Posted by Ralph Artigliere on May 16, 2026:

May 14, 2026 Today would have been Jon's birthday. He left us far too soon, and there are still so many things I wish we could have done together. Hardly a day passes without some reminder of him. Today I was building a paver walkway in my backyard, and it brought back the memory of building a patio deck at Jon's house when his daughters were small. Those little girls are now strong women with families of their own, each one sending us graduation announcements for their children last week and carrying forward the values Jon and Betsy instilled. I thought, too, of the day Jon helped me take down a tree that was threatening my roof. He showed up with a chainsaw, a rope, and that steady confidence of his. My well meaning but misguided neighbor suggested we tie the rope to my air conditioner for "support." Jon and I laughed about that for years. I still hear his laugh: full, warm, and impossible to forget. I miss that laugh. I miss his friendship. I miss the guidance he offered so naturally and without fanfare. My new neighbor across the street is Chad Bagley, the current West Point golf coach. Not long after he moved in, his West Point roommate, Bill, moved into the neighborhood as well. They are close like Jon and I were. Chad even named his oldest son after Bill. Every time I see either of them, I'm reminded of what Jon and I shared: law partners, friends, and truly brothers. Jon's absence is still felt, but so is his presence. It lives in the people he loved, in the work we did together, the fishing trips and fun we had, families together constantly, and in the memories that surface in the most ordinary moments. Today, on his birthday, we grip hands once more and remember a man whose life continues to shape our own. Be thou at peace, my friend. Ralph Artigliere -- and wife Gale, sons Bill (USMA '92) and Adam

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