The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1971, Síða 17

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
15
And Jon was everywhere, taking part
in everything. He forgot, for the time
being, what it was like to come home
at the end of the day’s work and relax
with his family. It was during this
time, too, that pressure was brought
to bear upon him to enter politics at
the provincial level. Fortunately for
the cause of education, Jon resisted.
For many people of Icelandic
descent Islendingadagurinn, now also
known as the Icelandic Festival, is the
high point of the year. This day,
devoted to the enjoyment of music,
poetry, speech-making, pageantry and
traditional foods has for decades of-
fered Icelanders a chance to forget
their cares and meet with friends too
often widely scattered. No one under-
stood better than J6n the importance
of this day: to older people for the
comfort that only familiar things can
offer, to younger people for the
sense of identity to be gained from
an awareness of one’s heritage. For
almost twenty years he worked tire-
lessly in every conceivable capacity
for the success of this festive occasion.
He assumed responsibility for a large
share of the overall plan as well as for
countless details. It is interesting to
speculate upon the turn events might
have taken had the vital importance
of his position, coupled with his age,
not prevented J6n from joining the
armed forces. The temptation to pic-
ture him as the commander of a regi-
ment of artillery is very strong. Such
a post cried out for a man of Jon’s
talents.
It would be a grave sin of omission
not to make some mention of Jon as
he was during hours of relaxation. As
with all people who find fulfilment
in demanding work, he loved to relax
with friends. National issues, local
politics, problems arising in his special
field of interest—upon all of these he
had views which he expressed freely.
But to reminisce, to appraise the pass-
ing show, to tell an anecdote with
typical understatement and mock
solemnity, to laugh wholeheartedly —
these were his joys when he met with
friends. And fortunate indeed was the
man who found himself numbered
among his friends: that man need
never feel himself deserted. Indeed,
Jon was often called -upon to share
and so to lighten a burden of disap-
pointment or to shar-ej and so to
magnify a moment of triumph.
It is in the nature of things that not
all people who work with a man of
such drive, determination and energy
will love him all of the time. It would
be naive to expect that every indi-
vidual should be satisfied with every
decision made by a man so often call-
ed upon to assume the role of leader.
But J6n possessed a unique blend of
physical energy, power of concentra-
tion, humour, and joy in undertaking
a challenging task. Along with this
wa.s his appearance: alertness, physic-
al well-being, grooming, quick and
well-coordinated movements all com-
bined to give him an air of sureness.
It was easy to forgive and forget in
the presence of a man so whole-heart-
ed. No one could for a moment doubt,
for example, that he put the welfare
of the Teachers College and those
who served therein ahead of his own
pleasure and his need for rest. Nor
could any person who once enjoyed
the hospitality of his home fail to see
the deep satisfaction he gained from
bringing people together for good
talk, laughter and generous refresh-
ment. In short, to meet and to know
Jon, even for a short time, was to
remember him for a lifetime.
J6n owed his zest for life and his
fruitful career in no small measure
to his wife, Lara, whom he married in