I wanted to post a quick note mostly to say thank you to all our amazing friends and family members that have blessed us with their thoughts and prayers over these past couple of days. Our beloved PopPop, John Davison Williamson, passed away Wednesday morning about 9:45am. He made a sudden turn so unexpectedly and we had to rush to be with him, but I am so thankful that we were able to be with him during those last moments. I will have to share the beautiful story later as well as beautiful pictures from his service and reception. (the two pictures here are ones we used on his program). I really want to compose my thoughts which are emotionally raw right now. But for now, I am trying to savor the last couple of days and all the memories to help get through the hard moments....I think right now the shock is just starting to wear off....so please continue to keep us and PopPop in your prayers...I did want to post below an email we received from my cousin Christor in Ireland...he summed up my PopPop very nicely.... It is indeed very sad news and I am grieving as I read and re-read Erin's touching letter. A part of me has died today. John and Fran hosted Val my Mother and me when we went to Sarasota for the wedding of the century, we always remember and recall. He was so welcoming, most entertaining and deeply concerned for our well being and happiness. An again I stayed with them both in Palmetto in 1995.... and Erin came down to help with their movement to a smaller house. I remember him with great fondness. His daring trips to Ireland... he used to describe the risks to his life and limbs of living in a sunless sky. Sean, Lily and me shared our memories this morning on the phone.
John was out there a liberal, ever an adventurer, challenging the environment, out in his boat, feeling his inner ties with the whole of nature with his gentle acceptance of the divine oneness of all life, and the laws of cycles, rebirth, and karma. This formed the groundwork for Johns existence and in this context he saw death not as the end, but a temporary transition into a different phase of life. I believe that his life and death were very much at one with Emily Dickinson when she wrote:
Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality.
John was out there a liberal, ever an adventurer, challenging the environment, out in his boat, feeling his inner ties with the whole of nature with his gentle acceptance of the divine oneness of all life, and the laws of cycles, rebirth, and karma. This formed the groundwork for Johns existence and in this context he saw death not as the end, but a temporary transition into a different phase of life. I believe that his life and death were very much at one with Emily Dickinson when she wrote:
Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality.
On the back page of the program for the service we included some fun facts about PopPop and called it a Little Log of John's Life (a nautical term for the avid sailor that he was). Hope you enjoy learning a few things about him as well:
- Served 3 years as an ARMY MP during WWII in Aruba.
- Official career was as an oil terminal manager, second career was having fun on his sailboats of which he owned 72 throughout his life.
- Official career was as an oil terminal manager, second career was having fun on his sailboats of which he owned 72 throughout his life.
- Thoroughly enjoyed weight lifting, body building and arm wrestling.
- Learned how to ballroom dance at age 50 & did so every weekend for years.
- He loved classic cars and classical music.
- He always had a good book and loved biographies.
- He was a published author in several boating magazines and even wrote a book.
- He also learned to kayak at age 50 and often went for a paddle.
- White Russians or Baileys Irish Cream was his preferred drink, along with iced tea that could
- He always had a good book and loved biographies.
- He was a published author in several boating magazines and even wrote a book.
- He also learned to kayak at age 50 and often went for a paddle.
- White Russians or Baileys Irish Cream was his preferred drink, along with iced tea that could
never be too sweet or too cold.
- Could never have enough ice cream, chocolate, juicy fruit gum, and milkshakes.
- Could often be found in his workshop building another table or footstool.
- Preferred bare feet and the hot sun.
- But most of all, he loved his First Mate (Mamasan), his beautiful daughter, his favorite son-in-
- Could never have enough ice cream, chocolate, juicy fruit gum, and milkshakes.
- Could often be found in his workshop building another table or footstool.
- Preferred bare feet and the hot sun.
- But most of all, he loved his First Mate (Mamasan), his beautiful daughter, his favorite son-in-
law, his four baby-grands and three great baby-grands.
