Kim Cardoso
We are so sad to hear of John's passing. Our family has known John for many years, first when he and my husband were neighbors in Rockridge, and for the last 10 years, with us living next door to his lot in Montclair. When he was still driving, John would often stop by because he was "in the neighborhood" to give us fig bars from the Food Mill. He would come in and we would make smoothies or just stand out by his car and talk politics and plants. He loved to talk! Once he left a message asking us to vote for a cause of his interest- and he used up the entire time on that old machine! I think he liked having our lives spill over onto his lot. We helped keep the weeds down and ivy off the many oak trees. He let us put a swing in one of them (after we signed a liability release- so John!), and my children gathered acorns at his request so he could seed one of his urban parks. He inspired- and scared- me, climbing up and down the steep hillside, and once, with his friend, I took him on a hiking tour of Tyson lake. He had always dreamed of seeing it- we went when he must have been at least 97. That was a crazy day! Some years John joined us for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and there were times we didn't talk for months. Each time we connected, he had a story or curiosity. He was a wise, bright spark. We will miss him very much. May he rest in peace.
--Kim, Augusto, Stella, & Otto Cardoso