Jon Naff

September 9, 1945 - October 29, 2002

This is truly one of those rare times that I can say the United States Marine Corps screwed up. Jon Naff was a Corporal by rank, but he was clearly a Sergeant by deed. Let me explain. Sergeants have always been the backbone of any army. While the Officers are the hood ornaments and the “invisible” troops are the tires, the Sergeants are the “oil” that keeps the machine moving. They are the ones that convert the plan into action and then follow it through to successful completion without anyone hardly even noticing. But remove the oil and you lose the purr of the engine. Such was Jon Naff, always doing his thing in the background, quietly, discreetly, almost like a shadow, but you know he’s around.

The Veterans Service Foundation of Washington was formed in 1991, but it took 9 years to finally convince Jon to accept a role as a Director in the Foundation. In 94, the Homeless Meal Program started and Jon was there at the very first meal and was still there for the last meal we served. Jon was always loading his car to haul supplies, setting up & filling the serving tables, and then serving our clients their hot meal.

In 97, Minda talked Jon into being “the whole kitchen crew”. So every time the meal was served on a Sunday night, Jon drove his car all the way down to the south end of Seattle, put on his apron, and commenced his “KP” duty for the entire afternoon. He would then help load the prepared food and we would haul it down to the shelter. Not many people realized that Jon had already spent 4 to 6 hours in the kitchen before they showed up to work the serving line. In the eight & a half years of the Homeless Meal Program, Jon only missed one meal. He didn’t want to, had planned to be there, but since he had just brought his mother (Leona) home that morning from the hospital, Sgt Major Minda ordered him to REMAIN at his assigned post. We know he’ll never miss another, as he is part of the program, beyond Life Membership.

In the year 2000, we finally got Jon to accept that elusive Directors’ position within the Foundation. He accepted the challenging role as Chairman of the Album Committee which is known as the Vintage Vinyl Project. Just this fall, he started moving the Committee towards putting the George Buyken collection on the Internet auction block. After holding two earlier meetings, the committee was scheduled to hold their decision making meeting in two more weeks.

In 2001, as the Chairman of the Board for the Snohomish County United Veterans Network (SCUVN), Jon moved the program under the Foundations umbrella, thus putting him into his second Directorship role.

And it didn’t stop there. Jon was a grunt volunteer within the Foundation, helping to clean donated computers before they were issued to schools, churches, disadvantaged and handicapped persons, new immigrants, charitable organizations and veterans groups who need computers to further their work.

Jon was a deeply committed volunteer in still another successful project in which the Foundation was responsible for its financial integrity: the “Vietnam Wall Experience 2001” held at Sunset Hill Memorial Park in Bellevue. In short, Jon was a “constant fixture” –helping in whatever capacity he was needed. A tireless oxen.

Jon always put his money where his mouth WASN’T. With a combined 18 years holding various Treasurer positions, I can attest to numerous “anonymous” donations made by Jon to a whole host of worthy causes. He would bring in his rolled pocket change or pull out a couple of bills and designate it to a specific cause, always with the clear understanding that if anyone found out who it was from, he’d deny it, and NEVER donate directly again. Jon always said “It’s nobody’s business but mine.”

Spoken like a “true” sergeant.

And so - - - - this is my tribute to Jon Naff, A Marines Marine, The Best of the Best.