First cut

Johnny had a child's curiosity about everything. No matter the subject, he was interested from the get-go. As a child of said parent, I absorbed. Have you communicated a sense of wonder to your kids? (and, think about it--it's not only blood kids I'm talking about, but, rather, younger people you encounter daily who need and want your good advice and experience.)

Johnny respected everyone. I rarely saw him angry or mad at anyone or anything. It may sound like I'm describing a saint, but think instead: even-tempered. I hope and pray I carry the gene for that particular temperament in me, because I don't think it's all that common, and not nearly as valued as it should be.

Johnny did his duty. No matter how difficult the relationship he was in [big smile and smilie here], or whatever path God set him on, he was there. To those of you thinking: well, I do my duty; let me explain. You are not doing your duty, if you complain or bitch. Don't get me wrong, you're entitled to same if that's what you want (or need) to do; but it ain't duty. You're just doing what we all have to do 24/7. Doing your duty comes from a higher sense of purpose--what you're supposed to do. No rewards, no gold at the the end of the tunnel--part and parcel of doing your duty is doing the painful thing.

Are you doing your duty? Beats me--ask your spouse/significant other/someone whose opinion you respect. They are the ones who will tell you the truth. This allows me to segue to Johnny's final strength: he always spoke the truth to your face. In a world of people telling what you want to hear, Johnny stood out by telling you the way things were. Those of us who admire such a valuable trait feel sorry for those of you who have missed the sheer joy of receiving same.

[VB, in an email] 
I do remember Uncle Joe saying the strongest words uttered by your father might be “What the heck,.....” 
[Johnny was almost the mild-mannered Chinese Clark Kent in that respect.]

[JM, in a post]
...
I remember him as [a] slender, friendly young man, busily taking on life.
...

For me, as a son, Johnny was the (my first) warm, fuzzy, big male person in my life. I think this is a hard feeling to convey, but through thick and thin, good times and bad times, he was there. I pray I do as well with people I interact closely with.


From the Firefly TV series:
 Book: How we treat our dead is part of what makes us different...http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0579528/quotes

Prologue

You'd think that writing a eulogy about your father would be easy. But a lot of the good things I remember about my father Johnny are based on the warm, fuzzy person I remember from when I was very young. As an adult, these are not the things that made him great (although they are based on the same factors.)

Eulogy number 1 was written by brother Joseph at Johnny's funeral after his untimely death. A copy is currently not available. If anyone has one, please contact me, and we can arrange a transfer and publishing. It would be much appreciated.