From Kristina Curren

I was Jon’s graduate student in the early 1990s. I wrote him a letter from the University of Guelph asking about the possibility of doing a
Master’s degree with him. I fully expected a dismissive answer–after all, I was a girl from landlocked Ontario with far more knowledge of
physics than biology, and Jon must have received hundreds of similar requests each year from whale-groupie wannabees.

Instead of rebuffing me, however, Jon wrote back to say that he had just the project for me–a study of whale swimming dynamics with Dr. Neil Bose as my co-supervisor. He also promised me lots of time to learn about whale biology and behaviour in the field. To say that I
was thrilled is an understatement. I packed up my car with as many of my belongings as I could stuff into it and headed east. My family thought I was barmy, but I never once regretted my decision.

Jon Lien was an extraordinary man–a force of nature and larger than life–and I adored him. He was warm-hearted, welcoming, humorous,
everlastingly inquisitive, passionate, tireless, indomitable, and insanely knowledgeable. He loved the land, the sea, the whales, his
students, his farm, and his friends and family. Jon knew, better than anyone else I’ve ever met, how to fully experience joy in every moment and how to suck the marrow out of life. His “joie de vie”, his laughter, and his curiosity about everything from the mundane to the arcane were infectious. No one who met Jon could remain untouched by or forget him. I am honoured to have worked with and for him, and I treasure every memory I have of him.

I would like to express my deepest sympathies to Judy, Maren, OJ, Elling, and the rest of Jon’s family on your loss. I wish that I could
offer you words that would ease your pain, but the best I can do is this: Hold Jon in your hearts, and he will always be with you.

And to Jon himself, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on a stranger, for believing in me, and for helping me
to believe in myself. Thank you for all of the wonderful and exciting opportunities that I would never have had the chance to experience
without you. Thank you for being my mentor and my friend. Thank you for all the work you did for fisherman, for the whales, for your
students, and for Newfoundland and Labrador. Thank you, most of all, for being you. You were a bright light and inspiration in this
sometimes dark world. You will always be missed, and you will never be forgotten.

Godspeed, Jon, and rest ye well.

Kristina Curren