Remarkable World Commentary Episode #68: Remembering John Panarese

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In this heartfelt episode of Remarkable World Commentary, Donna J. Jodhan pauses to honor the memory of her dear friend, mentor, and “Coach,” John Panarese, reflecting on the fact that a year has passed since his death. She recalls how, in mid-2024, they began shaping a coaching initiative focused on helping others learn their iDevices, with John creating a strong template and a vision for bringing instructors and students together, even as he quietly battled cancer and insisted, he would beat it.

Donna then shares the heartbreak of John’s message withdrawing from the project after being told he had little time left, and how he made her promise to carry the work forward. She updates listeners on continuing the initiative in his name through the Vision Tech Academy, working with Craig Cohen (John’s former Apple associate) and Ben Levy, and thanking Aaron Di Blasi and Leo Bissonette for their support. The episode closes with Donna’s gratitude for John’s warmth and generosity, and a vow from the bottom of her heart that the project will never die, as she says goodbye “until we meet again.”

TRANSCRIPT

Podcast Commentator: Greetings.

Podcast Commentator: Donna J Jodhan, LLB, ACSP and MBA, invites you to listen to her biweekly podcast, Remarkable World Commentary. Here, Donna shares some of her innermost thoughts, insights, perspectives, and more with her listeners. Donna focuses on topics that directly affect the future of kids, especially kids with disabilities. Donna is a blind advocate, author, site loss coach, dinner mystery producer, writer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator. She has decades of lived experiences, knowledge, skills, and expertise in access technology and information. As someone who has been internationally recognized for her work and roles. She just wants to make things better than possible.

Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello, everybody. And I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your host for the December 2025 Remarkable World commentary, where I have the opportunity to really sit here and tell you what’s on my mind. And for this episode of Remarkable World Commentary, I’d like to take a few minutes to remember my dear friend, my mentor, my associate, my coach. I used to call him Coach John Panarese. I can’t believe that it is a year ago since our John passed on and he went so quickly and he went in style. But this is what I would say. I remember so well last year when John and I had gotten together to start a project which we would designate as transitioning to a new world where we would be engaged in coaching others as to how to use their I devices. And John developed a marvelous template for me to follow. I think it was in June or July. John came up with this idea. June of 20, 24, or maybe July. It wasn’t necessarily just transitioning to a new world. It was all about bringing instructors and students together, and we came up with ideas as to how to do it. John was so full of life, but I knew then that John was seriously ill, battling cancer. John never complained, but he kept telling me that he would beat it. And you know what? I believed it, I believed that John would beat it. But a few months later, when he wrote to me saying, Donna, I have to withdraw from our project because the doctor has not given me much time to live. It struck me like an arrow to my heart.

Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: I couldn’t believe it. Reading this, I tried to call and I tried to talk with him, but John was too far gone by then. John was on his way to heaven. John was leaving us, and I knew then that I had to pick up the mantle that John had. You know, I’m not sure what word to use, but John had specified for me, and he made me promise him that I would continue with this project. And although that it is a bit slow. We’re getting there. I have contacted Craig Cohen, John’s former associate with Apple, and Craig has also brought in Ben Levy and we will continue this project in John’s name. The Vision Tech Academy, and I want to thank my friend Aaron Di Blasi for having helped to develop this wonderful, wonderful website and my other associate, Leo Bissonette, for agreeing to work with us on it. John was a giant and so much more. A year has gone by and what have I done to honor your memory? As I said, I have set up the Vision Tech Academy in your name. I’m working now with Craig Cohen and Ben Levy to honor your wishes, but you will always be missed. My dear John, my coach, my mentor. Your unique voice, filled with warm and warmth and overflowing with generosity. Thank you, John, for all you’ve done for me. And I promise you from the bottom of my heart, I will make sure that this project never dies. Take care, John, and save a place for me at your table. Until we meet again.

Podcast Commentator: Donna wants to hear from you and invites you to write to her at DonnaJodhan@gmail.com. Until next time.

Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA
Global Leader In Disability Rights, Digital Accessibility, And Inclusive Policy Reform
Turning policy into progress for people with disabilities.