I am currently reading through a computer science reference/textbook called Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software for personal enrichment.
The book was authored by four people: Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, and John Vlissides.
A recent/preference of mine is to read books from cover to cover, including the cover, table of contents, dedication page, foreword, introduction, preface, etc. On the dedication page, he writes (to his wife and son), "To Dru Ann and Matthew, Joshua 24:15b -- J.V."
Joshua 24:15 (NASB) says:
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
That short inscription made me curious, and I wanted to learn more about this man, a famous computer scientist who made a reference to the Bible. I was surprised with what I found.
First, I was disappointed to find out that he had passed away in 2005; however, I was greatly encouraged by the other things that I found written of him on his wiki page (http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?JohnVlissides, excerpts below). John Vlissides is a man's man.
Later that year, I noticed his inscription in the GOF book, referring to Joshua 24:15. I wrote him and asked him if he was a Christian and whether he would tell me a little about his faith. He wrote back and said something to the effect of "Yes, I am a Christian. The fundamentalist, politically incorrect kind that believes the Bible is the inerrant word of God and that we are all sinners that are going to burn in hell unless we put our faith completely in Jesus Christ who is the only way to heaven. You know, the kind that the media thinks is the most dangerous kind." At that point, he didn't know anything about my faith, but he didn't hold anything back.
Over the years, our friendship grew and I found John to be a faithful brother, a great encourager, a brilliant-yet-humble man, a steadfast and optimistic man in the midst of trials of the kind that push many lesser men over the edge. I received a special blessing when my path crossed that of JohnVlissides.
-- KenAuer
Here is a link to Joshua 24:15 which was mentioned above http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2024:15&version=31
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January 11, 2006
Dear Matthew, Mark, and Robert,
You certainly are blessed to have such a wonderful account of the recollections your dad�s colleagues and friends have of him.
As young as you are, you have your own set of memories of your dad as a father and as a husband. It is our prayer that these remembrances not be just a collection of memories but a guide and a role model as you grow and become men yourselves.
First of all, we remember your dad as a man of God. In spite of his success in his career, he had other priorities. His first priority was his relationship with Jesus Christ. In one of our visits to the hospital, he expressed his desire to serve Him even in his illness. His family, your mom, his sons and his daughter were next in his list of importance. He loved your mom. He was so proud of you, Matthew, and your successes. He spent countless hours with you, Mark, while you were in the hospital; it became his office. You and he were �buddies�. Robert, you were his special �little boy�. He missed Helen.
As young as your dad was at the time, he became an �elder� at the church and only stepped down to become the chairperson for Christian Education. Certainly, he undertook that responsibility because he was just as interested in your spiritual education as he was in your secular education.
Our best memory of your dad was when we visited him in his last days. He was always cheerful, positive and interested in us, his visitors. He was sensitive and happy for good news and affected by sad news. In spite of his suffering he always said, �God is good all the time.� As we read Isaiah 43:1-5 together, he shared with us that these words were very special to him:
�Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
The flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy one of Israel, your Savior;
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
Do not be afraid for I am with you.�
Then we knew the source of your dad�s faith and courage in the midst of his losses and grave illness. Yes, your dad was a very brave man.
Matthew, Mark and Robert, your dad is no longer with you but he leaves a giant role model for you to follow.
We miss him too, but we will not forget him. You will always remind us of him.
We love you,
Ruth and Stan Schuster
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John Vlissides was a software celebrity that was not afraid to interact with the common man. I first contacted John in 2001 and he gracious enough to reply almost immediately. Even though I never met John physically, our interactions over the internet were always most rewarding. His writings on Patterns have helped me like no other author.
One of the things that I want to remember John for is his faith in Jesus and his clear stand in this. You were an inspiration to me and an example of a true Christian who was not afraid to testify to his faith.
John, I am deeply saddened at your departure, especially for your wife and children.
"We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him." Rom 8:28 (CEV)
Until we meet again, John.
-- HeinzKabutz
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And lastly, but not leastly, the last entry on that wiki by his wife, Dru Ann Vlissides:
I just want to thank all of you so much for your thoughtful and kind memories of John and how he's touched your lives. It's amazing to have a more intimate view of his professional life, a view that his family and friends outside of work did not know much about. While I thank all of you for sharing your testimonies and funny memories, I thought you might like a snapshot of the personal side of John Vlissides, the family man. Here I can, for my kids' sake in later years, point to how much his family meant to him.
Matty, our first! Born December 1993
John was thrilled. Having a brother 13 years younger, he was already experienced at playing with and changing babies. I had to learn from him!
Helen b.March 1996 d.June 1997
Helen was diagnosed in November 1996 with Hepatoblastoma while John was in Austria on business. He took the next flight home he could find. He was working on his book Pattern Hatching from the basement of his parents home in Virginia by day and supervising the overnight medical care for Helen in the hospital overnight.
Mark b.June 1998
John never struggled with Mark being born with Down Syndrome. He just trusted that God knew what He was doing by giving us this special assignment. Of course, Mark was also born with funky blood counts that were supposed to normalize out by the 2nd year. Instead, 5% of the time his condition develops into AML Leukemia. We discovered we had to go forward with the leukemia treatment the day I found out I was pregnant with #4 - Robert. Because of Chemo, John insisted on doing all the hospital time during the chemo treatment. When all traces of chemo were likely gone, he allowed me to come to the hospital by day to relieve him so he could go to the office and work alongside his colleagues, attend meetings and the like.
Robert b. September 2000
This picture taken at Robert's first christmas. Daddy loved spending time with him. The experienced dad!
http://c2.com/vlis/JV5 John with Mark
Mark and John had a special relationship due to the amount of hospital time they did together. They had their own language practically. If daddy was in the room, only John could feed him. And, from the time he was an infant, they had a routine of sleeping on the sofa together. I think it was a ploy not to have to clean up the dinner dishes. But hey, he did always put Markie to bed. They had their routines.
John with Matt and Ubb (Mark)
John's favorite pastime was relaxing with the family after church on Sunday. Or, sometimes wrestling with the boys in the family room, or taking in a cooking show.
John and Dru Ann at Children's Cancer Fund Fundraiser Dinner April 2005
It's amazing to note that John lived fully and normally up until April 2005. He was feeling pretty good although he tired more easily due to the chemo treatments. But, here we are out together! A month later, he began having seizures and losing abilities to write and walk.
Always the family man. Always content in whatever his situation. He made the most of it.
Phillipians 4:5-7 says this: Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John trusted those words, He lived those words. He knew God's character and he had peace in the midst of his circumstances. He IS in a better place.
Finally friends, I hope whatever you saw or learned from John that was good, admirable, pure, lovely, excellent or praiseworthy, I hope you will appropriate that from him and make it your own. That he might continue to change this world for the better.
Affectionately,
Dru Ann Vlissides
More info about John Vlissides:
Another famous computer scientist that I am fond of is Donald Knuth, author of the well-known TAOCP series (The Art of Computer Programming), who is also a Christian and the author of the lesser-known 3:16 - Bible Texts Illuminated (http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~uno/316.html).
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