Ilmo was such a good person. I’m so sad and can’t believe he’s gone. I, like many, thought I would see him during another visit. I had been a few times to see him, Hayzell, and Cal.

Besides being incredibly clever and dedicated in his own work, Ilmo was always thinking of others (ie., a parting gift for a labmate), making jokes, “Picnic in the park is still possible, as long as everyone brings scuba gear :)”, and cheering people on in the background. He was great to meet for coffee and advice. I think one time we concluded a holiday would help.

It was also fun to chat about scales and studies, “Serendipity is a great benefit if you prepare for it.” And we often traded insider tips and laughs.

The photos are from a visit to Cambridge by his old Oxford lab. Ilmo’s love for his family always shone through.

What I remember about Ilmo is related to Maya Angelou’s words, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Ilmo made everyone feel like they belonged.

Janice