La Licha

Way back (the mid-1990s), some of John's friends also knew him as "Gurlina."

That was when, briefly, we were next-door neighbors.

I knew him as "GM," because I wasn't one of the gurlz.

John Gutierrez-Mier wasn't afraid to be your friend -- whoever you were, the big boss or the office pariah.

John specialized in making interns, security guards, the high school students on the teen advisory board, and the international journalism fellows feel they were part of the newsroom family.

In good times and in bad, he always did his share to help other people feel warm and appreciated. Whether he was well or ill himself, he always wanted to know how you were doing.

And while John didn't always remember what he was doing the night before or just 10 minutes ago, he remembered birthdays. And he remembered mothers. And he remembered your cat.

And for all of this, I will always remember him as my dear, dear friend. And I will reflect on how he lived his life, and try to be kind to everybody, just as he was to me, as he was to everybody.

From Analisa Nazareno, Aug. 20, San Antonio