John Dolde

John Dolde, husband, father, son, beloved friend, and coworker, left this earth unexpectantly on March 22nd, 2023. John left behind his best friend and soulmate, Melissa Montague and his two beautiful children. Please consider donating money to help his family pay for funeral costs and financial assistance during their time of grieving. All funds will go directly to his partner Melissa. Below is a beautiful tribute written by Melissa.

My dear ones,

I’ve been reluctant to share the depth of my experience which has changed the direction of my life completely. But the truth is, I must. There are qualities to this platform, which I have been worried would dilute the pain, though as I have seen and felt, this pain is not just mine to own. So with a timid heart, I welcome you to imagine the most beautiful life. A life, which was lived so fiercely, so. One that was abundantly full of happiness, beauty, adventure, and love. A life which was also met with incredible complexity. Also, it was simply beautiful, this life. The dichotomy of how I’ve witnessed the unfolding, strikes my insides with pure pleasure. Also with, pure grief.

From the inside out, I thank you all for being who you were for him. He was surrounded by the most amazing humans. How we spoke of you, for those who I have known through his eyes, through his heart, was always met with such passion. I’ve always been in awe with his stories. How can a person be this loved, and love so deeply? And then, to have had the opportunity to share in this story, so intimately, I now know how.

It’s been just shy of a week since I have felt the warmth of life and breath on the surface of my love. The last wrap of a hug we shared, was beautiful. If I had only known. Every time though, it was beautiful. He was such a beautiful hugger. And so, I never took for granted those moments. I poured myself into them, because frankly, I had no choice. He captured me completely. From the very moment, in truth. To the very last. And now, forever. Time is such a gift.

Every ounce of me has been wanting to reach out personally to all I believe would want to know. I tried. It’s so hard. Slowly phone trains have been gaining speed and messages far and wide are beginning to come through. Though, there’s no easy process. There’s no right way. There’s only truth, and the truth is, I can’t do this alone. So I ask you, to hold yourself and others always in love. To soften your hearts and offer the world forgiveness. To take pleasure in the mundane and feel the magic in each experience. It’s always there for us. To trust in the voice which speaks and pulls at your chest. To let yourself fall into who you are with complete acceptance. To believe in the power of this given opportunity which we exist in all together, in this moment. For it could be the last. Or the beginning. Either way, the moment ends. And either way, there will be a new. For each that comes, reach into it and feel it all.

John felt the world in big ways. Those who know, know. My words are limited. The void feels overwhelming. Most of this feels overwhelming. And here again, the duality- to both feel so broken and so held. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

Thank you for loving John in the ways you did. He loved you, too. Now that love, knows no barriers. He is free to do as he always wished. Free to explore the grand unknown into the nooks and crannies of his very soul. To finally live into the limitless existence of infinite possibilities. For my own selfishness, I wish he didn’t go this soon, though I’ve always known he’s never been one to ever be controlled. Up until the end, he lived freely into himself. Only to then be captured, by the constraints of addiction.

I say this because, it’s real. What he loved, he loved. With his whole being. Often times, this expression was what inspired our abundantly beautiful life- which you all saw from the outside, in. Though this expression, being so powerful, also took his life. The insides, coming out. Again, the dichotomy.

He loved you all. I love you all. I am here to feel it all, with you. I’m going to be needing a lot of hugs. We all are. Oh, the void. It awaits to be filled. Choose well. Choose love. Always. ️