My heartfelt condolences on the loss of John. I can only imagine how much grief you are experiencing given the palpable sadness at Alcatel.

It's been a tough week around here. The hallways are empty despite being used by the occasional employee. The sound is of silence even though people are talking. The place is filled with objects yet it feels so cold and empty here. How could one person make such a difference?

The first day was complete denial. Mentally, we knew it was true. But emotionally, most of us just couldn't accept it that we would never again see his smiling face or his words that always came out as a chuckle. It wasn't until the following day that my own emotions finally had to admit that he was no longer here. Reading the memories of others triggered something so deep that I could no longer live in denial, and tears still stream down my face. It's the absence of a soul that filled not just space, but the air with his laughter and your heart with the warmth of his smile.

How many of us knew anything about John? He always asked about the things that were of interest to us, and only if asked would he even mention what he had done over the weekend. Was he a mind reader that he knew what mattered to each of us? No…he simply paid attention to what we surrounded ourselves with. For one, it was her bunnies, for another it was a concert he had gone to, another it was her dogs, and on and on the list goes.

That was his special gift - to make others feel liked and loved, and to make them know that someone really does care about them. That was true regardless of your status in life, whether an executive or a homeless person. If only we were all that way even half the time, the world would be a much better place to live in.

John didn't need to put on a Santa suit to be Saint Nick - he already was. We'll all miss him.

Lots of love - may your pain pass quickly so that you only remember all of the wonderful years you had John in your lives.