A Tribute to Jon Vesper

Jon’s world was one of family, faith, and phys-ed.  As much as I loved Jon, he always reminded me of gym class. And, by no means was gym my favorite class.  The only sports I liked were swimming and volleyball. It was not until I reached my Jr and Sr years in high school that I actually looked forward to gym class.  That’s because of Coach Charlie Vesper.  Of course, at that time I had no idea my sister would marry his brother, Jon.   Coach Charlie Vesper was a different kind of gym teacher. He realized that not all kids are cut out to be Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan. I was one such kid.  I vividly remember him being a caring man who was not so concerned about one’s athletic ability; he was looking for effort.  Thank you, Coach Vesper.  That has stayed with me to this day.  That kindness and gentle spirit is obviously a Vesper trait. 

When I found out my sister Janet was marrying Jon Vesper, I was pleased to learn that he was the brother of Charlie Vesper, who I remembered so fondly from high school.

There is night and there is day.  That is how much in common I had with Jon.  Jon liked beer and wrestling.  I would rather go to a Broadway show and have a glass of fine wine. But, that was okay.  Jon never made me feel bad about who I am.  

Jon was a man’s man.  But, a different kind of a man’s man. Often in our society, we do not view a real man as being tender, kind, and sensitive.  Nevertheless, Jon was just that kind of man’s man:  deeply kind, tender, and sensitive.  A man’s man that should be emulated and forever admired.  His numerous awards as a coach and teacher are remarkable. Until Friday, I had no idea the sphere of his influence.  As I look out into this room that is clearly identifiable.  As I watched the video you will see, I saw a kind, strong, and sensitive man working with and molding many of you that are sitting in this room.  He was your coach and he cherished each of you. 

Jon was deeply committed to his family.  These past few days as I walked around the house everywhere I looked I saw Jon’s loving handiwork:  the gigantic swing set he built with his own hands as a gift for his children, the grill he loved so much, the pool, the trampoline, the well maintained lawn and gardens. 

Not too long ago Jon, Janet, and the kids spent a long weekend at my place in Rochester.  It was during that time I saw first hand how much Nathan and Grace adored their Dad, and how much he adored them.  I also saw an unwavering love between Jon and Janet.  The tightness of their family, including Brittany, was apparent all the time.  There is not a wall in their house that does not reflect the love the Vesper family has for each other. Jon’s office is reflective of his deep values:  pictured on every wall is a family member; a past and present team member; and the many awards he received, including Wrestling Coach of the Year.

As the biblical book of Hebrews indicates, faith directs people’s lives.  It directed Jon’s life and influenced how he lived as a good and decent man’s man who loved his family, friends, wrestling team, fellow coaches, community, and church family.  Hebrews 11:1 says: “Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of things we cannot see.”  We can no longer physically see Jon, but we see him in Janet, who is the kindest and most loving person God ever put on this earth; we see him in Brittany; in Nathan; in Grace; in each member of his team (past and present); in a swing set here; a grill there; and in a life well lived.

It is especially meaningful to recall Jon’s faith during this season of Easter.  The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a miraculous, life-changing reality that impacted the world forever—and impacted Jon deeply.  Even though we cannot physically see Christ like his early followers did, we see evidence of him everywhere we look—including Jon’s life.  I pray as Jon would that each one of us would recognize our need for Christ.

One of my favorite authors is John Updike.  Since we are in Holy Week, I thought it would be appropriate to read part of one of his poems.  In this poem, John Updike reminds us of the reality of Christ’s physical resurrection.  The Easter story is not just a work of art.  It’s a historical event that changed the world—and one that opens the kingdom of heaven to everyone who has faith in Christ.

The Seven Stanzas at Easter

Make no mistake: if He rose at all
It was as His body;
if the cells' dissolution did not reverse, the molecules
reknit, the amino acids rekindle,
the Church will fall.

It was not as the flowers,
each soft Spring recurrent;
it was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled
eyes of the eleven apostles;
it was as His Flesh: ours.

The same hinged thumbs and toes,
the same valved heart
that — pierced — died, withered, paused, and then
regathered out of enduring Might
new strength to enclose.

The stone is rolled back, not papier-mâché,
not a stone in a story,
but the vast rock of materiality that in the slow
grinding of time will eclipse for each of us
the wide light of day.

Jon has entered the wide light of day and is now with Christ in Heaven. Like Christ, Jon is alive eternally and experiencing firsthand the real joy of Easter.  May his life inspire us to do the same.