domnic fernandes
2004-07-06 06:18:41 UTC
Yesterday afternoon, we received sad news from the USA that one of our
American colleagues, John Barton, passed away. He had been ailing from
brain cancer since 1997. In November 1997, he suddenly collapsed at work
and had to be rushed to Saudi Aramco hospital where they detected brain
tumor in him. He was admitted, operated on and the tumor successfully
removed, but he was advised never to miss his medication for a period of
three years and until further advice. He was also restricted from driving
and asked not to go out alone. John was single. He was only 44 years old.
He was a staunch Roman Catholic. He was very kind hearted, loving, caring
and giving. He was a good friend of mine but he was the best friend of
janitors and laborers whom he continually helped generously. He also
financially supported Orphanage Institutions in India. He had a great trust
in God and this is what sometimes made him disregard doctor?s advice and
skip medication which would get him into trouble ? he would suddenly get
feats similar to epilepsy while lecturing and we had to twice rush him from
the CPC (College Preparatory Center) classrooms to the hospital. He
traveled to POTTA in Kerala as well as the Philippines hoping for a miracle
but in vain.
Last April while I was on vacation, his health deteriorated. So, he
resigned and left for the States to be with his family and now he is gone.
Please find below personal emails from John?s sister, Karen in Florida.
These messages speak about John?s way of life and his belief, not religion
in particular ? remember, John came from a Roman Catholic family.
During the past week or so, we have been reading numerous articles on the
subject ?Hindu Rituals at Fatima/Hindu Ceremony at Fatima Shrine?. I
therefore wanted to share this true story with our readers. Read it
carefully. Thanks.
May John?s soul rest in peace.
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes,
Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA
To: *CPC Staff
Good afternoon,
Attached are two emails from John?s sister in Florida.
Regards,
Ray
Raymond M. Petrillo
Professional English Language Center (PELC)
Bldg 9133, Box 63, Dhahran
877-0204 tel; 877-2838 fax
From: Petrillo, Raymond M
Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 7:27 AM
To: Ramseur, Eric C; Mollo, George J; Maeztu, Carlos A; Lardizabal, - G;
Asistio, Demetrio I jr; Cox, Chris A; Horsler, Mazin M; Tyler, Madison
Garland; Wallace, Bruce W; Bovee, Bruce W; Friday, Robert E
Subject: John Barton
From: ?Karen wetteland? karenwetteland at hotmail.com
To: raymond17950 at yahoo.com
Dear Raymond,
Thank you for calling this morning. In lieu of flowers, it would be
appreciated that a contribution to Hospice of the Comforter be made.
Thank-you for your thoughtfulness.
Warmest Regards,
Karen Wetteland
My husband and I are crazy about New England. We have been up to New
Port and to Acadia this spring. I hope that your visit goes well in
Connecticut.
Hospice of the Comforter
595 Montgomery Road
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
407-682-0808
407-682-5787(fax)
From: "karen wetteland" <karenwetteland at hotmail.com>
To: raymond17950 at yahoo.com
Sub: FW: Re: John ?. And a prayer
Dear Friends and Family,
I wanted to share this letter that John's friend Oshara wrote and that
I will read at John's memorial service.
Love,
Karen
From: "" <oshara at ojai.net>
To: "karen wetteland" <karenwetteland at hotmail.com>
CC: oshara at ojai.net
Subject: Re: John...and a Prayer
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 15:43:11 -0700
Dear Karen, Joan, Friends & Family,
I've been crying. I got your message yesterday and spent time with thoughts
of John and how he inspired me through his giving and loving heart. You
asked for a prayer from the Dalai Lama. It startled me when asked for that,
because I have this one right here by my desk. It does seem appropriate for
him..."True compassion is not just an emotional response, but a firm
commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude
towards others does not change, even if they behave negatively. Through
universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility towards others:
the wish to help them actively overcome their problems." John was this way.
He gave, he cared, he loved. And he made a difference in the lives of
everyone he touched. I don't know if this is the kind of 'prayer' you were
looking for, but it jumped out at me, and it seems to fit an attitude John
may have carried, with his altruistic heart and his giving nature. If you'd
like something else, I'd be glad to hunt around some more.
I can't believe I met John only this past April. The impression he left on
me seems so much deeper. We made a mad dash through the Philippines to find
him a miracle healer. A fruitless search that pains me still. But, I got
him on that plane back to you. I wish I could have done more. But we have
to trust a Guiding Source that directs us all along our paths through life
and beyond. John trusted this Loving Source. And I saw how he lived it
every day. I was glad to hear that he passed in the way you described,
looking out the window at the rising sun. When you called yesterday and
left a message on my machine about his passing, I was outside, talking to a
friend on the phone. She lives here in Ojai, but she's in Florida this
week, to be with her sister-in-law...who is dying of cancer. We talked
about what she's going through. We talked about John too. When I went back
in the house, I heard the message you left. I had just been talking about
him when you called. I didn't call you back yesterday, I felt quiet with
the news you left. I needed to just, I don't know, I didn't have the right
words. And I knew there would be so much going on for you all, emotionally
and otherwise. So I stopped my day to think about him. And I'm thinking
about him still. I send you all my prayers, as I am sure many people are
doing now. And I'm sorting through many of my own feelings as well. Let's
talk soon, I'm still >hesitant to call you for fear of bad timing. But when
you want to talk, I'll be here. We jokingly said, that when John leaves his
body, he'll be busy having to visit all his friends and family here on
earth. He'll have a full "Dance Card" with all the appointments he'll have
to keep to say "Hi" and reassure us that he's okay in the Great Beyond. And
how lucky we are to have another friend in high places...Wherever he is,
whatever he's doing, he's in the highest place of love right now. It could
only be so. He lived it in this life, and he lives it now. And the best
part is, we get to keep the love he gave us. We get to keep the inspiration
he gave us to love more. We get to laugh the way he made us laugh. And in
the beauty of this Spiritual Universe that we're all part of, we'll never
lose John. His spark of life lives, and we'll be visiting with him again.
We'll always have John...and he gave us something else as well...In these
many months of preparing for his departure, he brought people together who
otherwise would not have met, and brought people closer to each other around
him. So in this way too, we'll always have something else from John...we
have each other.
With All My Love,
Oshara
805) 640-9003
805) 798-4989
----- Original Message -----
From: karen wetteland
Sent: 7/4/2004 10:01:38 AM
To: oshara at ojai.net
Subject:
Dear Oshara,
Hope you are well. John passed away yesterday at 6:04 am. He was
facing the sun and a window was open for his spirit to leave. After laboring
for a while, he opened his eyes to the rising sun and died.
If you have a prayer that would be appropriate (he loved the Dalai
Lama), I would appreciate it. I would read it at the memorial service on
Wednesday afternoon.
With Love,
Karen
_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
American colleagues, John Barton, passed away. He had been ailing from
brain cancer since 1997. In November 1997, he suddenly collapsed at work
and had to be rushed to Saudi Aramco hospital where they detected brain
tumor in him. He was admitted, operated on and the tumor successfully
removed, but he was advised never to miss his medication for a period of
three years and until further advice. He was also restricted from driving
and asked not to go out alone. John was single. He was only 44 years old.
He was a staunch Roman Catholic. He was very kind hearted, loving, caring
and giving. He was a good friend of mine but he was the best friend of
janitors and laborers whom he continually helped generously. He also
financially supported Orphanage Institutions in India. He had a great trust
in God and this is what sometimes made him disregard doctor?s advice and
skip medication which would get him into trouble ? he would suddenly get
feats similar to epilepsy while lecturing and we had to twice rush him from
the CPC (College Preparatory Center) classrooms to the hospital. He
traveled to POTTA in Kerala as well as the Philippines hoping for a miracle
but in vain.
Last April while I was on vacation, his health deteriorated. So, he
resigned and left for the States to be with his family and now he is gone.
Please find below personal emails from John?s sister, Karen in Florida.
These messages speak about John?s way of life and his belief, not religion
in particular ? remember, John came from a Roman Catholic family.
During the past week or so, we have been reading numerous articles on the
subject ?Hindu Rituals at Fatima/Hindu Ceremony at Fatima Shrine?. I
therefore wanted to share this true story with our readers. Read it
carefully. Thanks.
May John?s soul rest in peace.
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes,
Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA
To: *CPC Staff
Good afternoon,
Attached are two emails from John?s sister in Florida.
Regards,
Ray
Raymond M. Petrillo
Professional English Language Center (PELC)
Bldg 9133, Box 63, Dhahran
877-0204 tel; 877-2838 fax
From: Petrillo, Raymond M
Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 7:27 AM
To: Ramseur, Eric C; Mollo, George J; Maeztu, Carlos A; Lardizabal, - G;
Asistio, Demetrio I jr; Cox, Chris A; Horsler, Mazin M; Tyler, Madison
Garland; Wallace, Bruce W; Bovee, Bruce W; Friday, Robert E
Subject: John Barton
From: ?Karen wetteland? karenwetteland at hotmail.com
To: raymond17950 at yahoo.com
Dear Raymond,
Thank you for calling this morning. In lieu of flowers, it would be
appreciated that a contribution to Hospice of the Comforter be made.
Thank-you for your thoughtfulness.
Warmest Regards,
Karen Wetteland
My husband and I are crazy about New England. We have been up to New
Port and to Acadia this spring. I hope that your visit goes well in
Connecticut.
Hospice of the Comforter
595 Montgomery Road
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
407-682-0808
407-682-5787(fax)
From: "karen wetteland" <karenwetteland at hotmail.com>
To: raymond17950 at yahoo.com
Sub: FW: Re: John ?. And a prayer
Dear Friends and Family,
I wanted to share this letter that John's friend Oshara wrote and that
I will read at John's memorial service.
Love,
Karen
From: "" <oshara at ojai.net>
To: "karen wetteland" <karenwetteland at hotmail.com>
CC: oshara at ojai.net
Subject: Re: John...and a Prayer
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 15:43:11 -0700
Dear Karen, Joan, Friends & Family,
I've been crying. I got your message yesterday and spent time with thoughts
of John and how he inspired me through his giving and loving heart. You
asked for a prayer from the Dalai Lama. It startled me when asked for that,
because I have this one right here by my desk. It does seem appropriate for
him..."True compassion is not just an emotional response, but a firm
commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude
towards others does not change, even if they behave negatively. Through
universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility towards others:
the wish to help them actively overcome their problems." John was this way.
He gave, he cared, he loved. And he made a difference in the lives of
everyone he touched. I don't know if this is the kind of 'prayer' you were
looking for, but it jumped out at me, and it seems to fit an attitude John
may have carried, with his altruistic heart and his giving nature. If you'd
like something else, I'd be glad to hunt around some more.
I can't believe I met John only this past April. The impression he left on
me seems so much deeper. We made a mad dash through the Philippines to find
him a miracle healer. A fruitless search that pains me still. But, I got
him on that plane back to you. I wish I could have done more. But we have
to trust a Guiding Source that directs us all along our paths through life
and beyond. John trusted this Loving Source. And I saw how he lived it
every day. I was glad to hear that he passed in the way you described,
looking out the window at the rising sun. When you called yesterday and
left a message on my machine about his passing, I was outside, talking to a
friend on the phone. She lives here in Ojai, but she's in Florida this
week, to be with her sister-in-law...who is dying of cancer. We talked
about what she's going through. We talked about John too. When I went back
in the house, I heard the message you left. I had just been talking about
him when you called. I didn't call you back yesterday, I felt quiet with
the news you left. I needed to just, I don't know, I didn't have the right
words. And I knew there would be so much going on for you all, emotionally
and otherwise. So I stopped my day to think about him. And I'm thinking
about him still. I send you all my prayers, as I am sure many people are
doing now. And I'm sorting through many of my own feelings as well. Let's
talk soon, I'm still >hesitant to call you for fear of bad timing. But when
you want to talk, I'll be here. We jokingly said, that when John leaves his
body, he'll be busy having to visit all his friends and family here on
earth. He'll have a full "Dance Card" with all the appointments he'll have
to keep to say "Hi" and reassure us that he's okay in the Great Beyond. And
how lucky we are to have another friend in high places...Wherever he is,
whatever he's doing, he's in the highest place of love right now. It could
only be so. He lived it in this life, and he lives it now. And the best
part is, we get to keep the love he gave us. We get to keep the inspiration
he gave us to love more. We get to laugh the way he made us laugh. And in
the beauty of this Spiritual Universe that we're all part of, we'll never
lose John. His spark of life lives, and we'll be visiting with him again.
We'll always have John...and he gave us something else as well...In these
many months of preparing for his departure, he brought people together who
otherwise would not have met, and brought people closer to each other around
him. So in this way too, we'll always have something else from John...we
have each other.
With All My Love,
Oshara
805) 640-9003
805) 798-4989
----- Original Message -----
From: karen wetteland
Sent: 7/4/2004 10:01:38 AM
To: oshara at ojai.net
Subject:
Dear Oshara,
Hope you are well. John passed away yesterday at 6:04 am. He was
facing the sun and a window was open for his spirit to leave. After laboring
for a while, he opened his eyes to the rising sun and died.
If you have a prayer that would be appropriate (he loved the Dalai
Lama), I would appreciate it. I would read it at the memorial service on
Wednesday afternoon.
With Love,
Karen
_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail