. I know he will be greatly missed. That so many will miss him speaks volumes towards the kind of man he was.
Indeed my friend. He was monumental if you ask me. A great inspiration to many people and a good friend to boot. Mahalo for your kind words!
Wow. I couldn’t believe it when I saw some of the blog posts like this one telling of John’s passing. Definitely a sad day.
The lover of words and teller of stories will be missed by me.
Indeed a sad day. He wiill be missed by many. Mahalo for your wonderful words my friend.
A very nice tribute to a friend.
Mahalo Ebie. I do appreciate the comment.
This is so sad, Thom…I wasn’t one of his “regulars” but he was kind enough to have dropped by my blog… He will be remembered.
Mahalo Mar. That is very sweet of you. He will be missed by many.
Oh no ! that isn’t true ! Just yesterday I have been on his blog and saw that last time he posted was on Feb 8 and it sounded so positive ! But it is true he was so sick and still there for everybody Although I don’t like sermons I always read his on sundays. I found them not boring at all. I will miss him !
Maybe you can transmit my sincere condolences to the family because I don’t know them.
He even sent me a book which I won in a game on his blog and choose “cat tales” that was so cute of him !
Sadly my dear friend yes it is true. I will most certainly send them your condolences my friend. He was a great man and it’s just surreal that the is no longer with us. But he is Resting In Peace. Thank you for the wonderful comment.
Lovely tribute to Dr. John Thom. I saw your comment on G-man’s and went straight over to Betty’s to offer my condolences. Such a sad time.
Thank you my friend. He will be missed by so many people. Wonderful man!
Beautiful Thom! I know he smiled over this one. His blog really did reach soooooooo far… God used him sO well!
I hope so My Darlin’ It was sure shocking and sad news but as so many have said he is a peace and can breath now!
I am so sorry, Thom about the passing away of your friend Dr. John. I got familiar with him through his comments on your posts. You know the very first time I came to your blog was also the first time I came across Portrait of Words. I thought it’s a meme for deep thinkers.
You made a profound tribute to him. I wish I knew him, and I’m sad that I didn’t. Hugs from us, Hazel and CJ
Thank you for the hugs from both of you. Much appreciated. He was such a good man and even the little you got to know him makes you a lucky person.
iam deeply moved by your tribute and all the comments. he was a great man and blogworld (and the world as we know it) will not be the same without him
Mahalo my friend. You are so right that it won’t be the same without him. Mahalo for your kind words.
I am so sorry to hear about Dr. John’s passing…I always looked forward to reading his Friday 55′s. He will be missed by many.
Indeed my friend. Thank you!
I know Dr.John’s passing away is a great loss for many of us in the Blogosphere. I haven’t interacted with him as much as all of you did. But since I found out about the news, my tears keep on falling whenever I read something touching like this. He truly is an inspiration in many ways.
Yes my friend he was a big influence and will be greatly missed. xoxox
RIP Dr. John. The world has lost some amazing people this month
Isn’t that the truth!