John W. Bone

All 5 of my children attended Westridge when John, or Dr. Bone as I referred to him, was principal. I always appreciated his obvious love for all the children at Westridge. Later I had the opportunity to work on the PTA board and John was always very supportive and kind to us as parents. John hired me to work at Westridge as a teacher´s aid and later as the art teacher. I always felt the decisions he made were in the best interest of the students, teachers and parents of Westridge. He made me want to be a great educator. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family. He truly was such an amazing example of a very loving, kind person.

Dr. John Bone was my elementary principal at Westridge. His humanitarian work made me, a young Mexican girl living on Grandview Hill visible. His example taught me that my culture was valuable, my family was valuable, and I was valuable. I crossed paths again with him many years later when he was doing work with the Urban Center Grants and Dixon Middle School. I was almost a teacher and he encouraged me to continue my path. I am now a school administrator and doctoral candidate and I am so grateful for Dr. Bone´s example to be a culturally responsive leader.
Blessings to his wife and children of this gentle giant!

Dr. Bone is an example of what a truly invested, caring educator should be. I had the pleasure of working with John in the Davis School District with schools in need of improvement. His ability to be both understanding and caring while being equally dedicated to the work of improvement is a lesson I'll carry for the rest of my life. Rest in Peace, my good friend.

John was instrumental in helping me plan and complete my Eagle Scout project. My project was a humanitarian effort to collect donations and supplies for Tarahumara Native Americans in Mexico. I don´t know that I´ve ever met a kinder soul than John. RIP

There is a mighty oak in heaven today. John was a strong, caring, sensitive, witty, smart, and engaging friend and mentor. Working together as year-round elementary principals in Provo, I was always impressed with his innovative approach to education and the way he and his fabulous teachers and community excelled in helping students achieve. John was a great conversationalist, with ideas sparking at every turn. I often thought of him as an educator´s John Wayne, rambunctious, if not slightly rebellious, but always aimed toward a good cause and never for his own sake but to help rescue others. I loved and admired my dear friend so much. I send my love and best to his wonderful wife and family.

I became Uncle John's nephew when I married his niece Michelle Bone in 1999. I was immediately impressed by his brilliance, his kindness, his humility, and his love of his wife and family. He was not one to talk of his many accomplishments; his life was remarkable. He loved serving children and being a mentor to so many. I didn't see him often enough and always loved hearing his stories. We all felt his support and love of others. He was full of faith, and genuine concern for others. Watching him and Joann serve his aged mother the last years of her life was inspiring. I am grateful to have been touched by his great life. God bless you Joann and children and grandchildren. He honored his family, his parents, his Saviour, his profession, and his community by his commitment to education, service, learning and others.

John and my father (Jim Bergera) worked together for Provo School District and shared a special friendship. I have many great memories of John growing up in the 70´s snowmobiling at Strawberry reservoir with John and his boys along with Ron Last, his son Craig Last and my father and my siblings. We shared some really great experiences and something I will always remember.

I started teaching at Westridge the year after my husband died. I have always been grateful to John for the opportunity to teach, especially where all four of my children were attending elementary school at the time. It was truly a blessing. John was always so kind and supportive of the faculty. His love for the children was evident. He was innovative in his leadership and supportive of his faculty as changes were being made. John made a positive difference in the lives of those he associated with.

Dr. Bone remembered my name and all of my siblings (I was the youngest of 5) 15 years after I left Westridge elementary. I ran into him at the store, I couldn´t believe it. He was always so kind, even when I made a really bad choice in the 5th grade. He talked me through it and didn´t make me feel horrible. He was such an amazing man and mentor. Allison (Austill) Chambers

I had the opportunity to work with John when I was a very young principal of an alternative school in the Provo City School District. He was very kind and supportive of doing the right things for kids. Later on, we moved into the Westridge Elementary School boundaries. John was innovative, caring, and supportive of his teachers and his staff. He loved kids!