[Oe List ...] FW: John Montgomery

Tue Mar 29 20:14:36 CDT 2011

Jaime's reflection of jovial John M. reminds me that John was one of the
Blues Brothers in one of the Cabarets or some celebration at Kemper during a
summer program.  I believe he played the sax.  Who was the other Blues
Brother?  Was it Lee Early or George Packard?  I can remember someone tall.
On a recent trip to Chicago's Midway Airport, we took a photo of the Blues
Brother statue which I meant to send to John.  Instead we used it on John's
blog (www.rejourney.blogspot.com) in memory of John.  

We'll listen to some good jazz as we remember John this week.  

John and Judy were the guardians for our son Jeremiah when we left for a
year in India.  Jono was in the student house, but visited with the
Montgomeries often to see his little brother.  Their informative letters,
photos and even a phone call (before the advent of everyone having a
computer and skype abilities) were most helpful to us as we struggled with
being so far away from our youngsters.  We had been in 5th City  with John
and Judy several years before when Jeremiah was born.   Judy and I struggled
with Fifth City Preschool budgets and later worked in Training Inc.
together.  We give thanks for their lives and for their service to local
communities and to the world.  Our sympathy and care to Tim and Matt and
John's family.   
Peace,  Lynda Cock

  _____  

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of Jaime R Vergara
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 10:10 AM
To: oe at wedgeblade.net
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] FW: John Montgomery

John Montgomery

When Ninoy Aquino was assassinated at the Manila International Airport in
1984, the nation went into of fit of laughter, quite literally.  Jokes about
the Marcos' conjugal kleptocracy mushroomed and we giggled our way through
bottles of San Miguel beer while burning the tires in the middle of the
street, dodging the military convoys and ignoring the curfew.

The Pinoy's sense of sorrow is expressed in mirth.  John doubly deserves the
response because he also exemplified, in my time with him, a light touch on
being.  While teaching with him at the Academy, he used to be a counterpoint
to the Van Gogh seriousness of our colleague Desmond Avery.  His favorite
illustration for his Freedom lecture was his spoiled fat puppy.

After the Vergara's covenant with UMC collapsed, we reconfigured our living
arrangement with Mary Lou and the girls heading to Hawaii while I returned
to deal with affairs in the country of my birth.  We remained faithful to
our care for one another.  Mary Lou stayed loyal as my parent's  daughter in
the manner of Ruth to Naomi.  Later, after the marriage entered the legal
state of divorce, she retained her married name (even to this day). Her care
for the children's future was without blemish even as she had to meet the
requirements of an MSW at UH-Manoa, and I wandered far beyond the boundaries
of marital fidelity. 

She returned to Kemper after Hawaii, which by then could not handle the
institutional collapse at the EI/ICA/O:E center, and the massive exodus of
members in the early 80s.  Our covenant to the Order, unbeknown to us, was
formally pulled from under us when we went on our 'sabbatical', and upon
Mary Lou's return to Lawrence and Sheridan, she was told that the Vergaras
will have to start all over again as Interns!  

Judy and John became extended family in Uptown and our last gathering
together was full of laughter over pizza and beer.  When the Montgomerys
relocated to Atlanta, and Judy called 'ten-four,' John got designated Uncle
in my book, especially when Mary Lou moved to the Peach State.  I last
clinked glasses with John (he was with one of the boys, not sure whether it
was Tim or Matt) at Kristina's wedding in 2007 in southern Illinois.

Even John's metaphysical and theological musings (we tried email but it was
sparodic) were sprinkled with the touch of irreverent lightness and defiance
to established order.  His e*mail monkey handle alone attested to a
rebellious guerrilla stance striking at the edges rather than confronting
the core, pirouetting as a trans-establishment on tiptoes! 

So if there is levity in our grief, it comes not only from our ethnicity but
also of jovial Friar Tuck character that John on many occasions enjoyed
playing.  I think it is in character that we can all grin as we bid him
adieu.

j'aime la vie

-----Original Message-----
From: Lynda Cock <llc860 at triad.rr.com>
To: 'Colleague Dialogue' <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>; O:E List
<OE at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Thu, Mar 24, 2011 11:59 pm
Subject: [Oe List ...] FW: John Montgomery

This info from Mary Lou Vergara.  

  _____  

From: M L VERGARA [mailto:vergara99 at bellsouth.net
<mailto:vergara99 at bellsouth.net?> ] 
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 6:02 AM
To: undisclosed recipients:
Subject: John Montgomery

Dear Friends and Colleagues, 
It saddens me to inform you that John Montgomery passed away yesterday
morning (3/23) at his home in Duluth, Georgia.   He had been in poor health
and had a heart attack.  Matt was home with him at the time.  Funeral
arrangements have not been made yet, but I wanted to get the word to you
ASAP, in case you want to contact Matt and Tim. 
Tim will be arriving from Tallahassee today, and John's father and sister
will be arriving from Missouri and California respectively.  I expect the
funeral to be at John's church, Glenn Memorial UMC on the Emory campus in
Atlanta. 
The best way to contact the boys is through Matt: 
 <mailto:Asian.accent at comcast.net> Asian.accent at comcast.net 
Ph:  678-468-4913   (you can also try 678-468-4914) 
Home address:  2544 Landington Way, Duluth, GA. 30096 

Contact info for John's father, Rev. Dr. John C. Montgomery Jr. (Jack) 
 <mailto:Jm-jr at sbcglobal.net> Jm-jr at sbcglobal.net 
Home address:  2150 W. Randolph, Bldg 3,#809-H, St. Charles, MO. 63301 

I will send more information when it becomes available. 

Grace & Peace - 

Mary Lou Vergara 
mvergara at bellsouth.net 
Home: 404-327-7745 
Cell: 404-580-9340 

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