2/19/1920 ~ 2/6/2003
"B.J. - A true Viking"
A loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, Big John, was truly "a Man For All Seasons." He spent his raucous youth at the Victory Playground where he learned the wiles that kept him in good stead for his many escapades with "the herd."
He walked to school two miles each way "uphill" in the snow. While attending East High School, he met his lovely bride "JCA" in a victorious game of spin the bottle. After serving in World War II, with four children in tow, he attended the Univer-sity of Utah, where he grad-uated with Honors in Theater Arts.
He came alive on stage, and his love of the theater followed him into a career as an educator, where he opened the world of Shakespeare to his many students. We will miss his booming theatrical voice, on and off the stage, as well as his tenacity, his honesty and his love of life. The University of Utah will miss the twice honored "Super Fan's" presence at all of the home games. He was a man with a short fuse, born with charm and class, but most of all he was a man who loved his family.
He is survived by his loving wife, Arline; children, Gary (Cynthia), Mar-sha (Brent), Kathy (Pete), Dan; grand-children John, Andrew, Michelle, Patrick, Paige, Justin; and 10 joyful great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandchild, Trever; brothers, Mack, Ed; and sisters, Lily, Sally, Joanie.
A celebration of his life will be 4-6 p.m. Tues. Feb 11, 2003 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Nicolaysen, 3830 Lois Lane, SLC. Directors, Garner Funeral Home.
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts..." - William Shakespeare, "As You Like It", Act 1 scene 7