I've known John since 1988 when he and I coached the Our Lady of Lourdes 6th thru 8th grade baseball teams in Raleigh. We continued to follow all of our children thru Cardinal Gibbons High School/Raleigh, UNC, NCSU, and Appalachian State U., even attending several of Jeff's football games at ASU. When he and Mary Lou returned to Michigan, we stayed in touch via phone calls and many, many email jokes. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and couldn't stop bragging about them. Although he kept insisting that I visit him in Michigan, I was never able to make it. It was one of the items on my "bucket list." When we meet again, we'll share a beer or two (or three) and continue to argue which team was worse....my Redskins or his Lions. 

Miss you, old buddy.