Hope was found dead today in her apartment. Cause of death is unknown.
Pray for her as she would have and has prayed for all of you.
Those are all the details I have.
For those of you that knew her personally, Kevin requests that you please do not call her mother.
I can be reached at rockythmpsn@yahoo.com or my regular email for those that have it.
As the details become available I will have someone post them here.
Just a great woman, very sad day on BBI...
RIP HopeJ
Honestly in shock...
damn she will be missed and not just by bbi
RIP Hope.
RIP Hope J
RIP
Sad day on BBI.
And will always hold her.
Hope, thank you for blessing us with your time here.
Rest in Peace.
Never met her, but she seemed like a superior person.
RIP
She was a sweet woman. May she rest in peace.
A great, great person. May she rest in peace
This is just awful.
Holy shit! RIP Hope
I'm so sorry to hear this, Hope was a great lady and I very much enjoyed spending time with her at camp.
I'll miss her very much, this is unbelievable.
RIP HopeJ. Man, this is terrible.
Someone should the Giants organization know.
Eric....a pic of Hope on the front page tomorrow.
Sorry for her family & those of you on here that knew her personally.
This is just awful, awful news for BBI and the Giants as she was the epitome of the kind of fan any team would love to call their own.
Mercy on her soul and thanks to her family for bringing her into this world and letting us all be graced by her presence.
Hope sent me to the corner more than anyone else here, and I deserved it each and every time.
I only met her a couple of times, but her passing is a shock and she will be missed.
RIP Hope.
Her last memory of her beloved Giants was a 74 yard reception by brandon jacobs to help the Giants to victory.
I'm still in shock about this. One of the sweetest people I've ever met.
I can't believe it...
I don't know how I'm going to explain this to my son Jack, who she doted on and helped to meet Jay Alford at camp. He is going to be crushed.
She's the best BBI has to offer, the conscience of the place.
I am so hurt right now by this that I can't even put it into words.
We know you our resting somewhere happily hope but we will all miss you dearly.
You were an amazing person and we will miss you dearly!
Im so sad right now.
Will pray for her and her family.
Going back to read the whole thread. I am STUNNED. BBI has lost a precious, core member of our family...a Giant among Giants fans.
We're not the only community that will be utterly devastated by the loss of this TRULY GREAT WOMAN!
Trying not to curse because Hope never did...but...Oh no....
=:-(
Sweet, sweet lady.
We were a better world with her here but I guess God needed her more!!
All of my prayers to her family and to all of us here on BBI
She is one of the most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. She is sweet, warm, accepting, funny, caring, the whole 9 yards. Running into her at the Superbowl 42 was an awesome coincidence. I'm walking on line, and I see these two women walking in front of me by several paces, and I said to myself, "That looks like Hope." And it was. We swapped some pics, and she told me that she was there to help scatter some of Dave in MD's ashes, which she did do with Sam Madison's dad helping.
I don't pray, but I'll pray for her. What a terrible loss. It can't be true. I'll miss you very much Hope. RIP
I have a pic of hope that I'm having a hard time posting. Click the link and post away. Thank you.
Hope - ( New Window )
That's a shame. Thoughts and prayers to her family and loved ones.
What a huge loss for the world.
I will pray for her family...
I'm guessing she had that effect on alot of people here.
God Bless, Hope. RIP.
This place is seriously going to miss her. No exaggeration, that woman is the reason this community exists so strongly -- she was indeed the moral compass and sanity of this board. We all have to pitch in so much to approach the dignity and charity and love of football she brought us.
We owe it to ourselves as well as Hope for everything she has done for us in our personal lives to honor her in any way we can.
The New York Giants just got a whole lot more popular in Heaven. Hope was the kind of person that made being a Giants fan and tailgating, going to camp and to games fun and worth it. Always willing to lend a helping hand, no matter how far out of her own way she had to go to do it.
RIP Hope
RIP. Very sad.
RIP HopeJ, you will be missed.
Hope - you surely are flying with the angels. I am overwhelmed by your death. You were a truly beautiful soul in life.
Someone please tell me this isn't real.
Those were the ashes of Bob in Annapolis that Hope and Berry spread at Superbowl 42...another of her epic accomplishments.
I'm saddened by her loss, but take comfort knowing she is in a better place.
Never met Hope, but she seemed like an incredible person. Way too soon for a person like that to be taken away from their life.
RIP, Hope..
Hope, without question, was the nicest person you'd ever want to meet.
I will miss her very much.
Some see BBI as a home away from home and even a big second family. Whether it's through tailgating or training camp, it's an opportunity to make friends and have relationships with special people. In this sense, Hope was the mother of the BBI family.
Either way you have it, you don't get much better then Hope. The gold standard for a person and for a fan.
Rest in Peace.
In any event, Hope seemed to me (and by all other accounts) a warm generous person, who truly helped those she could, and impacted many lives here at BBI positively.
I don't have much to offer to this thread other than my sincerest sympathies to both her close friends and family.
RIP Hope.
my tailgate friend
camp friend
away game travel friend
i see her every other sunday.....
she was the best....nicest...most caring
she did a lot for bbi and for others
RIP Hope..i will miss you
RIP Hope, My thoughts and prayers are with you.
RIP
What a sad story. She was much too young.
RIP, great lady.
RIP Hope. You ARE in a better place. We will miss you, but know that for all of us that you touched, you will be remembered and will always bring a smile to our faces!
Not knowing when they were doing the ceremony, my wife and I wanted to get to our seats early so that we wouldn't miss it, we ended up walking in from the tailgate with Hope and a friend of hers. After we got through the security gate, Hope was giving us tips about where to go to get to our section and not paying attention to where we were walking we nearly crashed into another group of people. That group was LT and several members of stadium security escorting him to where he needed to be for the ceremony.
I shouted out to him "LT you've always been my favorite Giant" (I was wearing his jersey that night) hope jokingly (maybe seriously) screamed "Oh my God, I love you LT" which gave caused him to smirk from ear to ear. After LT walked off Hope said to Jodi and I that she could finally die happy now that she had met him.
So I find myself thinking about that today, that Hope was happy. Not just for having the chance to almost bump into LT, but for knowing that she had such a prominent positive impact on the lives of so many people around her. My wife got along very well with Hope at the tailgate that day, she absolutely adored Hope by the time we had to leave, she told me that Hope was here new BFF and she couldn't wait to see her again the next time we went to a game. She is going to be crushed when I tell her tonight.
never met her, classy woman from what i have seen here, just from that picture posted you can tell what a great woman she is.
I think the BBI family needs to do something to memorialize her, like calling the rnargi/BBI MVP award the "Hope J award" or something.
sorry i am leaving.
God bless, Hope. You will be missed.
At least she got to see Yummy score a touchdown last weekend!
Feel free to add your wonderful memories.
I trust someone has taken the time to notify the Giants organization as well.
Godspeed, HopeJ!
I will light a candle for you and include you in my prayers, I miss you already.
May you Rest in Eternal Peace, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you.
Tim
mostly about music
maybe we could all try and be a little nicer to each other in the future as a tribute to her.
I whill miss you immensely my friend. Thank you for the great memories
God, please bring peace to HopeJ and thank you for blessing us with her spirit, love, and grace. Amen.
SHOCK and DISBELIEF!!!!!!!!
RIP Hope, the BBI Mother Protector
Shocking & Sad... she will be missed - by people she probably never even knew she touched!
Awful, awful news.
Her presence here will be missed deeply. RIP Hope.
Just unbelievable.
RIP Hope.
I will say a prayer for Hope, her friends and her family. If anything good can come from such a tragedy, it is that maybe a little bit of her love, tolerance and good humor will find its way into each of our hearts.
Godsspeed HopeJ. You will be missed.
Go Giants!
A couple wrong turns here and there, (that's what you get for following margi and ED ;-)) and we made it, but it was pouring pretty good.
margi wussed out on the golf, but Hope and Bob's widow (please forgive me for forgetting her name) did not wuss out on finding a good spot to let Bob play through.
She told me to forget the golf and go take a nap and it was the best advice I heard all weekend.
Many talk the spiritual talk, but Hope walked the spiritual walk. We were all better for knowing her in whatever capacity we did.
Cyn, please keep us informed......lets hope the team can win one this w/e for her. God bless her memory.
And thanks again for alerting me to the fact that my shirt was on inside out on the way back from New Orleans. And thanks for having the sense of humor to make me travel 1,000 miles that way before telling me in D.C.!!
Wish I had taken you up on that cup of coffee.
I promise you, Jack will always treasure Jay Alford's gloves, moreso now.
Optimus--I told her that once. In typical Hope fashion, she waved the compliment off modestly.
I will truly miss Hope and plan to raise a glass in her honor tonight.
RIP.
Now let's win Sunday for Hope!
RIP Hope, we'll miss you.
A terrible shame.
It's not even close, she was easily one of the nicest people I've ever come in contact with. And I'm sure most others feel the same.
I just have no words, the best always seem to be taken away so fast.
RIP Hope, BBI won't be the same without you.
You will be sorely missed by your BBI family.
Rest in Pease, Hope.
I can't tell you how much grief she used to give me for forgetting to bring pictures of my kids to camp for her to see. She was genuinely interested.
What a lovely woman
I knew some of her work for her Church, for non for profit public health groups and in Africa.
She was just a rare person. She was rare because she was so consistently thoughful and caring in real life and she delivered so often for so many without making a deal of it.
She walked the walk. In that sense she was a Giant
She always had such kind words for all on BBI...
She will be missed...
I know she'll be watching...
Bad times.
I had the pleasure of meeting her at camp the past 3 years. It's somewhat awkward meeting a bunch of strangers you converse with on a website, but Hope made my wife and myself feel very welcome.
What a great lady; she will be missed by all.
I don't know if I ever met her or not - I met a lot of the BBI old timers many years ago when they'd get together in Crystal City to watch games together, but it was so long ago that I only remember a few specifically - but I certainly felt like I knew her. Sort of like a Giants everyfan, whose experiences related here brought a bit of the team to those of us who can't go to games or to camp or get to meet the team. It was easy to relate and enjoy those stories and feel like you were there, even if you weren't.
My last memory of Hope J was her busting on me because I am getting married during the summer, and i told her that I might miss camp. She told me that i should have no excuse, and what would geemanfan and everyone do without me this year.
She treated us all like family, and I don't think that this world will be the same without her. I will always remember you HopeJ...
RIP Hope J.
We butted heads a LOT on BBI, but when i saw her in person, she was nice as she could be and gave me a huge hug and instantly took my wife around to meet people at a Redskins game. Her ability to be humble and forgiving is something I admired and will never forget.
Aside from talking about the Giants briefly, I thought I'd let her know I've always appreciated her praying over folks on BBI b/c we do a lot of that in the South...and that she seemed like BBI's "angel" to me.
I felt like a cheeseball after I said it, but now I'm glad I got the chance to tell her that.
God Bless you Hope.
what a great person
I thought I was seeing something when I read that up top. never met her, but everyone here loves her. it's a really big loss, my condolence to her family.
RIP
I will miss all of this, but I already have one regret greater than all the rest of this grief.
Eric mentioned that she asked him constantly for pictures of his kids, and she did the same with me re: my daughter Kenzie. Hope was in constant touch when Kenzie was born four years ago, and has tracked Kenzie's growth ever since. Her interest wasn't fleeting, it was completely genuine, and I always knew that Hope had -- if this makes any sense -- become as devoted a fan and follower of my little girl as she had the Giants. She simply wanted to know every detail, and to Hope, my daughter and I were family.
Yet for all of this contact and communication, and all the time Hope and I spent together -- even after Kenzie was born -- we could never find a way to get the two of them together in the same room. We would talk about it, and the contact would fall off for a long while, and we'd talk about it again, but we couldn't match our schedules.
I'll go home tonight black and blue from kicking myself. I always treasured my friendship with Hope, but much more, Hope was someone I NEEDED Kenzie to meet. Hope's radiance and outlook were something I wanted my little girl to bask in, and there are precious few people in this world whose best aspects I have wanted to see rub off on my daughter.
I am truly feeling sick over this. I really blew it.
And, I know few Giants fans that were her equal in dedication. I'm forever impressed by her capacity to meet players, and to get to know their families in a supportive way. A spiritual woman who walked her talk.
Telling my son we had tickets to that game, I named a few of the people we'd probably see (gidie, Larry, BB26 and her boy, 18E and his brother, DC, JonC), and the one person he wanted to be sure would be there ... Hope J. She always looked out for him and made sure at camp that "the kids" were right up front to see or meet a player, or get an autograph.
Maybe most indicative of who Hope Johnson was came when she learned about my friend Charles' fight with leukemia late last year. His chances of a matching bone marrow donor were slim, but Hope put out the word in her church community, and when things (nationally) looked like they wouldn't happen, just before that single donor was located, Hope e-mailed me to say that she would be willing to donate her marrow, and would go through the entire process, if it might help. She left her caring mark on their family, and she didn't even know them.
Just cannot believe she's gone.
A huge loss for this site.
Rest In Peace, Hope...
What a wonderful pleasant woman.I pray for her and will think of her whenever I go to camp.G'd bless
While i never met her, there was no mistaking that she was one of a kind with the sweetest heart a person could ever possibly have.
In the dozen or so years I've known of Hope here at BBI, I never had the pleasure to meet her but her sensitivity and spirituality we're a true inspiration.
My most sincere condolences to HopeJ's family and friends, especially here BBI. May God rest her sould. Amen.
HOPEfully, once her family has been notified, and there has been a chance for things to settle a bit, we can learn more about the group who organized Hope's trip to Africa (for the purpose of bringing medicine and aid to the community there) and make a contribution as a community.
I will contact Cynthia about this.
Hope was a true Christian in both the Big-C and small-c senses of the word. The most generous, big-hearted, forgiving, giving, joyful, caring person I have ever known.
I will treasure her prayers when my mom was ill, when my Dad was ill and passed away, how she arranged with the Giants organization to provide help for my Dad, so he could travel comfortably at Camp...all the things she did that were so unselfish.
We have lost a pillar of our community, a great friend, a great Giant fan, and a great human being.
Godspeed, Hope. I have no doubt whatsoever that you are up in Heaven, talking Giants football with Jesus. =:-)
I was living in Northern VA at the time, and HopeJ reached out to me and asked me to call her. I felt kind of weird about it, as I had never really met anybody from the internet in person before, so I called her with a little bit of hesitation. Let me tell you, it couldn't have been a more pleasurable experience.
We made the trek up to Giants Stadium in a snowstorm on early on a Tuesday morning, it was quite an experience. We stopped and had breakfast together, and had a really great time talking about the Giants and BBI. She treated me as if I was a long time friend. Whatever apprehension was there when I showed up at her apartment that morning was gone five minutes into the car ride.
We hung out several times at training camps and games following that trip, but that will always be the most memorable time with Hope.
Hope, you now have the best seat in the house next to your loved ones lost, Bob, and all of the other Giants fans/friends we've lost over the years. Give us a few bounces this weekend, will ya?
Rest in Peace.
I appeal to those of you with press contacts.
The story, from my point of view, gets better. I drop off my father and Hope directs me to park in the players parking lot, which no other fans had access too. We're walking toward the field chit chatting about this and that (she was always wonderful to chat with), when we came upon this large man pushing a dual baby carriage. At first I don't recognize him, but I could tell Hope did when she moved toward him like a close friend. At that moment, I realized it was Howard Cross, one of my all time favorite Giants. Like a stupid, drooling moron fan, I shouted, "HOWARD CROSS IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU!!!!" He appropriately looked at me like I was an alien. But Hope immediately calmed the situation, gave him a hug and a hello, and when a couple of other near by fans asked for a picture, Hope went out of her way to assure Howard that they appreciated the privacy of his children by keeping them out of the picture frame.
My admiration for Hope grew ten fold at that moment. I thought to myself, "Wow what a thoughtful thing to do. I didn't even think of that." Hope was truly special.
Truly, we will miss her spirit and memory here.
RIP, my prayers for her family.
Tragic news, Hope was one of the most consistently pleasant, passionate fans on BBI. I never met her, but spend enough time around here and you get a decent feel for everyone through their posts and opinions..Hope was always positive, loved the Giants, loved the community and seemed like a genuinely good person. I know she was a committed fan, frequently traveling to road games, going to camp, and seemed to have a decent level of interaction with the players and organization. A class act all the way through. RIP.
Thanks for everything you've done for me hope and just thanks for being exactly what we should all strive to be...
She will be missed - RIP Hope.
Schnitzie, please let us know if you find out something more.
One person stuck out in the crowd - she was smiling ear to ear, surrounded by her friends in Blue, laughing, smiling some more, oohing and aahing at some big hits, one-handed catches, and drills - particularly when the Linemen squared off in some 1 on 1's.
I remember asking myself, "Man, that lady knows her football and is having the time of her life - who is she?"
Now this is before I really started posting on BBI despite being registered since 1999 as B in ATL.
Over the years it became obvious and clear that this woman who I saw in Albany was none other than HopeJ.
Although I never met her - and certainly wish I had - the Giants family has truly lost a great one.
A great human being,she is in a better place now.
Everyone's loss
RIP
Years ago I mailed Hope a "challenge" coin during my deployment to Bosnia--she was so proud of that thing and kept it with her...she would see military guys and break out her challenge coin to see if they had one.
Hope was a joy, a real person, a giver, and had a heart made of pure gold.....she loved a few things, but there is no question that the two things she loved most were the lord and the Giants....I won't attempt to guess as to which was number one, but I think the lord will understand if he came in second on SB Sunday.
She left a mark on us all, and she will never, ever be forgotten.
RIP, Hope. We love you.
a corny story, but we all post random (in hindsight silly) concerns regarding our personal lives. a few years back i posted something about thinking i screwed things up after a first date and i distinctly remember Hope saying the story made her giggle out loud and then basically said dont worry about it and she hoped she'd get an invite to the eventual wedding! 2 years later and that's the single reply - to what turned out to be a 4 page thread - that i remember.
RIP.
I didn't know Hope other than her posts here but it was clear that she helped and friended many here and made this a better place. Peace to her loved ones.
If not, at the least, you left a nice footprint on this Earth.
Can't think of any other poster who I honestly cannot say one bad thing about.
Beyond sad...
We'll think of you always, Hope.
It was obvious she was nice, kind and caring.
If there's any way departed souls can help a team from the "other side" I'm sure she'll come through for Big Blue when needed.
High School Hottie (on the left with the cool specs)
I love you Hope. Rest in Peace.
RIP Hope!
RIP Hope
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Hope's friends and family and all of BBI
We will see you again.
God Bless you and RIP
Hope, give my dad a hug from me.
I will miss her.
RIP. Miss you already.
One of the most caring, nicest ladies I have ever met.
Also sat next to Hope that game in the first row behind the Chiefs bench.
Very sad right now.
Thank you Hope, and RIP.
What a great person. It was just last week that she asked me how my baby was - he's 14 now. Damn, I'm going to miss her personality, spirit and kindness. Just a terrible thing. At least I'm sure she is in a better place.
God rest her soul.
In 2002 or 3 while on a business trip to D.C. The Giants were just about to implode under Fassell. OC Sean Payton was just about to be demoted... I was fortunate to get an offer to ride up with Cyn (2nd CVA) and Hope to the game. A buddy was meeting me with a ticket. Unfortuately, the buddy and I never connected--but Hope did. She came back to the gate in the first quarter--just to see if I made it into the game, and when I told her what happened, she made a quick call and had me a ticket at will-call faster than a speeding bullet. I sat with her, Cyn and Jerry Reese and Dhani Jones' parents. Postgame we went to the visiting players exit and I got to watch Cyn blush getting a picture with former Giant TE Dan Campbell and Hope blush as well getting pictures with Tiki and Darnell Dinkins (Yummy). I even got to chat a bit with Strahan, Barber and Sehorn and all autographed my game jersey...
In the next two years, we lost two kids after the first trimester--one on Christmas Eve, the other on Easter Sunday. Again, it was Hope again to the rescue--supportive emails, prayer threads...all from somebody I had met once in person.
I can't say enough about this women. Her faith in the Lord was rock-solid and was her love of the Giants and for those of us from BBI who had the opportunity to meet or know her. I was so excited just getting orders yesterday to be in the DC area for 20 days and hoped to see her and Cyn and Dave and meet others...now it's even more important. Hope was indeed an amazing women and she WILL be truly missed.
God Bless
May she rest in peace. She will be missed.
Thoughts go out to her family, also
This news hits me like a baseball bat.
A truly Good and Godly woman, an instrument of God's grace, that's Hope Johnson
I heard on some game that Darnell Dinkins caught a pass last weekend and I immediately thought of HopeJ.
RIP Ma'am. Pls say hello to Bob for us and maybe watch the game with Emlen Tunnell and my Grandfathers
God bless her as she blessed all of us.
Make him fix the Giants, Hope.
RIP Hope.
HopeJ, a staple at training camp and often in the postgame tunnel at home games, passed away Thursday. Our deepest sympathies are with Hope's family and her extended family of BBIers. Thoughts and prayers may be expressed here in a thread where BBIers are currently remembering Hope.
In that thread, there's a picture of Hope with Tiki and Ronde Barber. I happened to be standing nearby when she took that picture and I remember hearing her squeal that it was her "dream" to stand between the two brothers. She loved the Giants and, as you'll note from the post by Giants VP of communications Pat Hanlon on the linked thread, the team loved her back.
Link - ( New Window )
A few images to offer, with Miss Hope the past couple camps.
My condolences go out to her family and friends, including the many on this site who did know her outside of here.
Her namesake was just that she gave hope to others and now she is with all her sister's Angels witch she truly seemed to be one.
My prayers to her family and friends.
RIP Hope you will be missed by more people you ever knew.
Was she ill?
I lost my cousin recently which was a very big shock. I'm sure her family will have a hard time with this.
May god bless her soul.
My whole family knew of Hope and we all are greatly saddened by this loss.
We need more people like HopeJ in the world. Thank you for everything you have done for myself, my fellow BBIers and those less fortunate. I will never forget you Hope.
I'd like to echo the sentiments above considering the renaming of the BBI Trophy in her memory.
ugh, ugh ugh...
At least all these kind words and thanks were said about Hope when she was alive as well and no one can deny how instrumental she was in many many peoples lives.
Very sad day, but at least these accounts everyone is saying is heartfelt and they are all true words.
Rest in peace, Hope. Thank you for being the person you were and I hope that we've all gained from knowing you.
She will be missed.
I will honor her memory.
May God give her family comfort
This puts quite a few things in perspective about what is truly important. My family and I will keep her family in our thoughts and prayers.
Seriously...how can this be?
I'm just kind of in shock and disbelief right now. Hope and I had talked about having lunch with my wife sometime soon. I'm just really hurtin right now. I called rnargi bawlin like a damn baby and he invited me over his house so I might take him up on that if I can get out of this other thing I'm supposed to do.
I hope wherever you are Hope, you are at peace...
He met her once, at camp, and she made the same impression on her that she did on everybody.
Godspeed HopeJ.
my condolences to her family and friends.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Hope, but you really didn't have to to know the kind of person she was.
I don't know many people who radiate warmth even in a picture, but everytime I saw a picture of Hope warmth was the thought that came to mind. Somehow you could just tell by pictures of Hope that she was the kind of friend you just couldn't wait to wrap your arms around.
RIP Hope, you made the world a better place.
Rest in peace Hope. BBi lost a very large part of itself today.
I never got a chance to meet Hope, yet the news of her passing away just makes me feel ill. Sadness.
Condolences and prayers to her entire family. May she rest in peace.
<i> Hope Johnson is working like she doesn't need the money; loving like she's never been hurt; and dancing like nobody is watching. join her?</i>
You bet I will, Hope. Every time I'm dancing like a crazy fool and lovin' life, you will be with me. Every time I'm rooting for the Giants, celebrating their ups, cursing their downs, you will be with me, helping to revive my spirits and my faith as you ALWAYS DID for so many people.
Every time I help another person or do charitable work, you will be with me...giving me inspiration, helping me through my memory of you, to be a better person, to lift myself just a little higher.
Every time I plow ahead with confidence to MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN, you will be with me, through your amazing example, SO MANY TIMES, of confidence, faith, and willingness to reach out, to ask for stuff, to believe that you can get results. I learned that from watching YOU. What an amazing person you are, Hope.
I cannot tell you guys how comforting it is to see all these people...hundreds and hundreds coming out and talking about the FRIEND Hope was to each and every one of us. She was unique and AMAZING that way. She had that ability to make you feel like you were her friend, that she cared about you genuinely...and SHE REALLY DID!!!
I think I have maybe 10 friends, who I am able to keep up with on a regular basis. It's just too exhausting to keep friendships going beyond that. But Hope had that God-given gift of making and keeping friends. I don't know how she did it. It was miraculous, and I'm really starting to think that she was truly a genuine Angel on Earth.
Whenever I had a plan to go to the DC area, Hope was one of those friends that I HAD TO include in my plans. It would have been a SIN to go down there and not see her. I've stayed at her place. I've had the pleasure of driving around with her inside Denzel. I went to a March on Washington with her and my mom.
I am so incredibly GLAD that Hope got to meet both my mother and father. My mom will be so shocked and sad to learn that Hope has passed away. Mom and Dad were among the many to be so touched by an angel, just from one opportunity to spend time with Hope. My Dad admired her; he was so incredibly impressed by her and all she was able to do.
I am so comforted and in awe to see so many people coming forward to tell of similar close encounters with our Big Blue Angel. Dear Hope. Mizz Hope Desiree Johnson. You were a powerhouse, a force of nature, a dearie dollie, and oh my goodness, but the world is so much better for having had you working, loving and dancing among us.
I love you and miss you, darling friend. =:-)
White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
BBI's beacon of civility has been extinguished. She will be terribly missed.
My deepest condolences to all of her family and friends.
May she be granted eternal peace.
It's threads like this that make you realize what an awesome place BBI can be when its members aren't at each other's throats and complaining about redundant threads. Incidentally, those are two things I don't recall ever seeing HopeJ do.
I don't know, I realize believe me the fragility of life, but it seems that too many(no need to go into "who" here)young good people are leaving us. I am not talking about my ICU which can certainly be a "veil of tears", but lives that i have been touched by in a non - professional environment.
it certainly makes the general's speech to the giants even more poignant and far wider reaching than just this football game, as important as it is to us and would have been to Hope. Life is over in a blink, there are only so few opportunities to make a positive difference, or at least try as hard as you can to make the world better, nicer, kinder or whatever.
It seems that it was only yesterday that I was putting our picture up on my office door with ron dayne in it and a bunch of us crowding around. picture of course arrange by HopeJ. It was yesterday wasn't it?
T
For as long as I am reading BBI this has to be the biggest loss for this site and all its members. Clearly one of the most respected posters in the history of the site, a woman who was there to pray for and with anyone who needed prayers.
I never met Hope but I always had deep respect for her. We didn't share much on the site or in the world view department but we shared a love for God and a desire to be there for people who needed Him, a giving spirit indeed.
Just SHOCKING. Its like Eric should make the site go dark for a day in her honor.
My God you just never know when the Lord's going to take you.
A devastating loss for BBI and the world based on the stories of her missions trips as well. He has taken his soldier back home.
God bless her family and all her friends and those who feel a deep loss here....I know many of you knew her well and my sincere and deepest sympathies go out to you all.
We've all taken a loss today.
I never expected to be in this postion again, wondering and hoping did/does Hope have even the slightest idea how many people's lives she has touched. Due to the caliber of people on here, I would like to think the answer is YES!
I can't begin to list our mutual friends by name, but as I read your posts of loss or rememberance I feel your pain!
She and her posts will be missed. My sincere condolences and prayers to her family.
HopeJ, a staple at training camp and often in the postgame tunnel at home games, passed away Thursday. Our deepest sympathies are with Hope's family and her extended family of BBIers. Thoughts and prayers may be expressed here in a thread where BBIers are currently remembering Hope.
In that thread, there's a picture of Hope with Tiki and Ronde Barber. I happened to be standing nearby when she took that picture and I remember hearing her squeal that it was her "dream" to stand between the two brothers. She loved the Giants and, as you'll note from the post by Giants VP of communications Pat Hanlon on the linked thread, the team loved her back.
Link - ( New Window )
People here appreciated her while she was still physically with us, something very few of us do to those we love and respect.
RIP HopeJ
...that a heart is not judged by how much
you love, but by how much you are loved by
others.
And judging my this touching thread, Hope had the biggest heart of them all.
RIP...
...that a heart is not judged by how much
you love, but by how much you are loved by
others.
And judging by this touching thread, Hope had the biggest heart of them all.
RIP...
I'll never forget the first time I met her a few years ago at a tailgate. We exchanged grettings and after that she immediately asked to see pictures of my kids that she heard about from Larry.
She will be missed by all. RIP Hope!
I didn't know her, but I feel as if I did. RIP, Hope.
RIP Hope, you will be missed by many. God bless you and your family.
RIP Hope and my strongest wishes to her family and friends, especially those whom I know she was close with on BBI.
She touched countless lives and she leaves a hole in countless lives. She was the soul of this silly little internet community and leaves a canyon behind here on BBI.
I never met a finer person, I suspect I never will.
BBI will never be the same without her.
Forget BBI. She was bigger then this place. The world has lost someone who gave me hope in all of mankind, and I will forever carry her light in my heart. RIP.
Prayers to her family.
After working through the thread now I'm to the point of crying and I'm not a really emotional guy. I've only known Hope through this board for 7 years now but I've had some direct interaction with her as well and there is NO ONE as true to their online persona in real life as Hope. She was one of the most completely honest and genuine person in all ways as you will ever find.
I can say on a personal level that being exposed to Hope's personality here has done a lot to reinforce my own Christian faith, my comfort in expressing that and my discipline in walking on the right path. Hope, for your witness and example I will forever feel for you love, gratitude and indebtedness. Hope is as true a child of God as I could ever hope to be.
Looking at those pictures, recalling the many pictures she's posted here and thinking through all of her experiences as a Giants fan she has been as true of a fan like I could only dream of being. Seriously she could be an icon for the class of fan that this class of sports organization inspires and deserves.
I really need to know what happened - when the time is appropriate. Evidently like a lot of people I'm going to be struggling with this for a while.
I think the most telling comment so far has been:
I feel like BBI has lost it's Moral Compass
That's it exactly. As minor of a detail as it is in the entirely of someone's life, as self-serving and self-centered as it may be, this community has lost something significant. Something perhaps irreplaceable. We'll move on but the loss will never go away. Hope wasn't just a sweet kind Christian woman. Hope was a consistent and persistent example of what is good and right.
Over the years I've been exposed to private comments and opinions of some board members on HopeJ. Not infrequently these could be unflattering in superficial and immature ways. The best testimonial to Hope that I can think of is this: Even among private juvenile and mean-spirited comments I cannot recall ever once reading anyone's words that questioned her absolute genuine qualities of sincerity, being true to ones beliefs, her amazingly positive and uplifting spirit, her generosity of love and understanding, her grace and class and now I'm crying inside and can't even finish the thought but you all get it. No serious haters. Much respect and love for that woman.
It would not be too much to suggest that the Giants honor her in some way as the example of the dedication of fan and quality of person that this organization deserves.
Maybe dedicate a block of seats in her honor and dontate those seats to charity each week. Or name a suite after her and market it towards non-profits and charities.
Anyway I'm getting all foggy brained now, have to quit before I'm completely nonverbal. Still just stunned.
My deepest condolences to her family. Definitely a loss to the entire BBI family
If she is judged by the content of her character, she has touched many of our lives.
We have a phrase that we often use when a person is hurting. We "hold them in the Light." I am holding Hope and her nearest and dearest in the Light as she has done so frequently for others. RIP.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs97K9Fs3RE
Link - ( New Window )
"she seemed like BBI's "angel" to me"
"...all class, and in all my years here, I never saw a bad word from her toward anyone" ....."The BBI family has lost one of its pillars in a woman named Hope Johnson." ..... "Hope Johnson is working like she doesn't need the money; loving like she's never been hurt; and dancing like nobody is watching"
Rest In Peace and Godspeed to heaven you wonderful lady.
Hope was a woman of faith. I wish her faith is vindicated and that she is in a peaceful and good place with the best seat in the house for all future games.
RIP.
She seemed like someone whose personality could very well be contagious... odd to get that impression through a message board, but I got it.
Rest in peace Hope, and I'm really sorry for all those who knew her.
Prayers to all her friends and family, and thank you for all the fun you've brought to this site.
God bless
I passed on the sad news to Linada Bennett (Bob from Annapolis widow) She herself had surgery done this past week. She wishes as I, My wife my son Matt(Handle..The General )and my daughter pass on our condolences to a good friend and a great Giant fan. Bob, Hope Bob Tisch and Wellingtron Mara are up in heaven together to root for our team for eternity.
(((((((((Steve & the General)))))))))
Hope was such a special part of our celebrations in the DC area. She once drove me from her place to Bob & Linda's...I think she dropped me off at your place another year.
That woman was with so many people in so places in such a short period of time, I convinced something supernatural was going on there.
Did you ever notice that one thing about Hope -- that NO ONE could ever say NO to her? Because her requests were always so good, kind and right. And I think she definitely had some divine intervention on her side. The more I think about it, the more it's gotta be true.
How lucky we were to break bread with her...and some pretty darned tasty breads if I do say so myself!
hope beat me to the tailgate this week...usually im there to greet her..this time was the other way around
I remember the last one I went to DC to visit with Hope, Bob in Annapolis and Linda. That was the time I first met you. I think I met Steve in Maryland that weekend too.
I started that weekend meeting Hope at her office in DC. Then we all went to a bar in DC. Then we hooked up with Larry (then in Lauderdale) and went to Bob in Annapolis' house...then on to Steve's for the draft party. Then Hope came and picked me up from Bob and Linda's...and we went to a march that weekend...almost meeting Jon in Durham and his wife.
The one thing I remember that weekend is that I ATE MY FACE OFF, and NO ONE would let me pay for a meal. Not Hope, not Steve, not Bob, not nobody. It was AWESOME.
Hey margi- take care buddy
The number of responses on this thread speaks volumes of how many people she touched.
Ken in So. Maryland
If not, I'm sure there will be plenty of other times to celebrate Hope.
She was ALWAYS the first person to offer a prayer for someone who was ill or had fallen on hard times. She would always ask for the persons name and offer up a prayer as she did for a dear friend of mine and even me when I was hospitalized years ago with heart issues.
I don't think her name was a coincidence because she gave so many people what she was, HOPE!!
RIP, and to the rest of the BBI family this should remind us that despite our differences in the end we are all one big family and we should never forget that because life is really too short.
BBI is a great place but it already feels different on this night. I share the sadness with all of you and I pray that Hope did not suffer took the express to heaven because she was a Saint!!!
matter anyone else on here.. It shows how short life is
and how we wander through our own litle worlds ..
From reading the posts its quite obvious she was a great
caring woman and a perfect example of a loyal fan ...
I do Hope that she rests easy in a better place...
Amen
I count myself one of the lucky that has been touched by HopeJ. I know that she doesn't require our prayers for safe passage, because she did not mearly pass thru this life to be judged by God, she was certainly chosen by Him in a time of need.
Beautiful Lady indeed.
I will think of her always, when I hear this song:
I found that love, provides the key
unlocks, the heart and souls, of you and me
Love will learn to sing your song,
Love is written in the stone
Every man, I meet is walking time
Free to wander past his conscious mind,
Love will come, and take you home
Love is written, in the stone
Do you believe, my friend, in what you claim?
People of the world all doubt the same
bringing questions of their own
truth is written in the stone
In the stone, you'll find the meaning
you're not standing tall (It's in the stone)
In the stone the light is shining,
ever touching all--
Life experience a passing day
Time will witness, what the old folks say
getting stronger every day
Strength is written in the stone
Deep inside your heart for you to keep
lights a spark of light that never sleeps
The greatest love you've ever known
Yea, it's written In the stone
In the stone, you'll find the meaning
you're not standing tall (It's in the stone)
In the stone the light is shining,
ever touching all--
Never, never my darling,
never you'll be alone
Ever, forever my darling
True love is written in the stone
Rest in Peace.
I wish I had met her.
My condolences to all who knew her.
I'll e-mail you.
Any idea on that, Cyn?
One of dreams was fulfilled. She got back to visit Africa.
I have no idea how she kept track of all the favors she was doing for people at the same time. In an instant, she would start talking about 20 different BBI'ers and where they were and what they were doing. So much of her brain power was devoted to thinking about others.
She used to call me Eeyore because of my fatalistic attitude towards the Giants. I used to tease her by bringing up one particular Giant (one of the few) she didn't like. I'll really miss her.
RIP..
Man, if we could only know. We might just linger a bit longer. Maybe give a little better hug.
Just such a cool chick.
Her last paragraph about how we'll have 12 men on the field sunday gives you chills.
It's weird as I don't like to think about this, but the news today makes me feel like there's no way we can lose sunday. It'll be destiny, just like SB42 was for so many who needed that win
My fondest memory is what she did for my daughter at camp one year. After practice on the main field she was inside the fence with the players (as usual) calling me and my daughter over. She just looked at me and said "give her to me, put her over the fence" I knew something cool was happening and passed my daughter to her, the next thing I know my daughter is standing next to Tiki. We were leaving that day but Hope went and had the picture printed in 8X10 the next day, had Tiki sign it and she mailed it to me refusing to take money from me.
I am looking at the picture now and always think of her when I do. It was signed "To Kaitlyn- be your best...Tiki"I know that gesture was nothing to Hope but it had a huge impact of kindness on my daughter and myself. Just a small sample of the type of person she was.
Hope...you were always at your best. RIP
GK/GiantKurt
My condolences to all of you that had the pleasure of meeting Hope and considered her a friend, and more than that to those of you who were really close, both family and friends.
It is a sad day in the history of BBI. I look forward to supporting anything done to memorialize Hope through a trophy or anything else to keep Hope's memory alive in the hearts of the Giants nation.
Something tells me that God won't be looking down on the Cowboys like he used to....there is a new angel in heaven and she just changed the channel to the Giants game.
RIP Hope.
Prayers to her a family and friends through this difficult time. Rest in Peace Hope...a true Giants fan and more importantly a wonferful person.
May you please rest in peace sweet lady!
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, help me stand
I am tired,
I am weak
I am worn!
Thru the storms,
Thru the night,
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand, Precious Lord
Lead me home!
The grave has no victory! Thank You, God for this life and the time he had with those who loved him, AMEN!
---------
Hope, WE thank God for your life and the time we all had with you. We are all better for having known you and we will all miss you terribly. May you rest in eternal peace and comfort in the arms of our Lord whom you loved and served so well.
My computer froze up as soon as I submit my post and my laptop NEVER freezes....odd
memories keep coming back, her making sure my kids had a front row spot for the Plax trophy, her making sure they held the SB Ring, Her introducing me to Bob in Annapolis...what a great woman.
I admit, I'm a few pages behind on this thread and well, let's just say it's been a rather trying day.
schnitz, Hope's mom will be travelling to Maryland tomorrow to meet with the funeral parlor that has been contacted and with the woman that found Hope this morning.
Here's what I know:
Hope had a scheduled day off from work on Tuesday, when she didn't show up on Wednesday people became concerned. A friend of Hope's was contacted this morning and since Hope had recently moved, had some trouble finding her new place, when she did find the new apartment, she found Hope lying on the floor next to her bed. We don't know the cause of death but early speculation from this end is that she had a massive heart attack or a stroke and tried to get to a phone or at least out of bed.
Funeral arrangements have not been made yet, we have not contacted or organized any charities to give to as of yet, it's early people. the shock won't wear off for a while. I've tried to keep myself at a distance to be helpful to my wife who is understandably distraught but hanging in like a trouper, but having to had time to reflect the past few hours I can't help to think of how unfair it all seems.
Make no mistake about it, Hope J was truly a genuine person that naturally cared for humankind, that is rare and I honestly can't say I know anyone else quite like her.
I would also like to add that I know she's reading this thread in the waiting room to Heaven because i don't care how much of a humanitarian you are, you ain't gettin into heaven on the express ticket if you beat up a nun in rade school. Nun's got some serious pull.
We'll miss you Hope. You were part of our family. My kids will never appreciate how much you loved them but i promise to do my best to explain it to them.
Godspeed sweetie...
Life and death are so hard to figure sometimes.
thanks for all the updates and please let us know about the funeral as soon as you find out.
I honestly do not know what else to say.
Condolences to her family; at home, and here on BBI.
Money in the bank...
Go Hope!
From her posts, she always seemed to put others before herself. Wishing she rests in peace.
have you admitted to anybody that you were actually at my house Thanksgiving weekend or shouldn't I mention that...
time was spent today making sure Dhani's mom got the news...
rockythmpson@yahoo.com
yer killin me!
Hope lives ...
and for all the other BBi'ers who were close to Hope
If I know anything about Hope, it's this. Be careful not to worship her memory, but instead respect, honor, remember, and pass on her life's witness. It's her gift to all of us, and to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pass it on! That's what she'd want.
Hope held more closely to God's greatest commandment, than anyone we're ever likely to know. How do we know this? She left us countless examples, piles of evidence, to know that it was true. She had a servants heart motivated by love.
Tell me this doesn't describe the essence of Hope.
1 Corinthians 13
Love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Still can't wrap my head around this.
RIP Hope.
In times of great pain even national disasters Hope J was there with a prayer. She was without a doubt the soul of this place and her work was to unit Giants fans. Teach them there is more to life than a little boys game. Teach she did. We are all blessed to have chatted and met with her.
I once read Life is school for angels, Love is the teacher. Well if true Hope J graduated with honors. They say in life when one door closes another opens. Rest in peace special lady, God bless you, the work you did will never be forgotten. The lord has called you home. You are home. We will miss you but we are richer for knowing you in the brief time you were here.
God Bless.
Warm.
Sharing.
She will be missed! Rest in Heaven hope!
I met her when I went to KC to see the Giants play the Chiefs. It was a wonderful meeting. She was genuine, funny, sincere and I only talked to her for maybe ten minutes max.
I can't believe how upset I am now that not only is she gone from OUR community, but how she affected all she came in contact with. A real special person who's only vice (and I am quoting her) was to see the Giants in person as much as she could. Incredible.
For those who knew her a gazillion times better than I, I truly feel your pain and anguish today. For those who are her real and loved family who read this, my HEARTFELT Sympathy to you all. She is now with GOD and I am sure she is converting him to be a Giants fan as I write. He has no choice now.......
I pray for her family and friends at this time. GOD bless you Hope, you will be sorely missed.
I regret it now, as this is the last thing you'd expect. I hope that she is able rest peacefully for all eternity.
R.I.P Hope
You'll be missed.
To me, Hope is as much of a symbol to the NYG as anybody. I know many of the players are affected by this as well. This past summer at camp Jacobs and his family were walking back to the locker room after practice. All the kids were screaming for autographs and Jacobs gave the ole "Now now, I got the family here," but in a joking manner. But he stopped for Hope, and only for Hope. Took a family portrait shot and afterwards looked over to Dean and I and asked "Do you guys need him?" and on her command, he would've walked back over to us and taken a picture with us. I'll miss her how she referred to Jacobs as "her baby." haha. If you ever met her at camp, you would see that the players adore her as well. It was unbelievable.
Hope knew everybody and everybody knew Hope. Brandon is going to rush for 200 on Sunday, much like Tiki did against the Skins a few years back. Like always, Hope will have the best seat in the house - next to Mr. Mara and Mr. Tisch
RIP
and btw, that was the first and only time I've ever seen her ask for an autograph. Hope is the only person I know who would've walked up to Plax midst jager-bomb and ask for an autograph. And thinking about it now, that autograph was definitely for some little kid.
My love and undying thanks for raising the bar for all of us.
I only met her once, but she was a very kind and special person.
Rest In Peace Hope
Don't repay a kindness, pass it on.
Dave/Rob, keep me in the loop for the Hope-together..
Still in utter shock..
I will contact CCSP today and then we'll put out a message on BBI early next week.
I never met her, the only time I ever saw her was at Training Camp in 2007 when Tim Hasselbeck hit her with a ball he threw into the dirt. She was a great poster here.
RIP.
It was not a week ago that she posted something about praying that a criminal who had died was a troubled soul who may now find peace, I was very moved by her post
Not enough people like that in this world, thank God she was able to touch so many people in her time
On a side note, thanks for posting rockyt and good to see you here again
The shear size of this thread is a tribute to the ways she touched the lives of all of us who come here daily for news about the Giants and about the world in general.
The Best Western in Albany and training camp in general will never be the same without Hope.
Any tribute thought up here or elsewhere will pail in comparison to what she meant as a person to so many stangers.
I am truely saddened by this and shall feel this loss for sometime. :`-(
Starting a "KEEP HOPE ALIVE" foundation for underprivileged kids would put a big smile on her face.
Good bye Hope. You were a GREAT Giants fan, and I know you will be sorely missed by many.
Remember it is not how much you love but how much you are loved by others. Gathering from the reaction, Hope was very much loved by all of us on BBI.
We'll see how much we can do based on how much is donated. We may also do flowers and a plaque for camp.
My greatest wish is for a woman of such great faith, that her life after this one is everything she dreamed it would be. And my sincerest condolences to her family and friends, especially those on BBI. I mourn for your loss.
I've been a part of this site for a very long time, and Hope was easily the nicest person here. Easily. As Bill wrote, she really did walk the walk.
Heartbreaking loss, you will be missed Hope.
When a dear aunt of mine died last year, I was given the honor of eulogizing her and this quote fit her to a tee. From what I've read here, I think it might have fit Hope as well. I am among the hundreds on BBI who never met Hope but her posts were a must read for me. I could tell, like many of you had mentioned, that she was a person that exuded love in her every encounter. I wish I could have met her in person. When I read of her death yesterday, I immediately was taken back to the feelings I had after my aunt died. Will I ever know another person like her again? How much worse will the world be without her around? If we could all just try to be like Hope, it would make the world a much better place. None of us will succeed, but in trying we might touch enough lives to make a difference.
RIP Hope. I will try to spread the Love like you did.
All of your comments are wonderful. The world and this board has lost one of its lights. Hope embodied the joy, love, and spirit of a very special person, and shared it with all she touched. God be with you, friend, and may you rest in his eternal care. My prayers are offered for you and your family.
To that end, my neighbor drove me to morning mass today. I had requested the mass for my special intention
of the rememberance of my mothers birthday. I was able to add Hope's name to the intention this a.m. before mass.
God bless you, Hope.
My heart goes out to her, you should never have to bury your child.
I don't know if it's been mentioned on this thread or not.
I knew she was an amazing woman... but all of the things I didn't know about her that I read in this thread only underscores that a million times.
One thing's for sure she was a blessing to all that knew her.. and those who didn't but knew of her..
While to all that knew and loved her her death is tragic... when you think of who she was and what she meant to so meany people...what she did.. She was like an angel on earth... When people like that vanish in the blink of an eye it makes you wonder...
And with Hope now in heaven... I'd bet the house on Blue this weekend.
She often would have to come to Nashville for conferences, and I always looked forward to grabbing the family, jumping in the car and driving to meet her when e-mailed me she was here.
I remember a couple of years ago when she called me and thought it would be fun to go to the hotel where the Titans were staying the night before a game and try and see Kerry Collins to tell him how much we Giant fans appreciated his time with our team. Well myself, Hope, my wife and our two little children spent hours there with no luck in seeing Kerry. But only Hope could make hanging out in a lobby so much fun.
I was blessed to have known her and call her a friend. She will be missed.
one thing I can speculate on with confidence that as far as the Giants doing anything for Hope at this weeks game will have to be done with the family's consent, at this point it doesn't look like there will be enough time for that.
GMAN, try the rockythmpsn@yahoo.com address again without the O's in thmpsn. It's been working for others all morning. Cyn is having a rough time of it today, she has not yet updated her outdated profile email. She can be reached at
secondcnc@ec.rr.com
Never knew her personally, but she seemed like such a great person and to be able to say that about someone without ever actually meeting them says a lot.
My condolences to her friends and family.
When time permitted while on line and seeing she posted I always tried to read her comments.
Just by meeting her once you knew you were in the company of someone very special.
Honestly I am very sad to hear of her passing but knowing she is in glory and at peace is of some comfort, but this sadness will linger for quite some time.
May she have a peaceful rest and hope her close friends and family bask in the ever lasting legacy of her kind and loving spirit as it will remain with them until they can meet again in heaven.
The Giants defeating the Eagles this sunday would not shock me as much now.
Hope won by a landslide. All other nominees got maybe 1-3 nominations. There just wasn't any contest.
The nicest thing about it, looking back, is that Hope knew, in her lifetime, exactly how much she was loved and appreciated on BBI.
couldn't even get my wife to vote for me, i think the only vote I got was from Barilko
hey schnitz, email Cynthia a some point today, she may have a suggestion on the money you're collecting...
My condolences to her family and friends.
A parent offers advice that most often comes from experience and since my world travels extend only as far as a cruise to Mexico, I needed help.
Of course, the wonderful Hope stepped in and wrote a comprehensive "what you need to know" guide for Sami.
My heart is crushed with the news of her passing.
She was a truly beautiful human being and the world is a much colder place now that she is gone.
I called my daughter and when she learned of Hope's passing she broke down. When she was in Ghana she went to several places that Hope suggested and, of course, told them that Hope sent her - she was welcomed with broad smiles and open arms.
Life is so fragile, so unpredictable. So very sad. G-d bless you, Hope.
You will forever be thought of and missed, even by those of us who never had the pleasure to meet you. Rest in eternal peace.
If possible…Love to Tish…can you go on Sunday?
Hope De. Johnson
Administrative Staff
Davis & Harman LLP
The Willard
1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20004
Main: 202-347-2230 www.davis-harman.com
Fax: 202-393-3310 hdjohnson@davis-harman.com
NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY: The information contained in this message from Davis & Harman LLP and any attachments is confidential and intended only for the named recipient(s). If you have received this message in error, you are prohibited from copying, distributing or using the information. Please contact the sender immediately by telephone or return e-mail and delete the original message. We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your prompt attention.
But something tells me her kind soul is at peace and in true eternal joy.
Thank you for being you.
Throughout reading this entire thread you can tell what an amazing person she was. It is truly inspiring to see someone who obviously loved to see people happy, and would do many generous acts at a moments notice. If we could all aim to be half as compassionate, caring, joyous, and giving as she was through your testaments, this world would be a much better place.
RIP Hope, although I never had the opportunity to meet you or talk to you on the message boards, your legacy has made an impact on me. Thank you for that.
That didn't happen tonight.
The news of Hope's passing has shaken me, knocked the wind out of my sails, saddened me beyond a point that those who didn't know her can relate to or understand.
My wife and kids know that Dad is upset, and they also know that this is the kind of sorrow that can't be washed away with a kind word or a hug.
I hear them downstairs, laughing, enjoying the evening, enjoying being with one another, and know that its going to take awhile to get over this one.
This time, its not like how Daddy gets when the Giants blow a close game, this time a good night's sleep isn't going to make the sadness disappear.
Its a foolish endeavor when one attempts to understand the ways of G-d - why good people die young, why innocent people suffer - so I'm not going to even try to make sense of all of this.
Its just so damned sad.
I know that you guys know exactly how I feel, and in that, I find some comfort.
This place is so much more than what it seems to be - its just a shame that it takes something like this to make it so damned clear.
I met Hope several years ago, in a somewhat unlikely setting...a sports bar in Nashville, Tennessee. I hadn't lived in Nashville very long, and was at the bar to watch the Giants-Raiders game. I didn't know anyone there, and I was sitting alone at a table with a big-screen in front of me, drinking a beer.
Waiting for the game to start, I was checking the place out, when I saw someone appear out of a crowd at the bar. And there she was...Hope...decked out in her Giants gear. I mean, she was covered head-to-toe with Giants stuff. I was flabbergasted. I mean, that was the last thing I was expecting to see in Nashville, Tennessee. Once I regained my wits, I introduced myself, and she sat with me and watched the game. We both ordered big plates of BBQ and had a blast.
Hope was the person who hooked me up with BBI. I didn't know about it, and she told me it was THE place to hang for Giants fans. I lurked for a good while and finally came onboard...I think in 2004.
It was great meeting Hope. I have related this story to many people over the years. It will always be a wonderful memory for me.
Such a sudden thing. It's just shocking. Mercy...I don't know what else to say.
Go easy, Hope. You've got the best seats in the house to watch your team play.
RIP Hope
But please know that Hope more than anyone would want you to cherish the lights of Chanukkah...to take a moment to drink in the joy of being with your family, that all are healthy, that you are inside, sheltered and warm, and that your bellies are full.
Tomorrow we will be making potato latkes here with friends...with sour cream, apple sauce, cherry pie filling...the works.
We will celebrate life and happy times with family and friends. And you know in your heart who did this every minute of her life. Our Hope.
That woman milked every drop of joy from every nanosecond of her life.
Like the saying she put on her FaceBook page: Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody is watching.
And when you do these things, our Angel Hope will be with you. She had that gift of being able to make you laugh even in the middle of crying.
When you're sad, she'll be just over your shoulder comforting you. When you're happy ... she will be in the echo of your laughter. I know it.
(((((((((Jeff)))))))))))
i don't know if i've ever encountered anyone who got as much joy out each day, was as happy to be alive, as Hope.
the thought that its all be taken away from her, that its all gone - that's what makes me feel this way.
after 9-11 i interviewed an orthodox jew who had been on one of the top floors of the second tower.
his story of finding his way down the stairs and safely into the street moments before his tower toppled was amazing and made for great radio.
I asked him what went thru his mind after the building fell. he said he immediately went to a synagogue to say the Birchat Hagomel, which is a prayer thanking G-d for deliverance - apparently it was first said after a rough desert crossing.
point being, my follow-up question was something like "how does a religious man such as yourself come to terms with a G-d who might allow what just happened to occur?"
as i mentioned in an earlier post, his response was, "who are we to understand the ways of G-d?"
I wish my faith was as strong as Hope's - I understand how people find comfort in the lord. its also times such as this when I feel a bit confused.
ultimately, i know i'll think of all the ways G-d has blessed me, has shown me the way to find beauty in the world - such as people like you, schnitz.
tomorrow when we light the candles, i'll make sure to feel hope's presence in the room, and i'll tell her that schnitzie says hi.
She was so polite here on BBI. For those of you who were friends with Hope, I am sorry for your loss.
As for your question to the Orthodox Jew -- (why do we save our heaviest questions for the members of the most rigid sect of our religion?) -- he gave you the answer G-d gave to Job, when Job stood in the middle of the dark desert night, his family dead, his wealth stripped from him, even his health deserting him, and raging, Job shook his fist at G-d and demanded, "How could you do this to me????"
And G-d said, "Who the fuck are you????"
G-d didn't do 9-11 to us. Hateful men did 9-11. G-d created everything and put it all in motion and enlisted us to move the furniture around and fix the glitches. He gave us the material, and a human-sized portion of G-dlike willfulness so we could babysit everything until G-d could come back and make it all perfect...in G-d's time.
G-d didn't take Hope from us. What took her from us was the failure of the only thing about Hope I can think of that wasn't exceptional -- her finite, mortal body. It just got real sick, real fast and quit. Just like that.
God didn't take Hope from us. God gave Hope TO us. And doesn't that make us the lucky ones? How lucky were we to know someone so incredibly joyful, so loving, so approachable and outgoing and full of soul? So funny and friendly and cheerful...so generous and such an inspiration.
How many of us remember a single day, otherwise ordinary, that was made special, fun and extraordinary because we got to share it with Hope, because of the way she made you feel so special, so unique, so loved?
A soul so rich and bright as that cannot be contained in a fragile, ephemeral human body...but neither can it be extinguished once liberated from its mortal shell. I have felt Hope's soul all day today, and I am seeing it in all the BBIers who are sharing in this tragic loss.
I miss her. I know she had so much more to give. But I am changed and so much better for having known her. I know so many people here are...even those who never met Hope in person.
Not everyone gets to know a real live Earth Angel in their lifetime. We are the lucky ones, my friend. =:-)
Great stories, folks. I've "enjoyed" catching up on this thread this morning.
Godspeed Hope.
Hope was a once in a lifetime miracle. I understand this now.
the sun is shining, we're off to services where we can thank G-d for loving us and putting Hope into our hearts.
Every year each of our three girls lights candles in their own menorah, which we leave in the center of our kitchen table until the flames are gone.
We have an electric menorah that my grandmother gave us when we first got married.
Its been years since its been out of the box in which we keep it in the attic.
When the sun goes down this evening, one more menorah will be lit in our home.
We'll place it in the window where it will shine for the next seven nights of Hanukkah.
and for as long as my wife and I live, that will be our menorah, and of course, Hope's menorah.
But there I was, coaching our travel hoops team's second game of the day, and we were down 20 in the 4th to the league's elite team. (Thankfully, we won our days first contest.) There's a tuimeout with about 6 minutes left, no chance to win this one. Just to play hard for pride. And there I was in a huddle of 12 young boys, thinking, "What would Hope say right about now?"
I laughed, and gave them a pretty positive pep talk.
People like Hope Johnson, I don't think they set out to make an impact. They just do, by being who they are. They just have "it."
I know we all keep coming back to all these threads, reading and re-reading. I feel very fortunate to have met Hope. And even though I only saw her, on average these past 6 years or so, maybe 1-2 times a year, I'm really gonna miss her.
To slay with pen or sword
I grow weary of the battle
And the storm I walk toward
When all around is madness
And there's no safe port in view
I long to turn my path homeward
To stop a while with you
When life becomes as barren
And as cold as winter skies
There's a beacon in the darkness
In a distant pair of eyes
In vain to search for honor
In vain to search for truth
But these things can still be given
Your love has shown me proof
If we can all just be a little bit better, maybe we can make up for the good the world has lost.
I suppose on some level it's because I regret the missed opportunities to spend more time with her, but I guess mainly it's just really hard to come to grips with someone that special, that caring, that full of life dying so young. It just seems so wrong on so many levels.
If she were here she'd tell me to hush up and order another beer, so I'm going to try to just think positive thoughts about all this, but it's not coming easy.
It does serve to remind us that life is short. You never know when your life, or the life of someone you love will end. So if you keep that in mind in your daily dealings, you'll be better off. I think that is Hope's gift to us.
RIP Hope, you were an icon here at BBi.
i never met hopej but i loved her posts and her spirit. her love for life was infectious. she will be missed.