From our wonderful poet y amiga, Tammy Gomez:
Before another day ends, I have to just share my appreciation to all who allowed me to be present as "emcee" at John's memorial
in FW last month. By the end of the memorial evening--and that includes the hour or so I spent talking with folks in the hotel suite --I felt like I'd been drawn into the familia y tribu of John Gutierrez Mier.
A sweet, caring, talented, ambitious, and fun-loving group, that's for sure. I was so honored to spend my evening involved in this memorial--nothing else I might have chosen to do that night could have possibly been as meaningful. Magical, spiritual, memorable. That's what October 27th was for me.
amor y amistad,
Tammy
To check out Tammy's work go to http://xxcommunicator.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Hotel Information for Memorial
From Marissa Alanis:
If you're traveling from out of town and are looking for a hotel to stay, there are several rooms available for a discounted rate at Holiday Inn Express, 2730 Cherry Lane in Fort Worth. It's about six miles away from the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, where the memorial service is being held.
There are several rooms with king-sized beds that are available for $99 a night if you check in on Friday, Oct. 26 and check out on Sunday, Oct. 28. If you decide you only need the room for one day such as Sat., Oct. 27, the hotel will charge its normal rate of $119. Unfortunately, the hotel isn't offering the $99 rate for a one day hotel stay.
When you call the hotel, tell them you'd like to reserve a room as part of the room block under my name - Marissa Alanis. They'll take your name and credit card information. The hotel number is 817-560-4200.
The reservations under the block need to be made by 5 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 18. Please contact me on my cell phone at 214-392-3647 if you have any questions.
If you're traveling from out of town and are looking for a hotel to stay, there are several rooms available for a discounted rate at Holiday Inn Express, 2730 Cherry Lane in Fort Worth. It's about six miles away from the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, where the memorial service is being held.
There are several rooms with king-sized beds that are available for $99 a night if you check in on Friday, Oct. 26 and check out on Sunday, Oct. 28. If you decide you only need the room for one day such as Sat., Oct. 27, the hotel will charge its normal rate of $119. Unfortunately, the hotel isn't offering the $99 rate for a one day hotel stay.
When you call the hotel, tell them you'd like to reserve a room as part of the room block under my name - Marissa Alanis. They'll take your name and credit card information. The hotel number is 817-560-4200.
The reservations under the block need to be made by 5 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 18. Please contact me on my cell phone at 214-392-3647 if you have any questions.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Auction! Auction!
Since we will be in the Fort Worth Stockyard area ... and since the stockyards wouldn't be the stockyards without an auction, we'll be holding a silent auction for the JGM Memorial Fund which will benefit a (or maybe several) young journalists. This is one event that we're having that I know John would be totally proud of.
That said, we're still collecting auction items.
We have only a handful of items right now so if you had been thinking about donating something but hadn't let us know yet please do so now. It can be anything. John's family is donating an El Paso goody basket and another friend is doing a bath/lotion collection.
Email cyndisan@gmail.com to let me know. Gracias!
"after the party it's the hotel lobby ...
To give you an idea, here's the distance from the hotel to the community arts center. Below the map are directions. You can also link to customize your directions, like in case you're flying or driving into town:
View Larger Map
From the Holiday Inn Express at 2730 S. Cherry Ln., Fort Worth, Texas 76116:
1. Head north on S Cherry Ln toward W Fwy - 0.2 mi
2. Turn right at W Fwy - 0.2 mi
3. Take the I-30 E/Green Oaks Rd/TX-341-SPUR/TX-183 N ramp on the left to NAS Fort Worth JRB - 0.2 mi
4. Keep left at the fork to continue toward I-30 E - 315 ft
5. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-30 E and merge onto I-30 E - 3.9 mi
6. Take exit 11 toward Montgomery St - 0.2 mi
7. Merge onto W Fwy/W Rosedale St - 0.1 mi
8. Turn left at Montgomery St - 1.0 mi
9. Turn right toward W Lancaster Ave - 131 ft
10. Turn right at W Lancaster Ave - 387 ft
11. Turn right at Gendy St - 7 ft
Arrive at Fort Worth Community Arts Center at 1300 Gendy St Fort Worth, TX 76107
View Larger Map
From the Holiday Inn Express at 2730 S. Cherry Ln., Fort Worth, Texas 76116:
1. Head north on S Cherry Ln toward W Fwy - 0.2 mi
2. Turn right at W Fwy - 0.2 mi
3. Take the I-30 E/Green Oaks Rd/TX-341-SPUR/TX-183 N ramp on the left to NAS Fort Worth JRB - 0.2 mi
4. Keep left at the fork to continue toward I-30 E - 315 ft
5. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-30 E and merge onto I-30 E - 3.9 mi
6. Take exit 11 toward Montgomery St - 0.2 mi
7. Merge onto W Fwy/W Rosedale St - 0.1 mi
8. Turn left at Montgomery St - 1.0 mi
9. Turn right toward W Lancaster Ave - 131 ft
10. Turn right at W Lancaster Ave - 387 ft
11. Turn right at Gendy St - 7 ft
Arrive at Fort Worth Community Arts Center at 1300 Gendy St Fort Worth, TX 76107
Monday, October 8, 2007
Hotel Information for Memorial
From Marissa Alanis:
The hotel room block at the Holiday Inn is effective starting today. I got a room block for 20 rooms at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites located at 2730 Cherry Lane in Fort Worth. It's located about six miles away from the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, where we're having the memorial service. The block includes 10 rooms with double beds and 10 rooms with king-sized beds. The rate is $99 per night.
When you call the hotel, tell them you'd like to reserve rooms as part of the room block under my name - Marissa Alanis. Then, you can specify which type of rooms you need. They'll take your name and credit card information. The hotel number is 817-560-4200.
DEADLINE: If you want the group rate you need to reserve your room by OCTOBER 15.
For hotel information, email Marissa Alanis at malanis_77@hotmail.com.
The hotel room block at the Holiday Inn is effective starting today. I got a room block for 20 rooms at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites located at 2730 Cherry Lane in Fort Worth. It's located about six miles away from the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, where we're having the memorial service. The block includes 10 rooms with double beds and 10 rooms with king-sized beds. The rate is $99 per night.
When you call the hotel, tell them you'd like to reserve rooms as part of the room block under my name - Marissa Alanis. Then, you can specify which type of rooms you need. They'll take your name and credit card information. The hotel number is 817-560-4200.
DEADLINE: If you want the group rate you need to reserve your room by OCTOBER 15.
For hotel information, email Marissa Alanis at malanis_77@hotmail.com.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
JGM Memorial DETAILS - OCT. 27th
Celebrating John Gutierrez-Mier: An Evening of Platica and Recuerdos, Saturday October 27, 2007, Fort Worth, Texas.
Even in the days before his death, John was optimistic. After his heart surgery in early August, he was still coordinating with the transplant folks at Medical City. He talked about what he would do after he got a new heart – maybe leave North Texas, definitely volunteer to teach English to immigrants.
He also wanted a big party to celebrate his new heart.
John knew even the August surgery carried risks. But he often said: "I’m too young to die. I want to live. And if I'm going to die, at least I want to die fighting.”
So before his surgery, he made funeral plans with family and friends. If he died, he wanted a life party, the kind of despedida where friends and family could come together to tell stories. (There are no shortages of John stories!)
So in honor of John Gutierrez-Mier, we invite you to join us October 27th, for an evening party to toast our dear Juanito. His family – including primos and tias – plan to attend.
Party with a Purpose: The D/FW Network of Hispanic Communicators has created the John Gutierrez-Mier scholarship. In case you’ve been wondering how to pay tribute to John, this would be a wonderful way to honor his commitment to mentoring.
If you plan to attend, we ask you to PLEASE RSVP ASAP to elaine_aradillas@yahoo.com. This will help the planning efforts muchisimo.
Those of you who want to share a short toast – as in a 3-5 minute eulogy, story, recuerdo – please email us at jgm.memorial@gmail.com, so we can add your name to the program.
THIS IS THE PLAN:
October 27th, 7 – 10 p.m. – Celebrating John Gutierrez-Mier: An Evening of Platica and Recuerdos. At the Sanders Theatre in the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, 1300 Gendy St., Fort Worth, TX 76107.
We will be hosting a silent auction, all proceeds going to the John Gutierrez-Mier scholarship, which will go to a deserving young journalist.
The after party will be held at a nearby hotel, details coming soon. We’re also inquiring about group rates so we can all stay in the same hotel and we can make it easier for those looking to share a room. For hotel information, email Marissa Alanis at malanis_77@hotmail.com.
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: (And if you can’t make it to Ft. Worth, don’t feel left out. You can still help! See below.)
1. We need your donations to help pay for the venue and food. Please make checks payable to the Network of Hispanic Communicators (memo line: JGM memorial), and mail them to P.O. Box 222313, Dallas, Texas 75222-2313
2. If you’d like for your contribution to go straight to the scholarship, please write JGM scholarship on the memo line.
3. We are also looking for auction items. We’re aiming for practical stuff (and really anything you want to donate): such as margarita blenders or margarita mix, Spurs T-shirts, jewelry, whatever you think can score us some cash for the JGM scholarship and memorial. For silent auction information, please email Cynthia Garza at cyndisan@gmail.com
And in honor of John, get ready to party!
Even in the days before his death, John was optimistic. After his heart surgery in early August, he was still coordinating with the transplant folks at Medical City. He talked about what he would do after he got a new heart – maybe leave North Texas, definitely volunteer to teach English to immigrants.
He also wanted a big party to celebrate his new heart.
John knew even the August surgery carried risks. But he often said: "I’m too young to die. I want to live. And if I'm going to die, at least I want to die fighting.”
So before his surgery, he made funeral plans with family and friends. If he died, he wanted a life party, the kind of despedida where friends and family could come together to tell stories. (There are no shortages of John stories!)
So in honor of John Gutierrez-Mier, we invite you to join us October 27th, for an evening party to toast our dear Juanito. His family – including primos and tias – plan to attend.
Party with a Purpose: The D/FW Network of Hispanic Communicators has created the John Gutierrez-Mier scholarship. In case you’ve been wondering how to pay tribute to John, this would be a wonderful way to honor his commitment to mentoring.
If you plan to attend, we ask you to PLEASE RSVP ASAP to elaine_aradillas@yahoo.com. This will help the planning efforts muchisimo.
Those of you who want to share a short toast – as in a 3-5 minute eulogy, story, recuerdo – please email us at jgm.memorial@gmail.com, so we can add your name to the program.
THIS IS THE PLAN:
October 27th, 7 – 10 p.m. – Celebrating John Gutierrez-Mier: An Evening of Platica and Recuerdos. At the Sanders Theatre in the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, 1300 Gendy St., Fort Worth, TX 76107.
We will be hosting a silent auction, all proceeds going to the John Gutierrez-Mier scholarship, which will go to a deserving young journalist.
The after party will be held at a nearby hotel, details coming soon. We’re also inquiring about group rates so we can all stay in the same hotel and we can make it easier for those looking to share a room. For hotel information, email Marissa Alanis at malanis_77@hotmail.com.
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: (And if you can’t make it to Ft. Worth, don’t feel left out. You can still help! See below.)
1. We need your donations to help pay for the venue and food. Please make checks payable to the Network of Hispanic Communicators (memo line: JGM memorial), and mail them to P.O. Box 222313, Dallas, Texas 75222-2313
2. If you’d like for your contribution to go straight to the scholarship, please write JGM scholarship on the memo line.
3. We are also looking for auction items. We’re aiming for practical stuff (and really anything you want to donate): such as margarita blenders or margarita mix, Spurs T-shirts, jewelry, whatever you think can score us some cash for the JGM scholarship and memorial. For silent auction information, please email Cynthia Garza at cyndisan@gmail.com
And in honor of John, get ready to party!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
From Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth, Texas:
John loved animals as much as he cared about people. One of his special friends in the Star-Telegram newsroom was Bates, my Seeing Eye dog.
Bates is a beautiful and somewhat spoiled red Golden retriever.
John used to tease me about spoiling Bates, and I told him that I had nothing to do with it.
John’s nickname for Bates was “the red rug” because he would often plop down near his desk. If people were passing by, they would have to gingerly step over Bates.
John loved organizing lunch gatherings, and he insisted that I bring Bates so that we would get the best table in the restaurant.
John was also a neat freak, and when he gave me rides, he would call to tell me that he spent hours vacuuming his car.
“I have enough dog hair for a coat,” he was fond of saying.
When I told John I would bring an old sheet or towel, he always told me not to worry about it.
I also remember the time when Bates snatched a sandwich off of John’s desk. I heard about it from another friend.
When I asked JGM about it he admitted to not telling me because he didn’t want my dog to get in trouble.
I will always have fond memories of John,and I am glad he was such a good friend to me and Bates. We miss him.
John loved animals as much as he cared about people. One of his special friends in the Star-Telegram newsroom was Bates, my Seeing Eye dog.
Bates is a beautiful and somewhat spoiled red Golden retriever.
John used to tease me about spoiling Bates, and I told him that I had nothing to do with it.
John’s nickname for Bates was “the red rug” because he would often plop down near his desk. If people were passing by, they would have to gingerly step over Bates.
John loved organizing lunch gatherings, and he insisted that I bring Bates so that we would get the best table in the restaurant.
John was also a neat freak, and when he gave me rides, he would call to tell me that he spent hours vacuuming his car.
“I have enough dog hair for a coat,” he was fond of saying.
When I told John I would bring an old sheet or towel, he always told me not to worry about it.
I also remember the time when Bates snatched a sandwich off of John’s desk. I heard about it from another friend.
When I asked JGM about it he admitted to not telling me because he didn’t want my dog to get in trouble.
I will always have fond memories of John,and I am glad he was such a good friend to me and Bates. We miss him.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
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Nora sent along more evidence of the Bienvenidos a la Joteria party. It was an awesome party that many of us probably don't remember too well thanks to the margaritas that flowed freely that night. I remember the big sheetcake, definitely, and how proud John was of it. I remember balloons, like ROY G BIV-rainbow colors all over the place. And then there was the little cake that was next to the big one. The night of the party was also my last night after a year of living in Fort Worth, before I moved to Houston the following day to start my new job. And John would tell me, "Me vas a dejar aqui solo, cabrona." He always told me we should have a sham marriage for tax purposes. No more Starbucks runs together, watching him pull a sliced (and probably warm) lemon wrapped tightly in a plastic sandwich bag out of his pocket to make the tea to his liking. Anyway, he wanted for me to feel like the party was a bit of a send-off too. He even bought me that little cake in the picture, the one with all the candles on it because my birthday was going to be the following week. So we all had a blast, even those of us who weren't part of the card-carrying joteria posse.
Nora sent along more evidence of the Bienvenidos a la Joteria party. It was an awesome party that many of us probably don't remember too well thanks to the margaritas that flowed freely that night. I remember the big sheetcake, definitely, and how proud John was of it. I remember balloons, like ROY G BIV-rainbow colors all over the place. And then there was the little cake that was next to the big one. The night of the party was also my last night after a year of living in Fort Worth, before I moved to Houston the following day to start my new job. And John would tell me, "Me vas a dejar aqui solo, cabrona." He always told me we should have a sham marriage for tax purposes. No more Starbucks runs together, watching him pull a sliced (and probably warm) lemon wrapped tightly in a plastic sandwich bag out of his pocket to make the tea to his liking. Anyway, he wanted for me to feel like the party was a bit of a send-off too. He even bought me that little cake in the picture, the one with all the candles on it because my birthday was going to be the following week. So we all had a blast, even those of us who weren't part of the card-carrying joteria posse.
Friday, August 31, 2007
The Pink Streamer-filled Party
From Sergio Chapa, Dallas, Texas:I am late in writing this but I wanted to say that meeting John was one of the best experiences at the NAHJ convention in Fort Worth. We hit it off right away and he was always very supportive of my career which would eventually lead me to Dallas.
He opened his home to host a going-away party for a couple of friends leaving the Star-Telegram and for new ones to mingle and meet.
I remember we all piled in an SUV to go. I had to sit on somebody’s lap. Just like high school. *loL*
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Las Katies, Hairdos and Christians
John,
I've been struggling with the decision to leave a post here -- on this page. For me, writing an entry is this personal, final confirmation that you, my friend, are truly no longer with us, and that's a thought that is still hard to accept. Every time I think about your passing, tears start to swell but then a fond (OK, hilarious)memory comes to mind and the sadness subsides.
Remember the time at NAHJ in Phoenix when I came back to around room around 2 a.m. and found you passed out hanging off your bed and the music blaring? There were siphoned beers can all over the room. It was as if the Tejano party were held there that night, but it wasn't. I asked you if you would be able to make your early-morning flight. You muttered you would, but, of course, when morning came you were still in a deep slumber and missed it. I woke you, and you sprang up like one of those Jack in the box toys. The first words out of your mouth were: "Girl, how's my hair?!"
You took me to my first and only Dallas Cowboys game in 2003. We beat the Redskins that year and you made sure we had God on our side. We went with two friends of yours -- but you forgot to mention they were former priests! I was waiting for nuns in habits to show up next. It was a little surreal to be drinking beer with ex-priests cheering on the Cowboys, but only you could serve up such a uniquely John experience.
You went with me to my first Katies awards banquet in 2002. They sat us(card-carrying members of what you called "La Joteria")at a table of Christian radio personalities/employees. What could have been a disaster turned into an entertaining evening thanks to you. We were the only ones at the table drinking and then you -- always a fearless soul -- started chatting with them. You playfully teased one woman who revealed that her husband didn't allow her to go to the movies. Then, you dubbed my statues "Las Katies" and gave them bitchy, catty personalities and pretended they were fighting the entire weekend. But what I remember most was that you were so proud of me that night. During our decade-long friendship, you were always supporting me, whether it was attending a banquet so I wouldn't be there alone, or helping me with the San Antonio chapter of NAHJ. You were a dear friend -- loyal and dependable, supportive without being judgmental. May we all live life with your zest.
Missing you,
Daniel J. Vargas
a.k.a La Daniella ("Ay, ay!")
I've been struggling with the decision to leave a post here -- on this page. For me, writing an entry is this personal, final confirmation that you, my friend, are truly no longer with us, and that's a thought that is still hard to accept. Every time I think about your passing, tears start to swell but then a fond (OK, hilarious)memory comes to mind and the sadness subsides.
Remember the time at NAHJ in Phoenix when I came back to around room around 2 a.m. and found you passed out hanging off your bed and the music blaring? There were siphoned beers can all over the room. It was as if the Tejano party were held there that night, but it wasn't. I asked you if you would be able to make your early-morning flight. You muttered you would, but, of course, when morning came you were still in a deep slumber and missed it. I woke you, and you sprang up like one of those Jack in the box toys. The first words out of your mouth were: "Girl, how's my hair?!"
You took me to my first and only Dallas Cowboys game in 2003. We beat the Redskins that year and you made sure we had God on our side. We went with two friends of yours -- but you forgot to mention they were former priests! I was waiting for nuns in habits to show up next. It was a little surreal to be drinking beer with ex-priests cheering on the Cowboys, but only you could serve up such a uniquely John experience.
You went with me to my first Katies awards banquet in 2002. They sat us(card-carrying members of what you called "La Joteria")at a table of Christian radio personalities/employees. What could have been a disaster turned into an entertaining evening thanks to you. We were the only ones at the table drinking and then you -- always a fearless soul -- started chatting with them. You playfully teased one woman who revealed that her husband didn't allow her to go to the movies. Then, you dubbed my statues "Las Katies" and gave them bitchy, catty personalities and pretended they were fighting the entire weekend. But what I remember most was that you were so proud of me that night. During our decade-long friendship, you were always supporting me, whether it was attending a banquet so I wouldn't be there alone, or helping me with the San Antonio chapter of NAHJ. You were a dear friend -- loyal and dependable, supportive without being judgmental. May we all live life with your zest.
Missing you,
Daniel J. Vargas
a.k.a La Daniella ("Ay, ay!")
Monday, August 27, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Unity 2004
From McNelly Torres, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida:
This picture was taken at UNITY 2004 in D.C.
This picture was taken at UNITY 2004 in D.C.
John's Big Bash
Dear Friends of John GM,
In an effort to organize a list of friends who are planning -- or even thinking -- of attending the Celebration of Life for John, please email me at elaine_aradillas@yahoo.com. This will help us keep all of the names and addresses in a single location, as well as plan for the Celebration. An evite will be sent, but information will also be announced at this Web site.
Sincerely,
Elaine Aradillas
elaine_aradillas@yahoo.com
La Boa
From Nora Lopez, A.K.A. La Beauty
John,
I had one of the best lunches today! Danny Vargas, Jaime Castillo, Rebeca Chapa, Sonja Garza and I had lunch at Rosario's, where we spent nearly the entire lunch hour telling stories about you. Although Rebeca and Sonja didn't know you as well as Jaime, Danny and I, they laughed heartily at all your exploits. And there were many. How I'm going to miss you my friend.
Although we met as rookies in 1987 at the Express-News, we didn't truly become friends until I first spotted you at the Bonham in October of that year. At work, you were this mostly quiet, shy young man trying to find a place in the newspaper. But when I saw you that night, it was like I was seeing a whole new different person. For starters, you had covered half of your face with green glitter and the other with some white substance. And you were dancing wildly with a purple boa wrapped around your neck. Even then you were doing that dance step I'd see you do years later, you know, the one where you shake your booty while your hands sort of glide down in front of you in a motion resembling cascading water. From then on, Sandra and Oscar and I would always call you Boa. You were still sorta in the closet then, but when we both ended up back at the E-N during our second tour in SA, you were out and about - in flames!
That was one of the things I best loved about you: you were comfortable in your skin. And that gave you confidence in life, not to mention the ability to just walk up to total strangers and strike up a conversation. But you could be flaky, too, mi amigo. How many times did you start a lunch train, or make dinner plans, only to flake out at the last moment - ususally for some minor, contrived reason (my contacts hurt) - leaving the rest of us to spend time with folks we might not have spent time with otherwise. I think it was part of your grand design, to bring people together, whether they wanted to or not. And it worked.
Most of all I will miss your wonderful friendship. It was you who always made the effort to keep track of me, calling me up every three-four months just to touch base. You were always a wonderful listener, with a knack for making people feel like you were genuinely interested in them and their troubles.
At first - especially when a string of reporters started dropping by my desk asking to see my (non-existent) tattoo - I was uncomfortable with your pet name for me: La Beauty. I worried that people would think I actually thought of myself as such - which I'm obviously not. And when other people started using it, I feared they were making fun of me. Only when you said it, my friend, did I know it came from a good place. The last time I talked to you (you called me from the hospital using Macarena's phone), it was the first thing you said to me: Hello Beauty.
I now believe that you gave me a nickname you hoped would inspire me to believe in my inner beauty. And I will always love you for it.
I will miss you terribly Juanito. Que descanses en paz y ahi nos vemos.
Nora Lopez - La Beauty (y que!)
John,
I had one of the best lunches today! Danny Vargas, Jaime Castillo, Rebeca Chapa, Sonja Garza and I had lunch at Rosario's, where we spent nearly the entire lunch hour telling stories about you. Although Rebeca and Sonja didn't know you as well as Jaime, Danny and I, they laughed heartily at all your exploits. And there were many. How I'm going to miss you my friend.
Although we met as rookies in 1987 at the Express-News, we didn't truly become friends until I first spotted you at the Bonham in October of that year. At work, you were this mostly quiet, shy young man trying to find a place in the newspaper. But when I saw you that night, it was like I was seeing a whole new different person. For starters, you had covered half of your face with green glitter and the other with some white substance. And you were dancing wildly with a purple boa wrapped around your neck. Even then you were doing that dance step I'd see you do years later, you know, the one where you shake your booty while your hands sort of glide down in front of you in a motion resembling cascading water. From then on, Sandra and Oscar and I would always call you Boa. You were still sorta in the closet then, but when we both ended up back at the E-N during our second tour in SA, you were out and about - in flames!
That was one of the things I best loved about you: you were comfortable in your skin. And that gave you confidence in life, not to mention the ability to just walk up to total strangers and strike up a conversation. But you could be flaky, too, mi amigo. How many times did you start a lunch train, or make dinner plans, only to flake out at the last moment - ususally for some minor, contrived reason (my contacts hurt) - leaving the rest of us to spend time with folks we might not have spent time with otherwise. I think it was part of your grand design, to bring people together, whether they wanted to or not. And it worked.
Most of all I will miss your wonderful friendship. It was you who always made the effort to keep track of me, calling me up every three-four months just to touch base. You were always a wonderful listener, with a knack for making people feel like you were genuinely interested in them and their troubles.
At first - especially when a string of reporters started dropping by my desk asking to see my (non-existent) tattoo - I was uncomfortable with your pet name for me: La Beauty. I worried that people would think I actually thought of myself as such - which I'm obviously not. And when other people started using it, I feared they were making fun of me. Only when you said it, my friend, did I know it came from a good place. The last time I talked to you (you called me from the hospital using Macarena's phone), it was the first thing you said to me: Hello Beauty.
I now believe that you gave me a nickname you hoped would inspire me to believe in my inner beauty. And I will always love you for it.
I will miss you terribly Juanito. Que descanses en paz y ahi nos vemos.
Nora Lopez - La Beauty (y que!)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
San Antonio Floods
From Kin Man Hui, San Antonio, Texas:
In October of 1998, John and I were paired together to work on stories about the aftermath of damaging floods in San Antonio.
We scoured the city looking for people trying to recover their belongings from their water-ravaged homes. We discovered a single mom with two kids and an elderly father cleaning out their home. The area was destroyed. Household items were strewn all throughout the streets. Parts of homes were ripped apart.
John and I were drained from a long, wet day trudging through mud and muck yet we were glad to find some people who were willing to talk with us.
As I started making images from the scene, John - in his disarming, quiet way - interviewed the family.
Everything went fine until John walked over some pieces of loose wooden boards. John yelled out in agony. I turned around expecting John had slipped or twisted an ankle, but neither was the case. John had stepped on a exposed nail which penetrated his shoe and gone into his foot.
As I was about to haul John to the Jeep and take him to a hospital, the single mother told us she was a nurse and that she had an emergency first aid kit.
John, fighting the pain in his injured foot, accepted the aid. With his shoe removed and his bloodied sock pulled off to expose his wound, John continued to interview the flood victim/emergency room nurse as she treated his injury in front of her destroyed home.
I believe the event somehow endeared the woman to us and we wrote and photographed stories about her and her family's recovery from the floods.
That was the first time John and I worked together... And the most memorable for me. It's memorable not because of his injury but rather because of the way he handled himself in that situation.
From that moment on, I knew John to be a great journalist and a greater human being.
I'll remember his smile, his voice, his laughter and his humanity.
I missed John when he left the Express-News. I'll miss him even more now.
With much sorrow, admiration and respect,
Kin Man Hui
In October of 1998, John and I were paired together to work on stories about the aftermath of damaging floods in San Antonio.
We scoured the city looking for people trying to recover their belongings from their water-ravaged homes. We discovered a single mom with two kids and an elderly father cleaning out their home. The area was destroyed. Household items were strewn all throughout the streets. Parts of homes were ripped apart.
John and I were drained from a long, wet day trudging through mud and muck yet we were glad to find some people who were willing to talk with us.
As I started making images from the scene, John - in his disarming, quiet way - interviewed the family.
Everything went fine until John walked over some pieces of loose wooden boards. John yelled out in agony. I turned around expecting John had slipped or twisted an ankle, but neither was the case. John had stepped on a exposed nail which penetrated his shoe and gone into his foot.
As I was about to haul John to the Jeep and take him to a hospital, the single mother told us she was a nurse and that she had an emergency first aid kit.
John, fighting the pain in his injured foot, accepted the aid. With his shoe removed and his bloodied sock pulled off to expose his wound, John continued to interview the flood victim/emergency room nurse as she treated his injury in front of her destroyed home.
I believe the event somehow endeared the woman to us and we wrote and photographed stories about her and her family's recovery from the floods.
That was the first time John and I worked together... And the most memorable for me. It's memorable not because of his injury but rather because of the way he handled himself in that situation.
From that moment on, I knew John to be a great journalist and a greater human being.
I'll remember his smile, his voice, his laughter and his humanity.
I missed John when he left the Express-News. I'll miss him even more now.
With much sorrow, admiration and respect,
Kin Man Hui
Chuco slang, carnal
From Billy Calzada, San Antonio, Texas:
John,
You were always quick on the Chuco slang: Simon, carnal, ya te fuiste, vaz cruzing en tu gran mueble to the sky...Don't forget tu tapadera. I live in and love San Antonio, but man, I miss El Paso. While we worked together at the Express-News, your presence went a long way toward quenching my longing for El Paso.
That gift you gave was priceless.
John,
You were always quick on the Chuco slang: Simon, carnal, ya te fuiste, vaz cruzing en tu gran mueble to the sky...Don't forget tu tapadera. I live in and love San Antonio, but man, I miss El Paso. While we worked together at the Express-News, your presence went a long way toward quenching my longing for El Paso.
That gift you gave was priceless.
The Interior Decorator Within
From Aman Batheja, Fort Worth, Texas:
John always made sure of finding ways to help friends out, even when they didn't ask for it. When I first moved to Fort Worth, I had an empty apartment I needed to furnish. Without missing me a beat, John told me to take his couch. He said he was getting a new one and needed to get rid of the old one in a hurry. I offered again and again to buy it from him but he kept telling me I was actually doing him the favor by taking his perfectly good slightly-used couch off his hands.
That was three years ago. A few months back, John stopped by my home (different apartment, same couch) and dropped off some more furniture including a wood table, a mirror, a frame and two wooden crosses. He never explained why he was giving us these beautiful items but he said he wanted to get rid of them and thought we'd like it.
Now that John's gone, I look around my home filled with John's generous cast-offs. I think he may have missed his calling as an interior decorator.
One of my last memories of John: He sent me a card two about a week before he died. He was still recovering from his latest surgery but seemed optimistic about getting the transplant and a fresh start. In the card, he wrote, "One thing I keep telling myself is that it doesn't matter how one falls down, but how one gets up."
John always made sure of finding ways to help friends out, even when they didn't ask for it. When I first moved to Fort Worth, I had an empty apartment I needed to furnish. Without missing me a beat, John told me to take his couch. He said he was getting a new one and needed to get rid of the old one in a hurry. I offered again and again to buy it from him but he kept telling me I was actually doing him the favor by taking his perfectly good slightly-used couch off his hands.
That was three years ago. A few months back, John stopped by my home (different apartment, same couch) and dropped off some more furniture including a wood table, a mirror, a frame and two wooden crosses. He never explained why he was giving us these beautiful items but he said he wanted to get rid of them and thought we'd like it.
Now that John's gone, I look around my home filled with John's generous cast-offs. I think he may have missed his calling as an interior decorator.
One of my last memories of John: He sent me a card two about a week before he died. He was still recovering from his latest surgery but seemed optimistic about getting the transplant and a fresh start. In the card, he wrote, "One thing I keep telling myself is that it doesn't matter how one falls down, but how one gets up."
JoJo
Every time I hear this song I think of John because he liked it, especially the chorus where the teens yell LEAVE. He listened to top 40 radio a lot and had a habit of calling me when a song he liked was playing, and he'd say nothing but just let the music play and then hang up. There was always a back story, like this one was one that he said his niece Emily (who was around 14 at the time, I think) liked. He had visited El Paso and came back knowledgable about the teenage ways. And he was so awed and sort of concerned that his little niece was growing up and the songs she liked and Jojo. He was like, "que sabe esta jojo de esas cosas?" but he grew to like the song and would sing it and would put his hand up to me and tell me at work Get Out, just so that I could respond LEAVE! and we'd laugh. every time i'd hear jojo on the radio i'd call him, even recently. and hang up. cabron.
this probably doesn't make much sense to other people but you know how you and people who you're close to develop these weird little habits that are one-on-one and no one else gets or thinks is funny. i think john had lots of those private jokes with people. those are the best kind.
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