My Memories of Jon

Twenty years ago Jon Lien helped me and colleague Verne Baker obtain the world’s first electrocardiogram of a large wild whale. I remember calling him out of the blue to explain what we were trying to do and what equipment we had developed. I expected we would be entering a series of negotiations. But Jon came back with a reply that I later learned was his typical approach no-roadblocks-acknowledged approach to situations. “Let’s make arrangements for you to come up here and we’ll try it.” That was the opening to parts of two summers spent chasing around after Jon and Wayne in their Zodiac, relaxing with his wonderful wife Judy and some of the family, spending time at the farm, and completing our project goal in record time and beyond all expectations. Aside from the scientific results, I value as a memento of those years a water glass, issued by a Newfoundland petrol station, depicting two men in a Zodiac releasing a whale, a testament to Jon’s everyday popularity.

Many of the whale project details have faded into the past but my memories of working with Jon are as fresh as they were twenty years ago. I can still recall his sense of humor as he told people that he first assumed, because I was from a pacemaker company, that we were planning to put pacemakers in fat whales. I can still recall the exuberance in his voice as he spoke articulately to a prestigious group at a scientific meeting and later chatted with the local fishermen in their own words and inflections. If I just take a second to think back to those days I can see Jon in the home of the Whale Research Group that he founded, surrounded by whale release gear, freezers of biological specimens, and admiring students.

I’m sure many memories of Jon the person will be alive as long as those who ever worked with him. And traces of Jon the scientist, concerned with the health of our planet, will extend even further into the future. Saddened by the loss but buoyed up by the fine memories I have, I join the chorus of those saying “Thanks Jon”.

This post was submitted by Kenneth Brennen, Ph.D..