November 8,2005

Dear Friends,

 
As many of you know, John began his battle with brain cancer in August 2004.  I am sorry to say that on Sunday, November 6, 2005 that battle ended.

My dad was strong and determined in the eyes of a disease that kills over 80% of its victims in less than a year.  He was so proud when he made it to his one year anniversary, but this disease was just too brutal and incurable, even for someone as young and strong as he was.

As I said to everyone here at State Capital, many of you knew my father longer then I did.  Anyone who knew him for any length of time certainly recognized that he was genuine in his caring and support of his friends and associates.  In business and in life he never bent the rules or looked for short cuts, but rather worked hard and always strove to do what was right. As a professional he was truly admirable in his judgment and ethics.

The tragedy of having a true family business is that a loss like this really hurts in so many ways.  With John's passing I have lost my dad, my business partner, and my best friend.  Although his treatments and their effects have kept him from the office for most of the last year, it is very hard to imagine State Capital without my dad being here.  He and I had big plans for the business and I am determined to make our shared vision a reality.  It will be sad not to be able to share our plans for the future together, but I am confident in the ability of everyone here at State Capital to continue on.

My family and I truly want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers both during his treatments and now during this difficult time.  If you are so inclined, in lieu of flowers we ask that all memorials be made in the form of a donation to the New York Brain Tumor Project of Weill Cornell Medical College c/o Dr. Susan Pannullo, Director of Neuro-Oncology New York Presbyterian Hospital  - Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th St., Box 99 New York, NY  10021.  Your donation will be used to support research so that we may someday find a cure for brain tumors.