John Jay Cunningham, Jnr.

John Jay and Christalia such warm caring people, I am so deeply sad for Christalia, Nick and Pete they do not deserve the pain they must feel, nor was the world ready to lose someone as special and as awe inspiring as John Jay. His sense of humour, poise, dignity and intelligence are sadly missed.
John Jay always showed me kindess and equality for that I hugley respected him, in Jamaica there were times when you needed someone to remind you that there were wonderful kind people who cared, John Jay was remarkable and the world is a lesser place without his presence. My thoughts are with you all, much love Suzanne, Gemma, Adelle and Jumaane xxx

Dear Christalia,

Time flies so fast! Please accept my condolences. In my memory you were always very kind and sweet, and tried your best to help me. I think that is why you can think of such a warm way to remember your beloved John Jay.

Take care

Chungshiuan

Dear Ms Volaitis,

       Like most people here, that have given condolences, I dont know what to say. I just received an email link to this website but clearly I am late. Anyway from my family to yours, we want to wish you all, a Merry Christmas as this will be your first without him. I cant imagine how hard it is but please just try and keep up your strengh through the rest of the holiday.

 

With Our Deepest Empathy,

Vawn Knight-Ritchie & Family

christalia, nick & peter, may you thrive through this difficult time, remembering the beautiful memories of john jay, celebrating his wonderful legacy, living the lives you created together... time be time.... i have started using john jay's phrase.... it seems to quiet my soul & i pray it does yours... always, cb

Dear Ms. V,

I'm not quite sure what to say...what I do hope is that good memories will flood your mind on your special days this and every year following. I hope the love and cheer of family and friends will help to make your burden more bearable.

Love,
Ruth-Ann

Dear Christalia, Nick and Peter,

 

It's been hard to gather my thoughts together to express adequate condolences. John Jay's passing was so untimely, so unexpected to me, from this distance.

 

I remember oh so many years ago when you, Christalia, and I were working for Andy Scarpulla as rotating office assistants. This gave both of us the flexibility to continue our artistic pursuits. It was such a pursuit that took you first to Jamaica, I remember. When you came back, you were ebullient. Maybe a more apt word is ecstatic. At first I thought it was the new kind of dance you'd been studying. But it was more, much more.

 

You'd met John Jay, encountered your destiny, and were about to begin a dance with your beloved in a new country, dancing new dances. Then came Nick and then Peter. The boys wove your family in a colorful and vivid tapestry, all your achievements and the wild ride that is life, all its scuffles and wonders and revelations and, yes, even boredoms, continued to enrich the four of you, together.

 

It was so clear, when I saw you four in New York, how much in love you were with each other.

 

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know that you'll build another castle in which to dance,  another way to see the world, another way to find joy. As you turn all of this experience into creative energy (and if anything, this beautiful web site is a testament to that), you are already on your way.

 

May your hearts find peace. May you rejoice in the wonderful memories you have of a husband, lover, father, friend, a man of such fine quality. John Jay was a most unusual person, tender, highly regarded and unabashedly cherished. I remember his bemused smile (yes, Simone, bemused is the word), his easiness and quiet calm, as if he understood something that nobody else did. I remember him that way, and I feel the urge to smile and be grateful.

 

With much love,

 

Joanie

dearest christalia and nicholas and peter,

 

john jay is still so very present in my mind and heart -- his bemused presence; his thoughtful ways and keen observation; the love for you three so flamingly obvious in the photographs he took; his calm; his quirky observations; and his depth.  and so are the three of you very present in the hearts of all your friends and relatives who love you as you move into this batch of days and months here. You each have a Big Ol' Rooting Committee of people who are "holding you in the light," as they say. So glad I got to see you for a sec this last summer.

 

love from simone 

Christalia;

Please accept our condolences. John Jay (or JJ as he was known at U of T) was a wonderful person. He was a true pleasure to be around, and was a really smart guy too! Always had an inventive solution for any problem. We are so sorry for your loss.

Dear Christalia, We want you to know how much we enjoyed getting to know John Jay and we very much appreciated his sharing his beloved Jamaica with us. Strength to you. Love, Susan and family