Thank you all for making the trip here today to honor the memory of Joao Aguiar.

I know there is more family and friends, from points around the world that wish they could be here also.  Their good thoughts and prayers are welcome, I think we can all feel them here in spirit.   

Reading the guest book on his web site proves how much JJ is tragically missed.

I hope reading the guest book brings solace to his family and friends.

Putting your thought to words helps to bring peace to your heart.

There is no doubt it keeps his good memory alive.

 JJ touched so many of our lives.

His Great Spirit and endless optimism lifted my mood on many occasions.

Even during his ‘blue periods’ he never failed to cheer us up when he visited.

I have no doubt that JJ was happier in the last six months than any time since we met. 

Unfortunately that makes his loss even more tragic.

Many a time JJ would call asking what we were doing for the weekend.

Often he would show up at my door, having roller bladed from the train station.

When I was crabby or in a sour mood – he would become my own private cheerleader.

Lets go, lets go out, lets go on the boat, what’s Kenny doing – where’s the party.

He made me a better person on many occasions.

JJ was always willing to try something new or different.

He would meet me at international chamber of commerce meetings.

France, Belgium, The Netherlands we didn’t care. 

We would go together and pretend to be international men of mystery.  

We golfed together, BADLY.  When I needed a fourth for a golf outing he would gladly join in. 

You could put JJ in most any situation and he would instantly make new friends or business acquaintances.  We had fun meeting anywhere the boat or train could take us.  He made no pretences, was a good man, and anyone who met him instantly recognized it.

JJ loved Monmouth County.

The photos of him, at the beach, on the boat, with friends - for me are hard to look at right now.

I know they will eventually bring joy and happiness as a memory of the good times we all had together  The pictures document the fun that always accompanied any event that included JJ.

He was filled with endless enthusiasm and the willingness to try anything.

I remember the first time we went wake boarding together,

JJ took instruction from Cato and I, then we threw him in the water.

He got up on his first try, which is no small accomplishment.

After his second turn he mentioned the riding was uncomfortable.

Turns out we had him on the board backwards.

Now right foot forward, he really was cruising.

He loved to whip around the boat on turns, accelerating as he passed the boat – giant smile on his face.  Even though he turned out to be a goofy foot, he was the BEST FIRST MATE I ever had on my boat.

For years JJ had no car.

We would go to the car shows together and look at all the new models

There was no doubt he yearned to have a set of wheels of his own.

I think that some nights he would purposely drink less than me just so he could drive the car.

JJ never had to ask twice to be picked up the train station or ferry dock.

To me having no car seemed to simplify life.

But he felt not having wheels was cramping his style.

Like everything he did it was carefully planned, then executed.

Getting the BMW was like an awaking for JJ.

He was now truly free, nothing could hold him back.

I know that car gave him the freedom that he yearned for and his smile brightened even more.

Part of being a good friend to all of us here, and the willingness always do anything for fun is how JJ came to meet with Lisa.  Through the magic of a love for horses JJ came to meet up with a very special lady.  His happiness in the last months of his life all centered around his love for Lisa.  For JJ the world was again fresh and new.  As always with all important decisions, his internal planning began.  So in love, his job fine tuned and rewarding, anything was possible.  Never selfish, always very generous he shared his happiness with me in a way that made it something I could almost touch. 

September 11 began as most any other day.

At home doing e-mail, I heard a newscast special announcement on the TV from the other room.

I went in to see smoke coming from the World Trade Center.

Back at my desk, I called JJ to see if he was OK.

He was in the office and advised that they felt the blast and could now feel the heat of the flames.

I guess since everything was happening in the other building, they felt safe.

We practically joked about the stupidity of the person who had flow their plane into the building.

He told me he had to go and would call me back, I never heard from him again.

Our conversation together brings me no peace.

I blamed myself for not warning him to get out.

Hearing that he rallied people to move quickly from the building is in total character with JJ.

His actions, to get even one more person out of the building, make him truly a hero.

I don’t remember much more of that day, just a lot of howling and screaming on my part as I walked in circles around my apartment.  One by one, the people I know and care about were accounted for, buy not my friend JJ.  That evening I drove out to be with Lisa.  Dwayne was already there and we tried not to watch the news, instead keeping the TV on old movies.  We played the strangest game of musical couches that night.  Awake and staring into space, passing out to find one or another of the cats asleep on us as we awoke.  No doubt the animals sensed something was very wrong. 

As days went by our hope began to fade, replaced by the harsh truth our friend was gone.

What we must preserve now are the good memories that we all have of JJ.

His endearing smile, good wit and effervescent spirit must carry us forward in this new reality.

JJ was a great person, who made friends easily in both social and business circumstances.

He proved that even in the circle of sharks that comprises the downtown business district, you can have a lively spirit and make friends not enemies in the financial district.  He made no pretences, and could never be accused of being a poser.  He worked hard, lived hard and loved hard.  I know everyone here misses him.  I know that I miss him very much. 

My friend went to work that day, a day that began like any other.

As days go by I still wonder when my little friend will come home. 

I know now he will never come home to us and I pray God holds him in the palm of his hand. 

I hope to see my friend someday, and because he is there I know it is a better place.

It is fitting that we stand here on a Saturday afternoon.

It is in this same place we spent many days with JJ.

We stand here on the beach our hearts filled with sorrow. 

When we go over the sea wall we must try to lift up our hearts.

Our hearts will be guided by spirit of JJ and we will celebrate his life and our love for him. 

I think he would want it that way.

 

Neil Luciano   September 29, 2001