Right after high school, John and I became very close friends and we remained close friends until his death in 1988—that night in September when his brother Mike called me with the news will forever be etched in my mind. John will always be remembered as a good friend, a reliable friend, and I loved him like a brother. While John struggled with many personal demons during the latter stages of his life, he always remained true to his friends.
What many of you probably do not know is that during the mid 1980's John and I shared a small studio apartment in down town Scottsdale for a few months as a way of saving money. This apartment was located in between Main Street and First Street about where the two-story parking garage is now located for the Arizona School of Real Estate—the address was 7138 ½ First Street.
As a result of our close quarters there are several funny stores I could share, below is one of my favorite stories and it's how I choose to remember John, laughing his ass off!
One night while John was sleeping I came home late from work and being the prankster that I tended to be, I placed a rather large glob of peanut butter on the backside of his alarm clock. I laid awake all night in anticipation of the alarm going off! After the alarm did go off, John reached over and turned it off, he then proceeded to stretch and rub his head with an un-noticed hand full of peanut butter! He finally got a whiff of the peanut butter but was completely confused as to where the smell was coming from. At that point I could no longer contain my silence as I was viewing the peanut butter spread throughout his short curly hair and the confused looked on his face, and I burst into tears laughing, which was followed by John looking at me, looking at his peanut butter covered hand, and then him also bursting into laughter.
John, I want you to know you are missed, you were my best friend through thick and thin, and I think often of the good times we shared and the challenging times we struggled through. I know all of our classmates miss you as well. John, I love you my brother!!!
PS I’m sorry for tying that empty beer can to your Jeep’s drive shaft with a piece of string!
John was my very first ever boyfriend -- the love of my young life. We hid in the tunnels of the Mohave playground one spring day in 1968 (yes, we were in third grade!)and he presented me with a ring he'd purchased from the gumball machine from Basha's on Granite Reef. It was such a touching, intimate moment, which I'm sure had nothing to do with my having just come from hanging upside down on the monkey bars...in a dress.
I will never forget you, John, and was so saddened to learn this world had lost you. My husband's name is John, too, so it seems somehow fitting that the bookends of my love life share the same noble name.
Rest in peace, old friend, and may the tunnels in God's playground bring you unprecedented delights! --Nancy (Kaiser) Johnston
I was so saddened to see we lost our dear John at such a young age. My fond memory of John, was when I attended my first dance at Pueblo, it was a Valentines dance. He was the first guy I ever danced with and he made my night; the song playing was by Elton John "Your Song". That was a great night I will never forget, dancing with all of the cute fellas in our class (John, Brad, Jeff, Alan, and Tom).
Thanks for the memory John and may God Bless you forever !!
It's hard to believe it's been 21 years since my brother John passed. I can still remember that day like it was yesterday. We still miss him very much. Thanks Tom for sharing a story. I know you guys had many more just like that one and you should know Tom that John loved you very much! John was so much fun. I can still hear his laugh. He had so many friends. Growing up, I can remember always having all the hot guys at my house. John had a tough exterior at times but his true friends knew that he was sweet and sensitive. He was very caring and generous. I've always described John as the guy that would give you the shirt off his back. Thanks to all of you for sharing your memories of John. It means a lot to me and my family.
Tom Droze
Right after high school, John and I became very close friends and we remained close friends until his death in 1988—that night in September when his brother Mike called me with the news will forever be etched in my mind. John will always be remembered as a good friend, a reliable friend, and I loved him like a brother. While John struggled with many personal demons during the latter stages of his life, he always remained true to his friends.What many of you probably do not know is that during the mid 1980's John and I shared a small studio apartment in down town Scottsdale for a few months as a way of saving money. This apartment was located in between Main Street and First Street about where the two-story parking garage is now located for the Arizona School of Real Estate—the address was 7138 ½ First Street.
As a result of our close quarters there are several funny stores I could share, below is one of my favorite stories and it's how I choose to remember John, laughing his ass off!
One night while John was sleeping I came home late from work and being the prankster that I tended to be, I placed a rather large glob of peanut butter on the backside of his alarm clock. I laid awake all night in anticipation of the alarm going off! After the alarm did go off, John reached over and turned it off, he then proceeded to stretch and rub his head with an un-noticed hand full of peanut butter! He finally got a whiff of the peanut butter but was completely confused as to where the smell was coming from. At that point I could no longer contain my silence as I was viewing the peanut butter spread throughout his short curly hair and the confused looked on his face, and I burst into tears laughing, which was followed by John looking at me, looking at his peanut butter covered hand, and then him also bursting into laughter.
John, I want you to know you are missed, you were my best friend through thick and thin, and I think often of the good times we shared and the challenging times we struggled through. I know all of our classmates miss you as well. John, I love you my brother!!!
PS I’m sorry for tying that empty beer can to your Jeep’s drive shaft with a piece of string!
Tom
Nancy Kaiser (Johnston)
John was my very first ever boyfriend -- the love of my young life. We hid in the tunnels of the Mohave playground one spring day in 1968 (yes, we were in third grade!)and he presented me with a ring he'd purchased from the gumball machine from Basha's on Granite Reef. It was such a touching, intimate moment, which I'm sure had nothing to do with my having just come from hanging upside down on the monkey bars...in a dress.I will never forget you, John, and was so saddened to learn this world had lost you. My husband's name is John, too, so it seems somehow fitting that the bookends of my love life share the same noble name.
Rest in peace, old friend, and may the tunnels in God's playground bring you unprecedented delights!
--Nancy (Kaiser) Johnston
Vicki Nyquist (Slayman)
John and I were real good friends in Grade School, we hung out alot, I'm sorry he had such a hard time with life. "MAY YOU REST IN PEACE JOHN"Peggy Baird
Peg BairdI was so saddened to see we lost our dear John at such a young age.
My fond memory of John, was when I attended my first dance at Pueblo, it was a Valentines dance. He was the first guy I ever danced with and he made my night; the song playing was by Elton John "Your Song".
That was a great night I will never forget, dancing with all of the cute fellas in our class (John, Brad, Jeff, Alan, and Tom).
Thanks for the memory John and may God Bless you forever !!
Debi Luciano
It's hard to believe it's been 21 years since my brother John passed. I can still remember that day like it was yesterday. We still miss him very much.Thanks Tom for sharing a story. I know you guys had many more just like that one and you should know Tom that John loved you very much! John was so much fun. I can still hear his laugh. He had so many friends. Growing up, I can remember always having all the hot guys at my house. John had a tough exterior at times but his true friends knew that he was sweet and sensitive. He was very caring and generous. I've always described John as the guy that would give you the shirt off his back. Thanks to all of you for sharing your memories of John. It means a lot to me and my family.
Debi Luciano