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.
Thank you.
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