Tuesday, March 30, 2010

John Ward

John Ward, one of Improv Everywhere's most senior agents passed away this weekend. He was incredibly friendly, warm and funny.
(I secretly believed he was Santa Claus)
He started taking improv classes in his 50's and participated in almost all of our events for the past 6 years. Matty put together this video of John with funny clips from some of the Improv Everywhere events that he participated in. I can guarantee that he'll make you smile!
John is proof that you're never too old to try something new. I hope he inspires you just as much as he's inspired me!

44 comments:

Hope Chella said...

Sad :(

Anna K said...

I'm so sorry to hear that. :(
He was so great in all the improv videos. I will miss seeing him.

Elephantus said...

oooo... im sorry Katie :( I hope he was happy and made others happy as well...

kelli said...

what a beautiful, inspirational being. i could feel his warmth through the screen.

thank you, matty, for creating this video. now so many more will be touched by his spirit.=)

littletiara said...

My condolences... :(
He looks like a really great guy, and I believe he will be much missed.

RIP

Natalie said...

i'm so sorry for your loss. i remember seeing him in the Improv Everywhere videos, i am more than sure he'll be missed very much.

Nella Design Studio said...

Thanks for sharing this. What an inspiration.

Anonymous said...

Im a new follower and i saw him in most of your videos. He looks like he brought a lot of laughs to your lives! Thank you guys for celebrating his life with this video. Much love to you both and your Improv family!

VAL said...

I didn't know him and never noticed him before today. Yet the video made me cry. I wish I knew him in person.

Nina said...

sad. i'm glad he lived fully till his death

Rossie said...

How sad. He was one of the faces I would recognize every time he popped up in an improv everywhere video. The way he was nodding while holding up the "a high five!" sign was so classic. Had me laughing for sure.

Charmalade said...

This is a very sobering post, because John Ward was the nameless fellow who always stood out in the improv videos for me! He was always so jolly (I believe you Katie, he must be Santa Claus!) and always brought a smile and a laugh. I have to admit, I love how he started improv so late and was so well regarded for it, too. But somehow you made this post inspiring and upbeat at the same time, just like the proper improv spirit. John Ward, I now know your name, and I hope that you're having a grand old time up there. :)

Elizabeth said...

What an amazing story and what a great example of a life well spent. I can tell he will be missed.

A few years ago I started following the improv group and the time he pretending to be an author doing a book signing was always one of my favorite.

I am sorry for your and your friend's loss.

Madison said...

Aww.. How sweet! You can just tell when someone is a truly nice and a funny person. Just watching this video makes me want to have known him!

Laura said...

Sad to hear this. It's wonderful that in the age of videos and Internet, he will touch many more lives still. I didn't know him till I read this, and find this inspiring. RIP.

Laura

Dee said...

:( we've lost a beautiful person...

Nicole Jeannette said...

God bless him :) Seems like he was such a sweet man!

Lucy said...

RIP

Elle said...

He seems so sweet, and what a great person to be inspired by. xxx

artfoodsoul said...

what a fabulous guy! it sounds like he went out with both barrels blasting -- a high five to him! what's amazing is when someone like john touches so many lives, it can feel like he's still around -- cliche but true -- channeling his mirth thru others so to speak...
p.s. i'm in my 50's and have been wanting to try improv for a while now...

Raptor Plateado said...

im sorry Katie :( but you ever be happy because you have a new angel!!! you lose a friend and you won a angel!!

Linda Sue said...

I don't know, I don't trust this death thing- he will be back when you least expect it popping around the corner in the subway or or passing you through the turnstile...look for him- it will be a brief and surprising event.

Maria said...

what a sweet man. i just loved hearing him speak in that clip. thanks for sharing.

Anna - Krulik said...

I'm very very sorry o hear that....condolences from myself and all my familly.

metrochic said...

the world needs more people like john. i'm going to try and remember give a little something away everyday - that's what he's inspired me to do. a laugh, a candy cane, a high five. rest in peace, john.

BPremo said...

So, so sorry you had to lose a friend. But it looks like you were pretty lucky to have known him.

Shallena said...

He's seemed like such a sweet guy. I wish I had had the opportunity to meet him although it nice to see that he obviously touched many hearts. The video was a lovely gesture and inspiring. Im sorry for your loss, Im sure he will be dearly missed.

Terri said...

So sad! I loved him on the "High Five" escalator

wodedrawling said...

He was one of the only people I ever recognized in Improv Everywhere videos, and judging by the video looks to have brought smiles to many, many faces. Rest in peace John.

tscd said...

Oh. I always looked out for his face in the Improv Everywhere videos - he always seemed like such a happy guy. I will miss his face. Goodbye John.

Kelley said...

I was really hoping this was an April's Fool until I saw when it was posted. Like many others, I really loved seeing him in all the videos and will miss his involvement. RIP

Anonymous said...

Lovely guy, lovely video, lovely photo at the end. Keep going on in his spirit!

mel said...

terrible, he has such great spirit, and im glad he was an amaizng influence the way he was
x

lori* said...

Aww :( RIP John! *hearts*

Anonymous said...

A lovely tribute to a lovely man.

kim said...

:( I'll miss seein him in the videos, thank you for sharing.

[insert name here before it crawls away] said...

My condolences, he DOES seem like an amazing man... I'm so so sorry.

Thats a lovely tribute. RIP

Dr. Jason said...

This is sad, but I'm glad you're finally posting some non-super-saccharine shit.

Good for you.

Ash said...

Aw, sad news. I enjoyed watching him in the mission videos. Thank you for sharing the tribute.

Patte said...

What a gift to have been blessed with him in your lives

Rachel Elizabeth said...

How sad and inspiring at the same time. Seems like the world has lost an happy and interesting man.

Rajnish Kumar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
gems_k said...

Thank you for sharing this clip with us all, it made my day... I've seen him in your improv clips before and while I'm sad to hear the news, I'm also happy because through you guys John made me smile once last time.

Rest in Peace John

Anonymous said...

Like someone once said, "Don't cry because I'm gone, but smile because I've lived well."

Improv Everywhere videos always touched my heart. From that video, John looked like a man teeming with warmth. (:

RIP John