John was my hallway buddy at New Teacher Orientation. For three years we manned the same hall location for hours. We directed new teachers around the Old Mill campus. After the first year, I requested the duty with him for the next two years. I passed the time by listening to the most amazing stories. I was simply in awe of all of his experiences and was captivated by the passion of which he spoke. But more than that, he had such a natural way of making everyone who was around him comfortable enough to share their own stories. As we stood in the hallway, he knew just what to say to the new, young teachers. Most of these new teachers had never met John, but his warmth emanated and it was obvious that they felt an immediate kinship. Many would simply approach this man they'd never met before and share with him their own stories. John always had words of wisdom to share with them as they started their new careers in the profession that he so adored. It seemed that John knew teachers in almost every building in the county, and he always gave these new teachers contacts within their own building, who knew John, and whom he knew would take good care of them. It is with great sadness that John is no longer with us, but his spirit lives on. All of us who were touched by him will long hold him in our memories.