Spring Break
Deceased UGA employee leaves 'legacy of laughter'
DANIEL BURNETT
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: News
University employee John Shores - known in the workplace for his scholarship, caring outlook and plentiful candy dish - was found dead in a disheveled InTown Suites hotel room Saturday.
"As you might imagine, it's a sad day for us," said Bill Crowe, director of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. "John was a good employee, and a good guy and someone we're going to miss."
Crowe's sentiment resonated with some of those who knew him. Don Reagin, public relations coordinator for Campus Life, worked with Shores for 13 years.
"For those of us who worked together for that many years, you become a family," Reagin said. "This is like losing a family member."
Reagin said Shores was the "class clown" of the office. Whether he was teaching an administrative assistant how to do karate kicks in the hallway or jokingly editing colleague's press releases for an incorrect use of the word "overwhelming," Reagin said Shores was a coworker who just "made you feel good."
Reagin also recalled Shores' memory - one that could summon seemingly-obscure dates of meetings a decade before.
"He was the kind of person who paid attention to everything," Reagin said. "He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Georgia Center and the University."
Ashley Meijerink, account manager for the Center for Continuing Education, worked with Shores for the past five years. She said he was trusting, funny and showed a genuine interest in the lives of his coworkers - although he kept his own life fairly private. But when it came to his editing job as the editorial and production manager in the Center for Continuing Education, he was serious.
"He is, honest to god, probably the best editor I've ever worked with," she said, flipping through a stack of papers that were heavily edited by Shores' signature red pen and yellow highlighter. "You liked him the minute you met him."
Besides his thorough editing, Shores was known for his sweet tooth - marshmallow Peeps, Blenheim Ginger Ale and a big bowl of chocolate candy.
"As you might imagine, it's a sad day for us," said Bill Crowe, director of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. "John was a good employee, and a good guy and someone we're going to miss."
Crowe's sentiment resonated with some of those who knew him. Don Reagin, public relations coordinator for Campus Life, worked with Shores for 13 years.
"For those of us who worked together for that many years, you become a family," Reagin said. "This is like losing a family member."
Reagin said Shores was the "class clown" of the office. Whether he was teaching an administrative assistant how to do karate kicks in the hallway or jokingly editing colleague's press releases for an incorrect use of the word "overwhelming," Reagin said Shores was a coworker who just "made you feel good."
Reagin also recalled Shores' memory - one that could summon seemingly-obscure dates of meetings a decade before.
"He was the kind of person who paid attention to everything," Reagin said. "He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Georgia Center and the University."
Ashley Meijerink, account manager for the Center for Continuing Education, worked with Shores for the past five years. She said he was trusting, funny and showed a genuine interest in the lives of his coworkers - although he kept his own life fairly private. But when it came to his editing job as the editorial and production manager in the Center for Continuing Education, he was serious.
"He is, honest to god, probably the best editor I've ever worked with," she said, flipping through a stack of papers that were heavily edited by Shores' signature red pen and yellow highlighter. "You liked him the minute you met him."
Besides his thorough editing, Shores was known for his sweet tooth - marshmallow Peeps, Blenheim Ginger Ale and a big bowl of chocolate candy.
