Farewell Jon Kobayashi

On Tuesday, February 19, 2010 in the early afternoon, I stepped outside my office.  When I walked out I saw paramedics pushing someone in a stretcher.  Immediately I felt worried.  Later that evening I found out Jon Kobayashi was the one in the stretcher.  He had suffered aneurism.  I was shocked and saddened.  I met Jon through Rep. Bob Nakasone in 2003.  He was such a nice person.  I always enjoyed talking to him.  In 2006, when my grandma Bessie Karamatsu was in Queen’s hospital, every evening I would walk to the hospital and then return to the capitol visiting Rep. Nakasone and his gang at his office.  Jon and I were outside on the balcony.  He knew my grandma’s health was failing and I was hurting inside.  He told me the most comforting words a person could say and hugged me.  I tried to hold back my sadness and I could see the sincerity in Jon as he looked emotional as well.  Earlier this month, I bumped into him at the capitol.  I told him, “We gotta hang out sometime.”  He smiled and agreed.  That was the last time I talked to him.  Jon had such a good heart, so sincere and caring.  It is hard to believe he is gone.