Remembering John, Supporting Nina

I met John in 2017 when we were both working remotely on the same team. I finally got to meet him in person in 2018, when our team was working in NYC together. During that time I also got to meet his wife, Nina.

The morning of December 27, 2021 I received a call from John’s best friend, a former colleague. John passed away unexpectedly at 35 years old. I called Nina to help with the next steps, including informing our colleagues of John’s death.

John was one of those people you come across in life that effortlessly left a lasting, positive impact. His colleagues loved him for his fun spirit and collaborative attitude. I became his manager in 2019, and the hardest aspect of managing him was getting him to take credit for the work he did. He was always giving the credit to others and looking for ways to get others involved. He always helped others with a smile, even going out of his way, and he was a great teacher, mentor, and supporter. As a friend, John made everyone around him feel like they were the most important person in the room.

John’s love for Disney was apparent and could be seen through everything. He and Nina often visited Walt Disney World, and named their pets after Disney characters: cats Bolt, Figaro, Maui, Moana, Ralph, Vanellope, Anna, Olaf, Chip, Mrs. Potts, and Maleficent, and dog Nala. John was vegetarian and loved animals. He was a strong supporter of the rescue organization Steel City Adventure Cats . In the summer, John could be found in his pool or on the golf course with his friends. Above all, John loved his family, and home was his favorite place to be—surrounded by his wife, cats, and the dog he couldn’t stand, but tolerated for his wife. He was the dearest and most gentle of friends, son, pet father, and husband.

John worked hard to fully support Nina and their animals, wanting them to have the best of everything. They’d been together since 5th grade and were each other’s world. I started this GoFundMe to ease Nina’s burden. Over the next weeks, months, and years ahead she will need to pay their expenses without John’s income. As you can imagine, the normal costs of a mortgage and every day living can be considerable, especially with so many rescued fur children to care for. This support will enable Nina to grieve and care for their pets without financial worry and the stress that comes with it.

It is in these times of loss and deep sadness that people come together to help one another make it through, and to support the people we care for. I humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family, and contribute if possible. Please keep Nina and all of John’s family and friends in your thoughts.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support.