John Roberts

John was one of the "funnest" guys I ever met, and one of the most memorable, I met him at the Vietnam Training Center in 1967, when we were both in the first class (CORDS I) of VTC trainees to learn the in-and-outs of the Vietnamese pacification program and language. I last saw him in at our beer-soaked reunion in Arlington nearly twenty years ago. But I kept up with John over the phone. I was unaware of his passing until early 2025. Wherever his soul is, it is a happier place for his arrival.

Many thanks for all wonderful memories in Botswana , USA and Sweden ! Rest in peace
With much love Birgitta and Louise Lundgren - Lindquist Stockholm Sweden

My deepest condolences to Gennie and Michael. And to Bret and Jane whom we met on a boat on the Chobe river in Botswana along with John sometime in 1989 or 1990. I was 13 at the time but memories of John remain fun and very joyous. We were looking at the stars and John said: "That´s not a star, that´s Venus". Earlier this summer I saw Bruce in Gothenburg and when listening to "Born in the USA" today I thought of John and his kids. It´s been 15 years since we last met in Stockholm and since then I can now call myself both a mother and a cancer survivor. Regrettably we haven´t been in touch lately. And I just had the urge to say hello only to find out he passed. Mom and I send or thoughts, prayers and love. He was a fun, loving person and he will be greatly missed. Never forgotten. Much love, Louise and Birgitta in Stockholm Sweden
Ps. If any of the the family reads this please send a message to [email protected]

In addition to our previous entry, we would like to add the following: Following our return from Botswana in 1992, Max and Kathy Evans and ourselves invited our friends who had worked with us in Botswana to come to Athens, Ohio, to renew our friendships. John was one of the 20 plus people who attended. After a successful reunion, we decided we would like to meet again the following year and John volunteered to host us in Colorado. That was the beginning of many subsequent Botswana reunions, with different hosts each year. We met with John at many subsequent reunions, when he always told the story of saving us from the lions. We will miss John very much. Jeanne and Luther Haseley

John was a longtime friend whom we met during our USAID tour in Botswana in the 1980´s. We went on a number of camping trips together in Botswana and during one trip to the Kalahari, when we were camping with John and two other couples, our camp was attacked by lions. The lions had jumped on the side of our tent and collapsed one side of the tent. John got into his Land Rover, despite the threat to his own personal safety , and drove the lions away, saving our lives. We have maintained our friendship since then, meeting at many reunions of people who served in Botswana with us and talking by telephone. John was a true friend who contributed so much to his country, and his community. We will miss him very much. Jeanne and Luther Haseley

As a retired Air Force pilot as well as a retired United Airlines pilot I began attending OLLI courses sponsored by CSU, I was able to meet John. I always liked being in a class that he was either attending as a student or as an instructor.
We would spend many moments after class discussing world and historical events that have shaped our world. His insights will be greatly missed.