John Semmel

Semmel, John who died of esophageal cancer on Dec. 28 at a Philadelphia hospital at age 65, was constantly inventing. He wrote witty short stories and, later, original songs for the guitar. In his jewelry, natural images skewed fantastic; his computer code spanned languages from the dawn of the industry to today. His personality was a study in opposites: An extreme romantic and a biting skeptic, he sought connection and true love, and he insisted on solitude. John attended Central High, 232nd Class, and the University of Pennsylvania. For many years an avid cyclist, he took to running in his 50s. The day before he died he described as "the last 30 minutes of the Boston Marathon," which he completed in 2014, the year after the bombing. His spouse, Eileen; children, Rose and Tristan; and brother, Martin, remember him with love.