Click this photo to watch a beautiful slideshow of John’s life put together by his favorite niece, Sarah Brown!
John West has finally gone fishing.
I know he wishes he could have tarried with us a little longer, but I also know the impish Peter Pan in him is game and ready for whatever next adventure awaits. Although he did not get to exit this life on his terms, he did very much live it that way, never letting a day escape without finding joy in it. For this reason, mom and I are determined to give him a joyous sendoff. We are taking back the narrative of the end of his life from the monstrous disease that claimed it, refocusing on the attributes of his life that made it so well-lived: Love, Friendship, and Laughter.
Sitting outside with good friends and cold beer was one of John West’s most cherished pleasures. It seems fitting that any celebration of his life would include all these things. We hope you’ll join us, not in saying “goodbye”, but in saying “hello again” to our beloved friend, uncle, brother, husband, and father whose spirit we will all continue to see and commune with in our own ways all the days of our lives.
Hello again, John. It will always be a joy to see, know, and love you.
A Personal Tribute to John from Nancy
John—my loving husband of 49 years; travel companion to the far corners of the globe; devoted father of our stellar daughter Joanna; gardener extraordinaire; handyman and jack of all trades; award winning photographer; master chef of sourdough pizzas, bread, and kombucha; friend and mentor to many from all walks of life—how can I possibly bid farewell forever?
He enriched my life in countless ways throughout these loving years. I will be forever comforted by my memories of his indefatigable good nature and joie de vivre which was so sadly constrained by Alzheimer's during the last six years. I will continue to pursue the activities we enjoyed together; maintaining our vegetable and herb garden; taking walks on "our" beach at Ocean City and Burke Lake; keeping up with our good friends and family members; exploring new cities, parks, and countries....
Life will go on, but how I will miss him as he truly was my better half.
The Party
Saturday, July 23rd, 2002 | 6-9pm
Join us for an evening replete with John’s favorite things (and that includes you!)
We’ve rented a charming outdoor space at Eavesdrop Brewery where we will gather to share stories, drinks, and BBQ catered by Red Hot & Blue. We’re even planning a boisterous Toasting Circle so please let us know if you’d like to deliver a brief toast to make John’s spirit’s ears burn.
There will be beer, of course, but also plenty of options for those who don’t drink, or those who simply don’t drink beer. Please note that the brewery has limited on-site parking, but offers complimentary valet service which you may be obliged to utilize.
As this venue is outdoors, please check back here for updates the week of the event if rain is forecast! We will update this page with any changes that may be weather related.
Eavesdrop Brewery Address:
7223 Centreville Rd, Ste 115
Yorkshire, Virginia 20111
The Toasting Circle will begin around 8pm (click the headline below to learn more!)
We hope you can make it!
Please RSVP as soon as possible via the form at the bottom of this page.
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To deliver a public toast is a generous act of love. We can’t think of anything that would have warmed John’s heart more than being publicly toasted by as many of his friends as possible. If you have toast-writing anxiety, never fear! We’ve provided a toasting-template below to help you craft the perfect brief toast. And if you prefer to support the toasting circle with a “hoorah!” from the crowd, no worries, that’s a crucial role too!
Here’s what we’re looking for from our toasters:
Brevity: try to keep it to 4 lines or less. Think of it as the Twitter post of toasts.
Specificity: Instead of saying “John was the nicest guy” try explicitly naming a nice thing he did for you or others and what it meant to you.
Humor: if you knew John, you already know he loved to laugh. If you put a little roast in your toast—or even a joke—he’d likely be amused.
Here’s a template for a suitable 4 line toast:
“John West always made me feel _______. I’ll never forget the time he _______. Every time I see _____ I will laugh and think of him. May everyone know a friend as ______ as John was to me.”
Toasting will begin around 8pm after we’ve all had a chance to enjoy a courage-enhancing beverage, if we so desire. John’s brother David will serve as Toastmaster and get the ball rolling with his own introductory toast, as well as signaling the reply of, “To John”, etc. from the crowd between toasts.
We hope this will be a rollicking fun approach to honoring John. We understand that public speaking is a challenge for many people, but hopefully having this structured idea and a festive exuberant atmosphere will help put folks at ease. We are hoping for at least 10 volunteers to contribute to the Toasting Circle. Thank you for considering participating!