I knew Jon for only two years, but in that short amount of time I feel like I gained, and now have lost, a brother.

I had the office next door to Jon when I worked in PP&C. When I first arrived, I knew I had stumbled into a very special place. Jon, Steve St. Mary, Ed Reth, and Randy Brach were like the four musketeers, with Jon as their ringleader. They had an incredible talent for switching between humor and intense planning work, much like a normal person turns a light switch on and off. It was just amazing to me, the way they could instantaneously go from the funniest conversational jousts, like debating the literary merits of movies like “Fight Club” or discussing “belly splinters” (office injuries suffered when your bellow rubs up against a worn out desk at the OC), to intense data analysis involving complex computer systems.

As a newcomer to the group, I couldn’t speak the language of PP&C (they use numbers when they talk about different packs, like “690” means Marlboro Lights King Size Box). From day one, Jon always treated me as a friend, and had incredible patience with me as I learned to speak the language. Behind Jon’s razor sharp wit was a razor sharp intellect, and he taught me everything I needed to know (and more) about the planning part of PP&C. Jon also gave me the nickname “Stealth Bob”. At one point, Jon was not satisfied with the delays in completing needed promotions, and he and Richard Kelly sent me on a “secret mission” to go find the required machinery. It was secret, because it was another department’s area of responsibility and we were concerned about ruffling feathers. When I found some of the needed machinery, and gave the secret findings to Jon, he dubbed me Stealth Bob. That was Jon’s business side – a constant desire to do what was right for Philip Morris, backed by great intelligence, topped off with an amazing sense of humor.

But the business side was only a part of what Jon brought into work with him. Jon always had the latest update on his family readily available, and gave you that update whenever you strolled into his office (sometimes multiple times!). From the girls’ school activities, like the Oscar Meyer wiener video and community service projects, to Dane’s latest words, we always knew what the kids were up to. In fact, I think the Oscar Meyer video showed non-stop for a couple of days! Nine times out of ten, the black and white photo collage of the family was prominently displayed, either framed or on his PC monitor. He was so proud of the children, and he always beamed whenever he talked about them. Last month I saw the photo album with sound at least three or four times – every time there was an update.

Words can’t soften the blow of losing Jon so early in life. I just wanted you all to know that Jon had a tremendous impact on me, and I believe the same is true for everyone that came in contact with him. He will always be a role model for me, professionally and personally. I miss him, too.