I met John in 1989 while he was in charge of the Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance Association youth explorer program. I still rememeber the first night I met john. I was 15 years old at the time and was new to town. It was an open house for new explorers at the ambulance house. John saw me lingering around not sure what to do so he waived me over to join his mini emt blood pressure check station and showed me how it was done. It was from that day on that John took me under his wing. I spent countless hours riding the ambulance with John and his buds like Al and Vern and others. Every Saturday night we watched Cops while waiting for those hot EMS calls. I believe I chose my path in law enforcement partly because of those Cops marathons with John. Of course....he was a big Howard Stern fan too and we also watched some stern show too I think but that memory is vague. Rumi 500 was also a huge pass time on those Saturday night shifts. I became an expert at the card game and to this day still enjoy the game. Working those Saturday shifts with John was what I looked forward to most all through high school. He gave me guidance and advice and because of him I made it through high school in one piece without ever getting in too much trouble. John also did the same mentorship with many other youths in that program. He helped so many young adults and always had time to listen and be there for all of us. John was also a funny. His jokes and his humor were endless. most of his humor at the time was to poke fun at me....but I always came back for more. John also thought he could wrestle and play football. He tried those things with the explorers and failed miserably. John was also a very giving and trusting person. Always putting himself second and those around him first. During a trip to England years after high school John and I met this old man in trafagler square. This old innocent looking man befriended us and bought us a beer or two. Eventually this man asked John for some money to make change or something. John...of course...gave it to him. The man left to make change and disappeared. John knew he had been swindled and he swore about that old man for the next decade and half. Point is...John would help anyone....even a stranger. Well....I can keep going but I think want to say John will be missed and too his friends and family....sorry for your loss.