Jon Giswold Death – Dead | Obituary – Passed Away
Jon Giswold Death – Dead: A great loss was made known to InsideEko. As friends and families of the deceased are mourning the passing of their loved and cherished Jon Giswold.
Having heard about this great loss, the family of this individual is passing through pains, mourning the unexpected passing of their beloved.
This departure was confirmed through social media posts made by Twitter users who pour out tributes, and condolences to the family of the deceased.
My heart hurts. I just received the sad news that my dear friend Jon Giswold passed away. His death was sudden, so it came as a total shock. I knew he was recovering from major surgery and facing a second surgery, but still, I was blindsided. I can’t imagine my life without him. Jon was that special someone who leaves a hole in the fabric of one’s life in passing. I will miss him more than words can express. His death will be marked, not just by the celebration-of-life memorial to come, but the daily reminders that he is gone. The hole he left in the fabric of my life when he died will be there until the day I die.
I have known Jon for over 25 years. We first met when he became my personal trainer. He quickly became a good friend and remained my trainer until the end. He saw me through some hard times in my life, and I was there for him during the hard times in his life. He held me when I cried on his shoulder after my divorce and was that rare friend who wasn’t afraid to have that tough conversation in telling me it was time to move on when it was past time. He was my best “customer” for the baked goods I was always bringing him. Like my husband, he had a sweet tooth and would reward my efforts with expressions of ecstasy after biting into one of my offerings or a text that read “MMMMMMM…” The last time I saw him was a few weeks ago when I brought him cookies after his surgery. Before I got home from visiting him, there was a message on my text stream with a photo of a cookie with a bite out of it and a smiley-face emoji.
Jon and I also shared the bond of our mutual love of Big Wood Lake in Grantsburg, WI, where he grew up. He introduced me to the lake when he offered his home there as a writing retreat some years back. We visited together on that occasion, and I returned on many occasions after that, both alone and with my husband, to stay at Jon’s lake house, which I rented for part of every year. Many of his friends in Grantsburg became good friends of mine. I developed ties in the community. Every day of every stay I would text photos to Jon of whatever view I was looking at out the window onto the lake at any given time. And Jon would do the same for me whenever he was staying at the cabin. He was my lake buddy as well as my New York buddy. He not only touched my life, he is woven into the fabric of it.
He touched so many lives and his spirit reached across the globe through his friendships and good works. He formed a knitting community in his second home of Asbury Park, @Knit in The Pit, that brought together people from all walks of life and different cultures in a celebration, not just of the fiber arts, but of the ways in which the strands of its members’ lives are knitted together. During the pandemic when its members couldn’t meet in person, he hosted @Knit in the Pit Zoom events. A typical Knit in the Pit Zoom event had close to 100 participants. The people whose lives he touched throughout his lifetime numbers in the thousands and encompasses all Four Corners of the globe. Many of them will mourn his passing warmed by one of his knitted throws or holding a baby wrapped in one of the baby blankets he made. Every time I wrap one of the beautiful scarves he made me around my neck on cold winter days, Jon’s spirit as well as its wool will warm me. I love you forever and always, dear friend. You will be great missed. Jon Giswold
Hello friends!
Day 103 of my life post-confinement here in Paris. (55+103).
This is not the post that I had expected to write today. Late afternoon I learned that my friend Jon Giswold had passed away yesterday unexpectedly. This came as a complete and utter shock, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.
I’ve been friends with Jon for so many years that I can’t even remember when we first met. It was the fitness industry that brought us together, but our friendship was much more than just an industry colleague friendship.
Although we didn’t see each other often in person, we stayed in touch over the years through correspondence, an occasional phone call, and in recent years on FB and Instagram – often sharing stories, photos, headlines, jokes, videos, and articles.
Jon was one of those exceptional people that come into your life. He was funny as hell, full of energy, loving, caring, generous, smart, creative, inspiring, and had such a positive outlook on life despite several challenges that he had had over the years.
I don’t know anyone who knew Jon who didn’t love him. He touched so many people in so many different ways – and he left an indelible impression on each and every person.
When I heard this shocking news today, I had so many different thoughts and my mind wandered to so many memories over the years. But there were two moments that stood out – the first one was so many years ago, and I can’t even remember where and when it took place (somewhere in the USA… maybe in NYC where he lived). Anyway, it was a story that we later entitled ‘wire hangar and the toilet’….. you don’t need to know the details of the story, but what I can tell you is that we laughed uncontrollably for so long when he recounted the story the first time. And any time after that when we would see each other, and even sometimes in our correspondence, just the mention of it would send us both into a fit of laughter. I can hear him now…. he had a distinctive voice and laugh… and I will miss hearing that voice and laugh.
The second moment that stood out was when this photo was taken…. almost 8 years ago here in Paris.
John was only here for a few days for a wedding, but we were able to get together for dinner. I was still reeling from a very difficult break-up and it was the first time that we had seen each other in person since that had happened. He had such amazing words of comfort, love, and wisdom. He helped me in so many ways, and luckily I was able to communicate that to him many times.
A few days after he was here, he sent me several messages. I posted two of them here… They speak so clearly to who he was.
Jon continued to be there for me whenever I needed it.
I’m forever grateful for that and for our friendship.Jon, I am going to miss you so much. Even though we didn’t see each other often, you were ever-present in my life. I’m going to miss getting your FB and IG videos and photos and links to all kinds of things. I’m going to miss the positive vibes that you embodied. You, your words, and your kindness will never be forgotten.
I love you, my friend. ❤️
Rest in Peace sweet man, Rest in Peace.
This evening I’m at at loss for words as I learned of the passing of my friend Jon Giswold. I initially met Jon at the Santander in Asbury Park where he purchased a condo and instantly our ‘client’ relationship changed to friends. Jon was truly one of a kind and I’m in shock that he’s no longer with us. Jon was the founder of Knit in the Pit that was held at the Asbury Hotel and was always giving back to the community. Jon supported the #hatnothate campaign, saw the good in everyone and did his best to make everyone happy. I will always remember and now miss his random text messages where he would simply check in and offer some kind words. Jon loved the sunsets from his condo in the Santander, the sunrises from his place in NY and then the view of the lake from his home in Wisconsin. YOU will be deeply missed my friend. I will take a page from “your playbook” and carry that with me forever. Rest peacefully my friend. xo. dk
Now I know why I was feeling so much darkness last night. One of the brightest lights in my life had gone out.
I found out early this morning that my sweet soul mate of over 40 years, Jon Giswold, died suddenly yesterday afternoon of an apparent heart attack after hip surgery and a bone infection. Jon was part of me and my family. This is devastating news.
Thank you, everyone, who has reached out today.
My arms are around his sister, Roxie, and his family, long time friends in the world of fitness, Molly and Petra, his buddies, Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch, Albert Narcisse and so many other fans of his magical touch like Mark Sendroff, Kate McAleer, Rob Dauber, Donna Pescow, Madeline Stone, Keith Henry and so many more. Condolences to his wonderful “Knit In The Pit” team he pioneered in Asbury Park. Please keep his work alive.My husband Larry and I and all five of our children may never fill the void that Jon has left in our lives, but, with this enormous grief, our our hearts are also full of gratitude for the raucous joy, deep spirituality and true friendship he brought into our lives. Fly safe, Jon. Kiss Kieth, Marc, Judy, Gary and the gang for me.
I will think of you every single day.
What a shock to learn this morning of the sudden passing yesterday of my friend, Jon Giswold. Jon was a unique, sweet soul. You never met a more positive person and I don’t think I ever heard him utter a negative word about anyone. He exuded love in everything he did. He was also one of the most generous people I have ever known, as well as the kindest. It was Jon who connected me recently to Sandy Kenyon of Eyewitness News. He was so moved by the mask video and he was so excited when Sandy ran the segment about it. I think he was even more excited about it than I was—and I was pretty thrilled, of course. We had just spoken a couple of days ago and Jon said how much he would love to get together again after the pandemic. I said to him, “why wait?” “Let’s be safe and meet outside for a social distancing get-together and walk to the park and hang out.” He loved the idea and we decided to do it next week. Alas, that is not to be. Jon touched many lives and is one of the most beloved people I know by everyone who knew him. An authentic example of a true mensch who treated everyone with kindness and with a heart filled with love. He will be greatly missed
Shocked to hear that Jon Giswold left us to go on his next adventure. Petra Kolber Introduced us and I was privileged enough to share this fitness icon and man with a heart of gold on my podcast. Sweet, generous, funny, sincere, talented – and I barely knew the guy, but that’s who I got to know in a very short time. Fly high and proud Jon. You’ve left a hole in the planet and our hearts.
We are still working on getting more details about the death, as a family statement on the death is yet to be released.