I want to thank Linda for giving me the opportunity to speak to you all for a few minutes about someone we all knew and loved, my good friend John. I, like all of you, hoped that this day wouldn’t come but unfortunately it has. For those of you that didn’t know us, other than my family, John knew me the longest and the best, and we were able to grow and maintain a strong and caring relationship throughout the time we had together. John and I met in 1986 while he was working at People’s Bank. Thanks to him I met a number of people with whom I still call friends today, many of who are here in sprit if not in person. John was so well liked at the Bank, and I want Linda and Jen to know how many of them reached out to me these last few days to express their condolences to all of us. We had many many happy times together, trips to Disney and VT, hiking with our pups, and of course the Italian family get together, which could admittedly be a bit overwhelming for a German Englishman. My family became his, and remained so. They mourn here today with all of us. Of course the best time was when our wonderful daughter Jen was born. She is truly the best of both of us. John and I were married for 12 years and I am so proud to say that we remained friends even after our marriage ended. That is just another example of what a loving, caring person he was. He was always there as a friend, and most importantly, a father. We worked together to raise Jen as best we could, and as he always said to me: “We did good Bert” (He will be the only person ever allowed to call me Bert.) You can say God works in mysterious ways, because, the end of our marriage resulted in John finding Linda. I will always be grateful to Linda because Jen was able to witness a loving happy marriage that ended far too soon. Linda is truly an angel, caring for John throughout his illness with love and dignity. I can never forget when my mother passed away that Linda stayed with me the entire day at the hospital, and that John was with me at the very end. I never cried for my mom except with him. I always got a kick out of calling Linda at work and telling her secretary that it was the other Mrs. Clark calling. Even after John was diagnosed, we went on Jen’s college tours together, saw her graduate high school, and moved her into Villanova. My one and only trip to New York at Christmas was with John and Linda to see Jen sing at Lincoln Center. One of the happiest memories I have recently is when John, Linda, my Dad and his lady friend Mary, Jen and I went to dinner together after Christmas. It made John so happy to see that my father was able to find happiness again too. We are the new American family at its best, and it was made possible thanks to John and Linda. Ashley – thank you for loving John and Jen and all your support. Linda – I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for John and Jen. Jen – always remember Daddy loved you more than anything and is watching over you and is so so proud of you. You are our blessing and will carry his memory forward for all of us. Jen, continue to not be like me. Be like Daddy – be his strength, bravery, dignity, his loyalty and courage, and his love.