It’s funny that I have known Jon longer than I have known my husband… and we met at the same place, the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. It was my first time living away from home and I was a little shy. Jon was friendly and funny and helped me feel welcome. We were both part of a “block” of seventy six students. It was a great group of people and we spent a lot of time together even when we weren’t in school.
After our first year of classes, I left school due to lack of funds. After a few years I did return to finish my degree but I didn’t think I’d ever see my former classmates again. In the next few years, I met and married my husband and in 1986 we moved to Ashland to attend Southern Oregon State College. One night, while I was working at a restaurant, I brought two men to their table. One of them looked at me and said, “I think you were in my class.” Oh boy, I thought. Was this a line? I said, “You may be right” thinking that perhaps we were in the same computer lab. And then I really looked at them… and there was Jon… with Tom, another classmate from the CIA. How could that be? We were three thousand miles from NY and it had been 7 years since I’d seen either of them!
We still live in the same town and even though I don’t see Jon often, we have remained close. Though he is always busy, he is the kind of person who really listens when you tell them something. He is also an amazing Dad to three boys. And I know that he would argue if he heard me tell you this, but Jon is one of the most generous people I have ever met.
Today a Dutch Apple Pie was delivered to Jon’s house. I wanted him to know that I am proud to call him my friend.
Pie a Day Give Away 
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