JOHN GUPTILL

There are some people who, when you meet them, you instantly become friends. That was how it happened with me and John. We just related to each other on many levels and even though I would move to Maine and live only 20 minutes from John and his wife, most of my memories with him are on the road at trade shows and markets.

He used humor and laughter for everything and the two of us seemed to have have that in common. That and an uncanny ability to bust out the ‘blue steel’ in almost every photo of us together.

John and his wife Charlotte owned a custom jewelry company who I first met at the Boston Gift Show just before moving to Maine. They were constantly sharing tips and leads for shows and events and soon we found ourselves on the road together sharing rentals and making the absolute most out of long hours and hard work.

Jonn had the amazing ability to take the absurd and make it into instant smiles!

John and Charlotte ended up moving from Maine to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I was able to visit and see the warm world he had escaped to. It was full of many other people who saw the silly wonderful and special heart within this man. When news came that he had passed, tragically, it was hard for me to accept. In fact, I still haven’t quite accepted that he is gone. I don’t want to. In my mind he’s still putting back a shot of tequila a few steps from the beach and maybe, just maybe I’ll have a chance for another hug someday!