I worked with John Pope in the Citizen newsroom from 1977 to 1979. I am thankful for the comments in the news article and in the letters to the editor about my former colleague and friend. The different memories of John in your pages accurately illustrate the various aspects of his character.
He could be and was a good friend; he could also be and was deeply troubled. I wonder, along with Doug Martin, what we might have done to intervene, to help him so long ago. John's story, though sadly dramatic at the end, is not unlike that of many of us, or members of our families. I hope and pray that these senseless violent deaths offer us an opportunity to reach out to the troubled in our society. There but for the grace of God go all of us.
John P. Asling
London, England
