We all know that life is short, precious, and that we should live every moment as though it is our last. But as we get caught up in our daily routines—dealing with the various pressures of work, dropping the kids off at school, losing hours in front of the television or worrying about losing those last few pounds—we can sometimes lose focus on what is truly important. Unfortunately, it often takes something that hits close to home to remind us to appreciate life and all that we have.
It is with a heavy heart that OWC learned of the passing of John Iasiuolo. John launched the Computer Outlook Talk Show and was the founder of the Outlook Foundation, an organization that provides repurposed computers to under-resourced children, siblings who were separated in foster care, and deploying military personnel.
After suffering kidney failure, John was forced to leave his career. Some might have looked at this as a devastating diagnosis, but John looked at it as an opportunity. In an interview with KTNV Action News Las Vegas, John said, “I am somebody that went in to kidney failure and started a project like this because of it. I thank God every day because of the kidney failure. Because it led me to do this. It’s the greatest experience I’ve ever had.“
Because of the Outlook Foundation, countless children have been given opportunities that they otherwise would not have had through access to a computer. A deployed soldier was even able to see the birth of his daughter via Skype using of one of the computers provided to him through the Outlook Foundation. John’s legacy will live on through his family, friends, and the countless individuals he helped through his community outreach.
We extend our deepest sympathies to John’s wife Christine, with whom he co-founded the Outlook Foundation. Christine will continue the Foundation in John’s memory. If you are interested in learning more about the Outlook Foundation or in making a donation to them, visit their website, www.outlookfoundation.org.
We can all learn something from the sentiments echoed by both John and one of our favorites at OWC, Steve Jobs, who in his 2005 Commencement Speech at Stanford University said:
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
John was a friend of OWC, and we are just some of many people that will miss him. Goodbye, John. We bet your “outlook” on the world is a pretty spectacular one right about now.
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