Enlightened Governance

Maureen O’Hara Where to start to pay tribute to a friend, colleague, and mentor for so many years? The last time I saw John was in the hospital 2 days before he died. My husband Bob and I had just returned from a 5 month stay in France, and I had noticed that the torrent of John’s ALL CAPS e-mails had stopped some weeks before. I hoped and assumed that meant he had decided truly to step back from his breakneck schedule and focus on building new leadership for the Politics of Trust. Seeing him in the hospital told a different story. He was obviously gravely ill. Body failing but spirit intact, he greeted our unannounced visit with a wry smile, a small wave, and an ironic “great timing.” We all knew the visit was the last we would have together. He told us about a new project at de Anza Community College and with neither sentiment nor self-pity acknowledged that he was “checking out.” We felt blessed to have one more chance to express our love, share sweet recollections, and together renew our commitment to the cause of human flourishing.