Jon advised my Master's thesis in 2007-08. I have so many happy memories from his lab, but a couple stand out. My first time meeting Jon, he served me tea and cookies and we chatted for over an hour. I remember leaving his office giddy and calling my parents--“This guy’s the director of the institute, and he served me cookies!” He treated me like I had something to contribute, and for that I’ll always be thankful.
Fast-forward a year, and I’m sending Jon a draft of a paper to submit for publication. I pat myself on the back for a job well done. Half an hour later, I get his revisions. They’re so covered with red marks that I can’t see where the margins end and the text begins. For a moment I’m disheartened, then I’m incredibly grateful. To Driverize a paper. Nothing else quite like it.
I feel privileged to have met Jon and to have been the beneficiary of his wisdom and his wit. I’ll miss him very much.
