John Zinn

A few hours after Mr Jones passed, I received news that my good friend, John Zinn had died in Aman Jordan. John was a long time friend and collaborator on a number of projects including, Black Powder | Red Earth. Throughout the garage years, John was supportive offering insights, advice and hands on training to help us get off the ground.

I will always remember him showing up to my apartment in January in shorts because he was sick of it being cold outside. It was also 20F at the time!! Or how he couldn't wait to get his teeth into one of the local restaurants (Indian, Chinese, Thai) because, "I'm sick of eating goat for every meal."

When Echelon finally formed, after years of working out of my Hoboken apartments, he took time to do mo-cap, brain storming and interviews. He also took time to give me, a first time company president, insights and advice to navigate some of the challenges he had experienced as a leader of his own companies (Indigen Armor, AmorLine and Defense Venture Group).

John was a down to earth man. Smart, thoughtful and considerate of any given topic, John was also willing to listen to what people had to say before he formed an opinion or response. Everywhere he went, John impressed and shattered preconceptions of what a former Navy SEAL would be like.

I was told that the circumstances around his death are being identified as an accident. However I have read comments from intelligence officials in Jordan that lead me to believe otherwise. I will likely never know how my friend died, but he will never be far from my thoughts or heart.

John leaves behind a wonderful wife, two daughters and a son. My heart goes out to them.

True to form, there will be no flowery burial or religious ceremony for John. I would ask that any readers that can afford to, make a donation in John's name to the Wounded Warrior Project. John protected our freedom from the day he could enlist. Please give something to help those that have come back.

www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Thank you.

My cat, Mr. Jones.

Today I lost a good friend. He went out, sleeping comfotably in a patch of sun on his favorite blanket on our bed. I tried to bring him back for a few minutes, speed dialed the vet and finally let him go. After holding him for a good ten minutes, somewhere between choked up and mauled, my wife came home. We both came apart at the seams for a while after that.

We wrapped him in a blanket with his favorite things and then brought him to the funeral home. It's so much more personal when you have to carry the body in your hands and then drive your departed to their final place.

When we brought him to the cremation/internment building, we took one last minute to say goodbye. Knowing that it was my last time with him, I let my hands find familiar places and memories come crashing down. I had cried my heart out so many times in those hours, I didn't think there was anything left. But somehow there was more. I cried myself dry yesterday. I've only felt such severe grief 2-3 times in my life.

It's a testament to how much I loved that little guy.

I will never forget you Jones. You were blood. Goodbye old friend.

Note. I spewed this out yesterday on my phone while I was between locations. I needed to get it out. I took some time to rewrite a few parts and put myself back into the story if you will.