Posted by Ralph Artigliere on September 24, 2025:

September 25, 2025 Twenty-two years have now passed since that tragic day we lost Jon. Not a season of our lives goes by without some reminder of him: his laughter, his quiet wisdom, or the way he lived with such integrity. As cadets, we knew Jon was special, and we wanted him in our lives. Fortunately, we made that happen. He stood with us at our wedding, and when our time in the Army was done, our families reunited in the same town. Betsy and Gale became and remain dear friends, and our children grew up side by side. Jon and I became law partners, and his influence reached well beyond our practice. He shaped not only my career but also left a lasting mark on both of my sons, who followed the path of law. I often think back to evenings in our first office, long after everyone else had gone home, when Jon and I would sit across cluttered desks talking about cases, family, and the meaning of doing the work the right way. Those conversations formed not just my professional compass, but my character-- and, in turn, that of my sons. Wisdom, honor, and character were Jon's strong suits, and he brought them with him every day. The daughters he and Betsy raised carry those same qualities, and they in turn have passed them on to their own talented and caring children. Another generation now walks this earth with the values Jon instilled. These remembrances are my way of keeping faith with Jon's family, with our classmates, and with the memory of a man who made us all better. The years do not lessen the loss, but they deepen our gratitude for having walked beside him. Grip hands, fellow classmates, as we remember Jon once more. He lived with courage, loyalty, and love, and though he left us far too soon, his light endures. Be thou at peace, my friend. Ralph, Gale, Bill (West Point '92), and Adam Artigliere

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