Jon's death was terrible and very upsetting news. It came as a great shock to me. I have found it difficult to put down in words my feelings, memories and thoughts.
I met him when he was still at Cambridge University. I got his name from my undergraduate tutor (prof. Edoardo Bisiach). I wrote to Jon asking whether I could spend six months in his lab as part of my postgraduate training. I wanted to study in the UK and I was fascinated by neuropsychology. He welcomed me into his lab at Birkeck College in London, he was kind and supportive. I did not leave after six months; instead I had the great opportunity to do my PhD with him as a supervisor and I spent several years in his lab at ICN. At ICN several other Italian people joined the lab (what I like to call "the Italian contingent") and Jon liked to joke about it.
I remembered very clearly that when I arrived he asked me what subject I was interested in studying and he explained to me his ongoing lines of research. I was struck by his gaze cueing study and since then I have not stopped doing research on gaze. He was very busy but his teaching was superb and his advice was always sharp and wise. Watching him writing papers and grants was just like watching magic. He had a natural gift for it and was a genius. I also remember a bass guitar amplifier which he kept in a corner of his office, but in particular, I remember his favourite armchair which he had kept in his office for a long time. He used to sit on it to discuss experimental results, or papers. I'm very proud to have had him as a
supervisor. Those years have defined not only my professional life but also my personal life. I owed Jon a lot: he was a sensitive person as well as a great scientist, I will never forget him. He loved his family a lot and my thoughts and my condolences now go to Nilli and his sons. Thank you, Jon.
