I was reminded again today about Jonathan

I am preparing for Lotusphere this year, and I was remembering my 50th birthday year - which I decided to celebrate for a whole year. I decided to do things I'd never done before, the first of which was to ride as many roller coasters as possible in one evening - at Lotusphere 2 years ago. IBM had bought time at Islands of Adventure so the crowds and lines would be small. I never ride coasters anymore because of the lines involved, but this was perfect! All I needed was a willing buddy. And of course you know who volunteered. Jonathan and I ran from coaster to coaster, riding at some of them twice, giggling, screaming like kids and generally just being fools. I had a one-of- a kind- experience with a one-of-a-kind buddy. We ended up with 6 or 7 or maybe 8 rides in that one evening (Your brain scrambles after the first 5 rides so who really knows)

This is one of the many things I'll remember about Jonathan. That "Why Not?" attitude when I mentioned my plan and the fun, playful spirit that made it so memorable for me. I miss you, friend.

I read this poem by Dickinson today

(809)

Unable are the Loved to die
For Love is Immortality,
Nay, it is Deity —

Unable they that love — to die
For Love reforms Vitality
Into Divinity.

Things I loved about Jonathan

He used words I hadn't heard of before, ever.

If wewere Sametiming or talking about a subject,he woul race to wikipedia and inform himself in 2.6 seconds about the subject an contribute tremendously to our conversation.

He loved good food. When he was tasting something, he would close his eyes as if he were focusing on all powers on his taste faculties, move his hands around, and then make describe the taste of the item, be it chocolate chip cookies, pho, foie gras, or a new soft drink. This made me laugh like a little kid.

Jonathan would always give me the straight dope on personal matters when I asked him for advice.

When he saw that I was upset, or sick, which is hard because he said that I cover my feelings up like a Vulcan, he had the intensest care for me and wanted to know what was wrong. I have rarely encountered this in another guy, because most of us just want to talk about surface stuff, or express our affection by taking little pot shots at each other.

He and I would take long walks around Town Lake (now Lady Bird Lake), here in Austin and talk about the coolest subjects. He also loved to go to the Arboretum or Barton Creek Mall and look at the clothes at Banana Republic or Express.

I loved the way he would call me on my phone and say "KEVIN!" in this low voice.

He and I used to mess with each other's cars in the IBM parking lot. I would pull the windshield wipers up so they would be saluting him when he came out in the evening. He would leave me funny notes that were very odd on my windshield. Once, when I was messing with his wipers, my chocolate malt from Culvers spilled all over his windshield!! I tried to clean it up,but it was obvious that I was making more of a mess. He was not happy, and got me back my changing the screensaver on my home PC to a pic of something really horrible.

Jonathan was always there....

I had the privilege of calling Jonathan a team member when he was part of FSS. His reputation for technical excellence was well known by our clients and internally so he was frequently requested to deliver engagements. No matter what the challenge he was ready to step in and assist. Even after leaving FSS we continued to reach out to him when his expertise and skills were needed. He didn't know the word "No".

It's hard to imagine moving forward. His quick wit and his willingness to jump in and do whatever was needed to assist is missed. It is an unexpected loss and he is leaving a void that can not be filled.

He will be missed and remembered as a valued friend.

This past summer

This past summer, I was in a bind with a customer situation, and Jonathan went onsite for several weeks to help us out. It was really one of those "we can't do this without you" situations. Jonathan was great both technically and politically - and at the end of the time onsite, we all went out to celebrate at Texas Chili Parlor.

In addition to being ultimately bright, he was extremely patient for the rest of us. I always thought he was a great guy and with one of the coolest names.

Brenda

Slideshow--J in Paris 2006

Comments to Ed Brill's posting

http://www.edbrill.com/ebrill/edbrill.nsf/dx/jonathan-sir-hendrey-a-sad-and-unexpected-loss?opendocument&comments#anc1
Bob Balaban on 12/15/2007 4:48:07 PM - email http://www.bobzblog.com

Very sad, indeed. I also did not know Jonathan well, but we met a couple of times at various IBM events and we co-presented a session at Lotusphere07.

I remember him as a fun guy to have dinner with (sushi, in the company of many Lotus/IBM friends-in-common), and a real pro.

We'll miss you, JSH

2) Jonathan Sir Hendrey, a sad and unexpected loss
Roberto Boccadoro on 12/17/2007 5:23:32 AM - email

I'm very sad. I was not a best friend with JSH like Kathleen, but we worked together at LS07. We were in the DPI lab in 2 adjacent tables so we had a chance of talking quite a bit. He was a nice guy, and from what I understood, very competent in his field.

Only those God loves die young.

3) Jonathan Sir Hendrey, a sad and unexpected loss
Halima Arzal on 12/17/2007 10:04:26 AM - email

WHAT A LOSS??. I can't believe that a very funny, handsome and helpful guy will just disappear like that. I was in touch with him two weeks ago working on an LDAP training. JSH was the best and the most professional person I had to deal with.

"People die in order to have an opportunity to experience

life....everlasting life." Sr. Simpson

4) Jonathan Sir Hendrey, a sad and unexpected loss
Thomas Hinders on 12/18/2007 7:05:35 AM - email

Life is never shorter than when someone we knows passes away.

Jonathan was someone I had worked with when he was in Support.... he was a real "go to guy" for directory issues with ST.

I joked with him that his name was not so easy to do a look up on, so I added him to my PAB.

I'm never sadder than when I remove entries from my Contacts....

5) Jonathan Sir Hendrey, a sad and unexpected loss
John Snyder on 12/18/2007 11:43:43 AM - email

I was a friend of Jonathan's. I found this blog doing a search for his name on Google. I think his family would love to know how well liked and respected he was by his co-workers. On their behalf, thank you for all the kind words.

6) Jonathan Sir Hendrey, a sad and unexpected loss
Frederic Dahm on 12/18/2007 5:24:02 PM - email

I've had the pleasure of spending time with Jonathan in the DPI lab at Lotusphere 2007. I was looking forward to seeing him again and now I never will again.

It is said that those who shine the brightest burn out before their time and from what I saw, Jonathan was definitively one of the best and brightest at Lotus.

From Ed Brill's blog

www.edbrill.com

December 14, 2007

Jonathan Sir Hendrey, a sad and unexpected loss

Earlier today, Kathleen McGivney passed along some very sad news. Our colleague, Jonathan Sir Hendrey, died suddenly this morning. I did not know Jonathan well, but he spoke at Lotusphere 2007 and I had selected him to give the ID605 talk on directories at Lotusphere 2008. I remember him as being quick-witted and funny, and heard many good things over the years about his on-site engagements with customers all over the US. I smiled in reading Kathleen's remembrance tonight, as it sounds exactly like a story I would expect about Jonathan.

I don't yet have any more details, but if you send me e-mail, I'll pass any additional information along when I receive it.

Posted by Ed Brill at 08:12:22 PM | Add/View Comments (6) | Permanent Link
Location: Highland Park, IL USA

The Silence of the Stewie

It seems odd to think that Stewie has been silenced. That I will get no more IKEA pillow hugs. The fragility of life seems so anti-climactic. I have been thinking of all the poetic lines and thinking - yeah that's how it is. "Do not go gentle into that good night" or "the world ends not with a bang but a whimper"

If only there were things to occupy my hands, so that my mind doesn't take over. But I think that's the course of it. Lay down your hands so that your heart opens to grief. So that grief can become etched into the story silently.

Poem by WH Auden, sent to my by my stepmom

Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message 'He is Dead'.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

1907-1973, written in 1936

Stewie Quote

I would always look forward to walking down the row that we sat on so that I could see if Jonathan had changed the Stewie quote from "Family Guy" on his board. YOUR UPPANCE SHALL COME!!!

Jonathan

Please feel free to share your thoughts about J--I will miss him terribly.