Jonboy and I spent the last 18 years racing with each other, against each and for each other. I think back to when Jon was that baby-faced teenager looking to chase a dream back in 1989 and I see a young man so full of hope and enthusiasm. We called him “Jonboy” because he lived in the country with his folks – and the name just fit him so well. He even took to it and would sign off his emails with it.

As we raced on different teams he proved himself to be a fierce competitor, strong in all disciplines. While many like to profess themselves a specialist of some kind Jonboy always strove to excel in all areas of road cycling. As a teammate, he was self sacrificing – well ok outside of the occasional “Cowboy” move (that would always provoke my ire), but when the smack went down in the final kilometers and it came to the team pulling off the result – Jon was my leadout man and he could take me to the front with the best of them. There were times that Jon made winning so easy that to say I won the sprint was really more of a technicality. As Jon matured as a man and a rider his joy became more than just winning races, it became winning with his friends.

In recent years three races come to mind that show Jonboy’s character; The Niagara Classic Crit in 2003, NYS Road Championships, and the Chris Thater Memorial Masters 30+ in 2004.

The Niagara Classic lived up to its name that day for our Preferred Care team. The “PC Crit Hit Squad” was performing on target with constant attacks that were wearing on the field. Jon finally was able to snap the elastic and do what he did best – time trial the final laps alone while Greg Jansen and I patrolled the field. Riders yelled at each other in panic, as Jon hammered on, not able to be brought back. He soloed in about 25 seconds ahead of us – arms raised in victory salute. The win was precious because the team worked so flawlessly that day – but to Jonboy it was even made sweeter – he had won with his friends. I remember him seeing Terry Wherry taking photos and said, “Hey Terry, get a picture of us together”. Jon wanted to have a memory of winning with his friends that day.

2004 NYS Road Championships. I wasn’t going to go but Jonboy said I “had” to since I had medalled at Nationals. He even offered to do all the driving if I’d go. So I went. Jon tried to help me as much as he could before he got popped on the climb and after I won the race, Jon says, “Aren’t you glad now that I made you go?!” Yeah – I am. More so now than then. Winning the NY road championships was cool – but I appreciate it more now because Jon was excited for me and he shared that victory.

The 2004 Thater Masters Crit was a tough race. So many “ex”-pros jump in that as well as every “aging” cat 1 or 2 that there are times that it is as hard or harder that the pro race. It was just me and Jon that day – we were both feeling good though and we knew we could make something happen – Jon was so confident and positive as he always was – he says, “You’re coming off of 4^th at Nationals and a win at States and my legs are good too, we can win the Mavic wheels”. We proceeded to attack and counter the whole time – at times we even were both in the move. Each time the field got smaller even if the moves came back. With about 15 to go we both got into one that stuck and then proceeded to lap the field – Jonboy pulled like a locomotive and our group of 6 or so came through the field and we kept the speed high. With 3 to go Jon tried to get away, but to no avail. He tried again with 2 to go – and this just took the last edge out of everyone. Once he knew they were tiring but not letting him go he went to plan B – lead me out. He was amazing – in the last lap he drilled everyone on the hill and then I grabbed his wheel on the decent from the middle of the pack. We flew by everyone as we headed in to the last turn. Jonboy shouts, “C’mon, LET”S GOOOO!!!” Well we hit turn four at over 36 mph and Jon just punched it outa the turn – we had a 5 bike lengths gap too. I hit the 11 cog, but nobody was gonna come around. We won that day and Jon in his “never give up” attitude even hung on for the NYS Crit bronze medal too.

I experienced so many memories of Jon in addition to these highlighted races. Here is a snippet of the stuff that makes me smile now:

• Jon always had race stuff in his car – ready at any time to jump into a race.
• We used to call him “Data” because he always knew everyone’s standings in the club points or a stage race and he would be able to tell you what you needed to move up.
• He always had that huge duffle bag FULL of 436 pounds of stuff even if he was only going for a day trip
• He always brought a devotional to read if we were staying over someplace. He always brought multiple copies of Velonews or CycleSport magazine even if we were coming home in 6 hours.
• He never could successfully work on his own bike, and his derailleur never worked to his satisfaction.
• He never raced in fear of anyone and would attack you if the pace slowed at all.
• Jon was an opportunist – always looking for how he could make the winning move.
• He once left his duffle bag with a sandwich on top in my driveway as we loaded the van and my dog stole it before we left that day. Jon just laughed about it – ok, after first yelling at the dog to drop it!
• Jon told us to follow him to his Aunt and Uncle’s in Middletown. Then he drove like 80 mph in a 55 so we lost him. Of course we had no directions so we never stayed with him that time – but we all got to the race the next day – even if Randy Dreyer had to sleep in his clothes, wear them for day two and not brush his teeth (we had Randy’s stuff in my car).
• When he went to McDonalds after a race his order always took the longest to get – everyone would have walked out to the car and finished eating before he came out.
• Jon once thought we could fit 5 cyclists and their stuff in one Olds Cutlass Ciera sedan for a 6 hour drive and a weekend of racing.
• Jon, Adam Garlapow and I were in a break at Perinton and there was a $50 prime. I suggested that we split it evenly and stay away. Jon said he needed to buy new glasses – so Adam got mad, slapped his handlebars and said, “we’re goin for it then!” Jon lost the sprint and then wished he had split – he even tried to see if maybe I’d still want to – he asked with that big smile knowing I wasn’t going to though and we laughed about it for years after.
• Jon tried to get me to give him a $1000 TV I won (when he didn’t go to the race that time) , as a wedding gift for him and Debbie – he said it would be “the perfect gift”.
• He was convinced that Rushville was the center of NY and was on my way to anywhere we were racing. He’d always say,”…but if you look at the map…” regardless that it added an hour to the drive.
• Jon forgot his shoes one day for a Giro and I picked on him relentlessly – then the next week I forgot my helmet and he returned all the jabs I gave him - with that big smile of course.
• For the longest time Jon would go to ANY race and say the course was perfect for him.
• Bob Mallory, Jon and I went to the “Buggy Town Crit” in PA and somehow Jon got a big stain on his pants from something someone had spilled on my back seat. Nobody told him and then this girl is looking at it and Jon says, “Hey guys that girl is checking me out” – Bob and I laughed so hard that we had to sit on the ground.
• Jon always tried to convince me that I could TT. I think he just wanted to beat me every week though.
• Jon would ask for Juicy-Juice box during a Pro-Am race in the feedzone. He was also very particular about what stuff he got on which laps and under what special circumstances, but never complained if the feeder inevitably got it wrong.
• He would call me at 7 am just to say “Hey buddy, just seeing what you’re doin! I’m driving to work right now….”. He also had a knack for calling when I was carrying my gear to the car before a race.
• Jon could talk about race with me longer than the race took. He always called me before I even left the parking lot of a training race and we’d talk past the time I got home.
• If Jon called me and Debbie called while we were talking– he’d get me right off the phone and say that he would have to call me back. And he always called back.
• Jon would call me if something was wrong to see how I was doing, tell me he was praying for me and offer to help any way he could. Just his positive outlook did more than he knew.
• Jon was one of the best friends I have from cycling or anywhere for that matter. His friendship transcended our love of the sport.

Todd Scheske