Good afternoon,
It was sad to learn this week about the passing of Paul “Leigh” Johnstone at 79.
The Vietnam veteran and commercial real estate professional provided an entertaining education in a vital sector of the economy.
Leigh had his finger on the pulse of the office market, a necessity in a business marked by boom and bust cycles that come in a corporate-driven economy.
He was a man of many interests that ranged from birds to the education of those in juvenile facilities. And you can’t forget a passion for golf that was matched by his mastery of the game that humbles so many.
You can’t look back at Leigh’s life without mentioning his battle with alcoholism, a willingness to discuss his struggles and the many people he helped along the way in his 40-year association with AA.
Here is a link to a beautifully written obituary that recounts a life well lived and his final golf score.
It closed with a favorite saying: – “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass … it’s about learning to dance in the rain!”
UD’s Covid restrictions
Covid-19 restrictions that were quickly put in place at the University of Delaware (newsletter readers can check the story below) are a stark reminder of the virus’s love of social settings.
Students returned to campus for the spring semester under Covid-19 restrictions that were not enough to prevent things that happen on or off campus.
There may have been a degree of complacency, given UD’s good performance during a fall semester with more restrictions.
The restrictions represent at least a temporary setback for Newark’s. Retail-hospitality economy, which badly needs non-student business.
A sizable minority of potential patrons will shy away from Covid “hotspots” even when infection rates are far lower than we saw during the holiday period.
UD would be well served to require weekly tests for all students as a way to monitor the virus and as a reminder of the need to take measures to limit spread.
I hope you had a chance to enjoy the nice weather in the past couple of days. Check out the story links below and stay safe. – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
