We are very saddened to report that our dad, Jonco, has passed away tonight. Mom came home yesterday from work and found him unresponsive and with a head injury. He had a major brain bleed from a bad fall. He was ambulanced to a local hospital where they had to put him on life support. Mom and us kids were able to be with him. He ended up in hospice for an hour or two and died peacefully this evening with us all around him.
Thanks for being a friend to dad in whatever capacity you were. If you are reading this we know you are a friend and hope that you take comfort in knowing that he appreciated all of your support over the many, many years of running these blogs. We know for a fact that he considered you all part of his extended family.
As you may know, he did some pre-posting, by setting up posts in advance – so you are sure to see some future posts, that he had planned – we decided to leave them as he had planned them.
We would love it if you comment with a favorite memory of him, whether it’s a personal memory.. or of how these blogs have positively affected you.
Love to all – take a moment and hug each other, and crack open a beer and make a toast to our dad – Jonco.
Dave and Kris
and Pat
I am so very sorry for your loss. I hope you will find some comfort in knowing of the many ways he enriched his Internet followers’ lives every day. It seems like forever that I’ve been visiting B&P, sometimes multiple times a day, and I will miss it greatly. Thank you, Jonco, for always brightening up our day.
I’m terribly sorry for the loss. I found this blog during an internship my last semester in college (summer 2007). The internship was terrible and boring and this blog helped me burn a ton of time when they would just stick me at a computer. I offered a few submissions over the years that were posted and made me feel famous. 14 years later I’m all grown up but still escape a few minutes here and there from my current job to check the site for a smile. Thanks for allowing him to entertain us for so long!
So sorry to hear. I’ve been following on an almost daily basis for around 20 years now. I’ve always loved how your Dad was able to see humour in so many things, and could see both sides of a story. Thanks for letting us know, best wishes to your family through this time. Nate (Victoria, Australia).
I too am sorry for your loss. I have appreciated Bits&Pieces for a long time & will miss Jonco & the site. What a great & kind sense of humor he shared with all of us. Wishing you peace.
This is the place I would check 2 to 3 times a day for close to the last 20 years. Jonco’s humor was the uplifting part of my day. May God’s peace find you and your family. You will be missed. Mike Mansfield Oh.
My condolences to you for this tragic loss. I enjoyed coming here every week for the past 10 years. Darren, Bowral, NSW, Australia.
The blog has been a part of my morning routine for nearly all of its 20 years, and I don’t know what I will do without his thoughts and humor to start my day.
I got to meet Jonco and you guys at the first Big Ass BBQ. That was September of 2010. I still have the shirt and I wear it to BBQ restaurants where it stirs up comments until I explain about my friend Jonco and the party he put on.
And I do consider him to be a friend. Every weekend started with a post about what was going on in his life, and I really cared. On a Saturday afternoon I would remember he was preparing for a trivia contest. A Saturday night I might think about him dining out with friends, or I might find myself worrying that his work on the patio on Sunday might hurt his back again. I think I will miss those posts the most.
I just reread last weekend’s, and I am feeling very emotional. It was ten years ago on Tuesday that my brother passed away. It is tough losing someone around a holiday, when it will cast a shadow over the day for years to come.
Jonco was great, and I know that you guys are feeling a big loss. Just know that we are feeling it with you. You are all in my thoughts. Hang in there.
My deep condolences. Jonco’s B&P has been part of my daily routine for at least 15 years but thinking closer to 20 years. Thank you Jonco. You will be missed.
I’m so sorry for your loss – please accept my deepest condolences. Jonco’s blog has brought so much joy to many people over the years. He’ll definitely be missed.
Just fuck this shit.
One of the best blogs
Off to join Gerard and Kev ; presurfer, nothing to do with arbroath in the big blog in the sky.
I’ll be visiting regularly
It’s so sad to hear about the demise of someone who has made us all chuckle, smile, laugh every morning across several continents 🙁 May his soul rest in peace.
As the site title say, we all will now have to scour the web for our dose of funnies.
My condolences to all of you. This has been a highlight in my daily browsing for quite a while now.
You will be missed.
So very sorry for your loss. We all feel the loss. Your father’s blog was a daily breath of fresh air and fun in a crazy world.
Well, yes, the end of an era… My friend, I’m delighted to have met you, through your blog, messages and emails. You know I will miss you a lot. A big hug and cheers!
This was the first site I visited every day as it always had something interesting. I am very sorry for your loss as well as the loss of this tireless blogger to all of his fans.
Sorry to hear about this. Losing your parents is something you never really get over but good memories make it a little easier
My condolences to your family. May your memories of him bring you comfort now and always.
I found B&P a few years ago (through Miss Cellania, I believe). There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t learn something or get at least chuckle from his site. He will be missed by so many he didn’t even know he impacted.
When I met Jon and his wife in Valdosta Georgia I was so impressed with how genuine they both were. It was only lunch, but they were the type of people you wanted as friends.
RIP Jonco. Thank you for keeping the oldschool web inspired.
This was the first place I stopped everyday for the last15 years or more. I don’t know what I will do now. Huge loss to my internet world. I passed on many of his stories/jokes. He made me laugh and made me think. It’s going to be hard to carry on but I will do it thinking of him.
RIP
i’ve no words. sympathies.
My husband & I both send condolences to your family. I had been writing belated Christmas cards on the 28th and he just told me the news this morning. My hubby always used B&P as a guide to get my internet working properly and happened to enjoy it, too. This time, disbelief led to tears. It truly felt like a family member had passed away.
I have many fond memories of Jonco’s posts. He graciously corresponded with me about starting my own blog. Whew! A lot of work. And did it tirelessly. You could sense that it was fun for him! Still!
How thoughtful that he posted his remembrances on his mother’s and father’s birthdays. Drone films were awesome and with music! Trivia meetings, TV shows watching, family events — all were shared. Even the weather reports for St. Louis!
And Trixie and Gus were a part of the experience, too, even their passings were told to the faithful readers. Now Buster, who had a hard time acclimating to the new surroundings, found his forever home.
All that and more, Jonco shared a slice of life, his life. It was like having a conversation with a friend. For that, I’m truly thankful to have ‘known’ him. ~Mary, B&P reader since 2009.
I’ve been reading BandP for so so many years. Your dad has gotten me through some bad times with his humor. But the good laughs, snickers, eye rolls, reposts…far outweighs those bad times. I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Please take comfort that your dad’s reach has made so many smile and laugh, and that he will not be forgotten.
Silent Reader,
Michelle
Very sad news.
I’ve been a regular visitor & occasional commenter from back before the .us domain name change.
I would often talk to my friends about things I saw on B&P telling them Jonco posted this today.
Jonco made B&P much more than just a collection of links.
A sad day indeed. I’m sorry for your loss. I, like so many others, always visited this site multiple times a day for updates. Jonco, thank you for making me laugh throughout the years.
My condolences for your loss.
His websites brought joy to many lifes including my own, every time I opened it. Sometimes multiple times a day.
I am devastated to hear this sad news. My prayers to you and your family. I have been coming to his website for many, many years and always enjoyed it immensely. I truly feel as though I have lost a friend. RIP Jonco! You were the best the internet had to offer.
My condolences to the family. I didn’t know Jonco personally, yet I could count on him to bring a smile to my face or a laugh to my lips everyday. That’s an accomplishment for him and you to be proud of.
I am so shocked and saddened, and sending heartfelt condolences. May God comfort you in the knowledge that Jonco created a better world for all his web friends, gave us much laughter in difficult times, collected nuggets of wisdom and inspiration to share with us, and loved as a virtual but very real friend by all. I enjoyed his little recap about what he was doing or watching, and the potpourri of funny or interesting items from the internet kept me checking the site several times a day. It took a lot of work and was much appreciated. Jonco will be dearly missed. God bless you, Jonco, and thank you.
Pat, Kris & Dave (and Buster). There are no words — I feel that I’ve lost a long-time friend who always was there to bring a smile during some really crappy times. My heart goes out to you all. Jonco will be truly missed (all over the planet) — and I’m glad that I had the daily opportunity to be a part of his B&P family. God bless you all. — Julie
My favourite bookmark since 2002. I didn’t know your dad personally, but I sure did appreciate him!
He made countless lives brighter everyday. Sorry for your loss. I will miss him.
Steve from Canada.
For years this was one of the few websites I came to regularly. His posting brought a lot of laughs to me and I’ve stolen and shared with my friends and family a bunch of them. Sometime I couldn’t wait to see the comments on them because I knew they were going to be good. This website was probably a lot more work than one would expect. I’m glad he did it. Even though I only emailed him a couple of times, I always felt like I had a friend in St. Louis.
Sorry for your loss!
Lisa, Washington St.
I don’t know what to say. This is a huge blow to you – Jonco’s wife and children, but also to us, his readers and viewers.
RIP Jonco, and i wish you all a lot of strength in the coming time.
A big hug to all of you, from Holland – Europe.
Rest in peace, Jonco, and thanks so much for the many moments of amusement (and sometimes bemusement or absolute bewilderment) that gave a little and much needed daily break from the anger and fighting on them there internets.
So sorry for your loss, Dave, Kris and Pat – God bless, and hang in there.
I never met Jonco but I liked many of the post. I just read Jonco’s passing less than 5 minutes ago, it feels like a lost an old friend.
An end of an era it is. And Jonco was one of my sources for inspiration and laughs throughout this whole era – from more than 12 years ago (I’m sure it was more – but I don’t have it on record..).
He filled my day with knowledge and laughter and introduced me to many of the sites I’m visiting regularly today (including Reddit…).
I’m grateful to have stumbled upon his blog and grateful for the great work he has put into it.
Please – accept my condolences and know that he had followers that loved him in Israel too…
I’m so sorry for your loss. This was and is a remarkable blog, and Jonco was an incredible person.
I’m so sorry to hear this. My deepest condolences.
Your father brought joy to many people across the planet. When I first found this site, it was at least 20 years ago and I was still in undergrad, back in India. Across multiple countries and life changes, this site remained a familiar place and provided many a chuckle.
RIP Jonco.
So Sad.
I am deeply Sorry to hearing this. I “met” Jonco and B&P back in mid 2000’s. I enjoyed reading his blogs and funnies all along these years. My deepest Sympathy.
I can’t believe it’s been close to 20 years visiting the various bits and pieces sites and vicariously calling Jon a friend. Thank you for all the smiles and real belly laughs. You will be missed but not forgotten. (Can’t believe I’m crying over someone I never met…)
I’m so sorry to hear this. This was my favorite blog and I will miss him and it greatly. It was great while it lasted. Very sad he’s gone.
I have put off writing far too long simply because I don’t know how to express myself. Never have I experienced a grief shared by so many people I have never met, many I wish I had.
I did have the opportunity to meet Jon & Pat and spend a little time with them. Each time we came away knowing that they were a remarkable couple and it was a pleasure to spend time with them.
Jon was humerus, inquisitive, interesting, compassionate, consistent, and so much more.
We miss you, Jon!
So very sorry. I’ll miss his humor and his kindness.
I have never Jonco or his family, however I have been a regular follower of this blog for nearly 15 years. This news of his passing is truly sad. I will certainly miss the smiles that his efforts with this blog have given me. My condolences to his family and all who love him from the tip of Africa
Always my first click of the day. Despite being English we shared the same sense of humo(u)r
and clearly had shared a similar upbringing and set of experiences. Mt suefing time will never be the same…
I am so very sorry about Jonco-for over a decade I have visited bits and pieces,I shared many of his postings with others in a blog I once had to facebook,I shall miss the daily postings,the gift in his sharing lives on with so many of us-he put a smile on a lot of faces. My sincere condolences on the loss of a truly great and inspiring man-thanks for all those days that filled my life with coming to see what Jonco had to share with the world wide web!!
Condolences on the family’s sad loss. And a stunning loss for all who came here regularly to laugh and see what he’s posted. He will be missed.
I am so very sorry. He was a wonderful person and brought a lot of happiness to many people. We will all miss him immensely. Rest in peace Jonco.