(I see John’s page is blank. Everyone should be remembered.)
John’s obituary was published in The Cincinnati Enquirer on Feb. 6, 2011. It read “Mezaraups, John. Beloved husband of Robin Lippelman, son of Zenta and Janis, brother of Gunar (Loren), uncle of Taylor and Hayden, father of John. Sunday, January 30, age 66.”
John and I were childhood playmates in the late 40’s to early 50’s. They immigrated to the States from Latvia and moved into a small house on Blair Ave., just down the street where my parents (and Steve Oppenheimer’s parents also, BTW) had apartments in that large apartment house located on the corner of Reading Rd. and Blair Ave. I recall how fortunate they considered themselves escaping the brutal Stalin regime. And how they celebrated when they learned of his death (5 Mar 1953)!
At Walnut Hills, John and I sat next to each other, in home room for sure, and in other classes as well. We shared being from immigrant families who directly suffered the horrors of WWII and its aftermath even though we may not have had direct memories because of our young age. John carried a briefcase from class to class which was not considered “cool” by students at the time. (Guys had to carry their books and notebooks loose crooked between an arm and the body; gals often held them in folded arms across their chests – remember that?) John had his briefcase turned upside down and all its contents spilled from time to time… not serious bullying, but not nice either.
John and I lost contact with each other after WH, except for one occasion, perhaps in 2005. I met him briefly in Mt Adams once and we reminisced for a short while. He told me he was very seriously injured a few years back falling off a porch or balcony and impaling himself on a wrought iron fence below. Ugh!
John and I were great friends. He had a great sense of humor. He was the kind of person not to be brought down by adversity. WHHS was, as for us all, a valuable classroom of life.
Jahnie Koolbops! who can forget John's Elvis act?! Easily the best I have seen in all those years since 1962 - even without costumes or props John inhabited the persona of the King.
John was a good friend, a kind and generous person - I was so happy to catch up with him and Robin at the 2002 reunion, and then he went and died not very long afterwards. RIP John and I hope to see you as Elvis again sometime.....
Michael Swenty
(I see John’s page is blank. Everyone should be remembered.)
Christopher Von Volborth
John and I were great friends. He had a great sense of humor. He was the kind of person not to be brought down by adversity. WHHS was, as for us all, a valuable classroom of life.
Howard Powles
Jahnie Koolbops! who can forget John's Elvis act?! Easily the best I have seen in all those years since 1962 - even without costumes or props John inhabited the persona of the King.
John was a good friend, a kind and generous person - I was so happy to catch up with him and Robin at the 2002 reunion, and then he went and died not very long afterwards. RIP John and I hope to see you as Elvis again sometime.....