Thanks Guys and Barb. I posted this, because it seems that few people of strong integrity still remain in my life. John was one of those.
I feel lucky to have known him, and know he truely lived his life. Makes me re-evaluate life in times like these, and maybe get an attitude adjustment.

One favorite story I encountered while working with John, was during Jewish Kids week at Sea Camp. For one week a year, all Jewish schools would attend the Environmental Education program(marine biology school) we held. It wasn't a pregidous thing, just a way to meet religious beliefs, such as kosher foods, and prayers between classes, and separate boat trips for girls and boys(not allowed to bare themselves in front of each other).
I was in charge of Dormitory policing during this week, when one night a rambunctious group thought it would be fun to throw stuff into the ceiling fans. Well after several warnings, and a talk with one of the parent chaparones, the kids escalated instead of going to sleep. Next thing we heard glass breaking. So I go down to see what has happened. The kids are playing dumb, and the parent chaparone(who hasn't done a thing but drink with his buddies gets involved). So I start explaining that they are going to have to pay for the window, and that they need to clean the glass up before they go to bed. Drunken chaparone guy(we'll call him Marvin) starts saying that I'm picking on the kids. Next thing you know he's accusing me of being a "Jew Hater". At this point my roomate who was trying to sleep thru all this, comes out to see whats going on. The guy starts to showve me, then Tom gets between us, an a sort of belly bucking gets started. Luckily John was near by so we get him involved. Marvin starts going off on how the kids are just having fun(it's after midnight! and they are 6th graders). He starts accusing me of stuff I'd didn't do or say, then goes off on Tom my roomate, and before you know it we hear how he owns three house of Pancakes in Miami, makes more in a day then we do in a year.
Well John sends us to the office(for which the chaparone Marvin is now droning on about if we aren't fired that he's going to sue the camp.

After about thirty minutes John shows up at his office. He tells Tom and I that whatever we did this guy is pissed. "Steve he really doesn't like you, and Tom he wants to kill you! He says you guys were stiring up the trouble and the kids weren't doing anything, and the glass just fell out of the window...JESUS!" I thought o.k. here it comes, but John just breaks into a smile, tosses us a set of keys to his house, and says, well you guys take the next two days off till this assH@%$ leaves, we'll bill the school for the damage and blacklist them from coming back. In the meantime hang low at my place, there is beer in the fridge!"
And that was John. He saw through the crud of life and moved on to more important or fun things.
Another favorite John Booker quote, "Don't you know,never call a REDNECK a redneck!"