Tag Archives: Death

March 14, 2019 · 8:01 pm

TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BAG

John Jonelis

I’ve asked it before, “The way you conduct business—is it meaningful to those left behind?” Is it?

I’m here at the Levy Entrepreneurship Group, talking with some of the most brilliant business minds in Chicago. This group’s been meeting for over 60 years. It’s the genius of Joe Levy, the prolific entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist—the son of a south Michigan Ave car dealer. Joe was an endless entrepreneur—constantly learning, constantly experimenting—the quintessential gentleman who gave everybody an at-bat—who spoke quietly but directly and told the truth as he saw it. He pushed people off the bag. “You’re lousy at this. What are you good at? Contribute. Help somebody.” People found inspiration and hope. Never a disparaging word about Joe. “If you don’t have a satisfied customer, you’re compromising your future.” He was the original automobile mega dealer, angel investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. “God put me on this earth to produce, not to consume.” Joe Levy is dead at 92. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under angel, angel investor, Business, Characters, Death, Education, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Giving, Influence, Relationships, Startup Companies, Startups, Story, vc, venture capital

Tagged as Death, Entrepreneur, Father, genius, horse racing, investor, joe levi, joe levy, landlord, levi, levy, Life, mastermind group, mentor, philanthropist, playwright, racetrack, salesman, teacher

September 8, 2017 · 7:30 am

CLOSURE

John Jonelis

How do you deal with the death of a loved one? For me, an important facet of grieving is closure. This is an account of what I did at the burial of my mother. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Conflict, Death, Faith, Relationships

Tagged as Burial, Death, God, grief, Heaven, Life

July 28, 2016 · 7:24 pm

THE SAY/DO RATIO

by John Jonelis

You lose him. Jack Heyden was your father, your brother, maybe your son. A deep, intimate relationship. You know his profession—not the details, just what he did for a living. Normal so far. Then things start to turn.

His business colleagues invite the family here, and you all come, nerves raw from the shock that death brings. You arrive early, numb from the flurry of duties, people, and rituals that clutter such times and obediently take your seats in front, gazing about the room.

You have no idea what to expect. Continue reading →

Comments Off on THE SAY/DO RATIO

Filed under Business, Characters, Education, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Influence, Relationships

Tagged as advisor, business consultant, business consulting, consultant, Death, inspiration, leadership, leadership training, that extra 2%, trusted advisor

June 24, 2013 · 11:00 pm

MAY IS GONE

We lost Ron May. There’re those that are bitter and those that’ll weep. There’s those that always revere him and swear by his widely circulated May Report—and then there’s the others that still feel the sting. Everybody has a powerful opinion, but I got more than one reason for liking the guy. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Biography, Characters, Conflict, Death, Entrepreneur, Influence, Relationships

Tagged as Blog, Blogger, Death, Investigative Reporter, Obituary, Ron May, The May Report

May 28, 2011 · 1:03 am

ROYA FETOVA – 13

Roya Fetova

A Crowdsourced Novel

Read it here – Say what comes next.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Uomo. Both of ‘em were already dead when we got there.”

A massive fist, came down on the desk and Desi watched Grasso’s bloated jowls tighten. “Do not—do not ever simper with apologies. If that were necessary, you would already be…let us say I would have no further use for your services.” He scowled and leaned back in his massive chair, suddenly placid or seemingly so. Desi knew his uncle’s changing moods. Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Interactive Story, Living Novel

Tagged as Chase, Death, Fear, Feds, Hide, Hit man, It could happen to you., Mob, Suspense

May 7, 2011 · 4:33 pm

ROYA FETOVA – 10

Roya Fetova

A Crowdsourced Novel

Read it here – Say what comes next.

The train got underway and jostled Frank in his seat when Roya whispered in his ear. “Look at that guy in the lower level across the aisle. He tailed my Mustang and got on the train with me. Anything familiar about him?” Continue reading →

7 Comments

Filed under Interactive Story, Living Novel

Tagged as action, Airport, Danger, Death, Flight, Mob, Murder Scene, Scene of Crime, Suspense, Tail, Train

April 6, 2011 · 10:14 pm

ROYA FETOVA – 5

Roya Fetova

A Crowdsourced Novel

Read it here – Say what comes next.

Tony read the tail number on the Cessna as it took off—November-9-6-3-6-Victor. A fixed-gear 182—a little utility plane that he particularly liked. It hauled whatever you could fit inside and landed on short, rough strips—perfect for running drugs. Continue reading →

20 Comments

Filed under Interactive Story

Tagged as Abduction, Death, drugs, frame, smuggling

February 11, 2011 · 5:22 pm

REAL LIFE

In a previous post, I told about flying a small plane on instruments through a series of thunderstorms and the shock and delight of making it back alive. I made the case that, whether we write about it in fiction or experience it in real life, there’s something wonderful about the thrill of imminent death—a feeling for which I have no words. Then the death of a loved one brought home a forgotten lesson. In the article that followed, I presented stark images—sights the bulk of us avoid. I made the case that, in real life, common events move us—events too mundane for fiction. Is that strictly true? I now have yet another side of the question to explore. Let me tell you a story about a loving mother who did her best. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Death, Faith

Tagged as alcholism, broken home, Death, Life, love, mundane, pain, sacrifice, suffering

February 1, 2011 · 11:49 am

REAL DEATH

We don’t write about such things. The events that move us in the real world are too mundane for that. I step away from the norm to give my account.

I’ve sent the four limos away and stand in my best blue suit and black wool coat, flanked by two strong nephews who asked permission to remain with me at a time when polite society withdraws. It’s January 29th, yet hundreds of stale, wind-blown Christmas wreaths remain staked to the ground in long, precise rows. The wind gusts against our fresh displays of pink and lavender roses. How they cut such a clean rectangle into the ground, I don’t know. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Death, Faith

Tagged as Afterlife, Burial, Casket, Closure, Death, Funeral, Heaven, Lord, Loss, love, Mother

January 13, 2011 · 11:04 pm

TERRIFIED

Why does a kid ride a rollercoaster? Why does an outdoorsman shoot a rapids, climb a peak, hunt shark with a spear gun? Is it just the adrenaline rush? It can’t be. I can get that from a couple pots of sweet coffee. So why do we get such a kick out of being terrified? Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Suspense

Tagged as contrasts, Death, delight, Excitement, Fear, Life, shock, terror, thrill

June 14, 2010 · 6:31 pm

MURDER

Life is precious. That’s my best response to the unanswerable question, “What place does murder have in fiction?” A few thoughts— Continue reading →