Joseph Salmon
John was a very impactful person in my life. He always focused solely on the well being of his family. I saw him make sacrifice after sacrifice, and saw the toll it was taking on him emotionally. He would always put up a strong exterior, but to those of us who were close to him, we knew that he was a generous and loving soul. He taught me about cars, and how to gauge performance when looking at engine specs. He was a master at most video games, enough to make me wonder if he could have operated a "waldo" arm. I've never seen him fail to achieve goals that he set for himself, it's just tragic to see that potential cut short. In that last year, he told me of his plans for the GED, school, and fighting for the right to see his child and to provide for her. He was interested in computers, or cars. Maybe he wanted to work on the computers in cars that control fuel mapping. All I know is that he was able to learn anything he chose to, as if the knowledge just came to him in his sleep. Truly a brilliant, yet underestimated mind. After Oma passed, John carried the scar with him, and it never seemed to heal. Here was a man, providing for his family, but life still had a different plan. John refocused his efforts to care for his mother and brother, and the toil of it would show on his face more often...but he always seemed hell bent on making sure it got done, no matter what it cost him personally. He talked about having a family, or moving up and past his adversities. He expressed a desire to learn more, and to do more. In the end, the pain must have been too strong. I only wish we could have all been there for him in a way that could have helped...but I'm not sure there IS anything we could have done. All I can say, is that John will be missed deeply. I will miss his boisterous laughter, his sly grin, and his tendency to stroke his beard when he was REALLY thinking on something...or if he had just FINISHED doing that thinking. I will miss his uncanny ability to snipe me on Call of Duty or HALO, and I will miss his dreams. John was always dreaming, he was always thinking of ways to go up and out.