I recently came across some notes John and I wrote back and forth during science class. I think we were in maybe 10th or 11th grade. It was such a difficult time for me, and reading our notes (which consisted of funny, weird stories that John and I wrote together) reminded me of how kind he was to me, bolstering my spirit with his irreverent sense of humor. I know it has been many years since he passed away, but I am so sorry for your loss. What I knew of him was that he was consistently kind, brilliantly funny, generous of spirit and a bit mischievous. While we didn't keep in contact after high school, the simple value of kindness he showed me has stayed with me forever.