IN LOVING MEMORY
John Joseph Maisto
John Joseph Maisto J u l y 10, 196 5 - Ma rc h 8 , 2 0 2 1
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O n Marc h 8, th e n e ws that John had pas s ed s hook our f irm. Jo hn h ad ju st p asse d th e t en-year mark at BKV, joining our firm i n 20 11 a n d be c om in g a Partn e r in 2017. He played a major role in t he DC p ra c ti c e s i t e’s fou n din g an d e volut ion, s pecifically leading t he way for ma ny o f o u r m arke t-rate , se n ior, and af fordable project s . Widely known fo r hi s s k i l ls an d k n owle dge as a communit y-focus ed des igner, John deli vered ma ny of ou r DC are a p roject s over a more t han 27-year career. A me m be r of th e Am e rican Ins t it ut e of Archit ect s (AIA) and t he U.S. G ree n Bu il din g C ou n c il ( USGBC), in addit ion t o being cert ified by the Na tion al C ou n c il of Archit ect ural Regis t rat ion Boards ( N CARB), Jo hn wa s a n exc e p tion al ly warm and well-regarded leader wit h an incredib l e a b i l i ty t o m e n tor staff wh ic h he cons is t ent ly t ook under his wing. A b ove all, Joh n was ou r friend, and his infect ious s mile and abili ty to l i s te n an d re sp on d from t he heart is what we will always rememb er h i m for – in addition to his exemplary level of leaders hip and de si g n a c h ie ve m e n ts. O u r c olle c tive BK V fam i ly mourns for John’s family, we deeply m i ss o u r ve ry de ar c ol le agu e .
In Memoriam. “John had j ust pa sse d h is t e n ye a r ma r k a n d wa s a foun din g membe r o f t h e BKV G ro u p DC o f f ic e . A g re a t d eal of our succ e ss h a s b e e n a s a re su l t o f h is t a l e n t e d sk ills and his ca r in g n a t u re . John ……I wi ll mi ss yo u a n d w il l se e yo u in e ve r y p roj e c t you help ed creat e . ” Resp ectfully rem e mb e re d , -J a c k O w e n B o a r ma n
“ It i s s o d i ffi c u l t t o p roc e s s , a n e ve n t l i ke t h is , w h e re we lo s e a de ar fr i e n d , c ol l e a g u e , p a r t n e r a n d p e e r. I a m s o s ad fo r h is family. I a m s o s a d for ou r wor k fa m i l y. A l t hou g h Jo h n h ad b e e n h e re fo r 1 0 ye a r s , i t s e e m e d l i ke we we re j u s t be ginning o ur jo urne y. I h ad t h e p r i v i l e g e t o fl y t o D C a n d m e e t John t o int e rvie w and h ave l u n c h wi t h John be fore we d e c i d e d t o hi re h im. We dis c us s e d w h at a u n i q u e , r i c h a n d re wa rd i n g p l a c e i t wa s t o b e a BK V ’e r, b ut we q u i c k l y m ove d t o t a l k i n g a bou t ou r fa m i l ie s , kids and o t h e r int e re s t s . It wa s a n e a s y d e c i s i on . John a n d I a re e s s e nt ially t h e s ame age , we ha ve k i d s t h a t a l s o a re t he s a m e a g e , and we s h are d in o ur live s ou t s i d e of wor k s u c h a s ou r l ove of ba s eb all, t rave l, and o f c o urs e ou r p a s s i on for A rc hi t e c t u re . I a c t u a l l y didn’t s pe ak t o Jo h n ne arly a s m u c h a s I wou l d h a ve l i ke d , bu t whe n we did, it was like t alking t o a brot h e r, a n d we wou l d i m m e d i a t e l y c a tc h up o n t h e s e t o pic s , ne ve r m i s s i n g a be a t . John , you wi l l be d e a r l y m is s e d. T h ank yo u fo r yo ur c a m a ra d e r i e a n d k i n d n e s s , a n d s ha r i n g yo ur t ale nt s w it h all o f us .” - M ik e K rych
“ John hired me at BKV a n d ove r t h e l a st 6 ye a r s I ha ve g ot t e n t o k n ow t h e s l i c e of Joh n t ha t wa s p os s i bl e t o k n ow at wo rk. Alt h o ugh t h is las t year I have only rare l y in t e ra ct e d w it h h im b e ca u s e of t h e p a n d e m i c , he a l wa ys e m bod i e d t he be s t s p i r i t of working in t h e BK V o ffic e . He is a l eader, colleague, me n t o r, a n d f r ie n d . An d I a m n ot a l on e i n t h i s s e n t i m e n t . H i s c ha r m a n d g i v i n g n a t u re m a d e h im a daily fo rc e o f s o c ial co hesi on and op timism in t h e o f f ic e . I wo r ke d o n m u l t i p l e p roj e c t s wi t h John , a n d c a m e t o k n ow h i m t h rou g h t ho s e pro je c t s and during t rave l b etween si te and offic e . Regardless of the p ro je c t t h o u gh , I go t t o k n ow h im be s t a s p a r t of t he “ n i g h t c re w” (p e op l e s t i l l i n t h e offi c e 7 PM and lat e r). Jo h n appe ars to have been a foun d in g me mb e r a n d it wa s d u r in g t h os e e ve n i n g s t ha t John bot h l oos e n e d u p a n d wor ke d h a rd e r t h an anyo ne . In b e t we e n r unni n g for p i zza fo r e ve r yo n e , re min isc in g h is fa vor i t e d r u m m e r s (you ha ve t o a s k Bra d), re l i v i n g s c e n e s from h is favo rit e 1 98 0s s h ow s , and searchi n g for his n ex t p o d c a st , Jo h n wo r ke d . He s e e m e d t o t hr i ve l a t e n i g h t , c h e c k i n g off a l l t h e t a s k s t h a t h e c o uld no t ge t t o during t h e day. He loved to solve p ro b l e ms a n d t o o k o n e a c h c h a l l e n g e l i ke a p u zzl e t h a t n e e d e d s e r i ou s t hou g h t a n d a t t e n t io n. Alt h o ugh it was o ft e n dif f icult, John di d se e m t o re ve l in a me ss. W h e t h e r of hi s own c re a t i on or s om e on e e l s e ’s , John ha d a k n a c k for ge t t ing de e p in t h e dirt o f t h e problem, muck in g aro u n d in it , o n l y t o e me r ge o n c e h e h a d a s ol u t i on t h a t wa s t o hi s l i k i n g . John’s t a l e n t a n d c re at ivit y, o ft e n fo und ge ms , b u t he was just as co mfo r t a b l e w it h c o a l . Co a l , t h a t wou l d e ve n t u a l l y c r ys t a l l i ze , u n d e r l a t e r p re s s u re , t o a d i a m o nd, and a s o lut io n e as ily reco g n izable to anyo n e l o o k in g. T his was p art of Joh n’s gif t . He co u l d se e t h e gl imm e r i n t h e d i r t . He c on fi d e n t l y k n e w i t wa s t h e re . Wor k i n g wi t h Jo h n is o ft e n as c h alle nging as it is i n sp irational . I o f t e n fo u n d my se l f f r u st ra t e d wi t h Joh n’s wi l l fu l i g n ora n c e a t d e fi c i e n c i e s . T h e m a n wore a s uit o f po s it ivit y and car r ied a shield of op t imism. Fo r a l l t h e c h in k s in t ha t a r m or, he fl a t ou t re fu s e d t o a d m i t t o s e e i n g t he m . To h i s c re dit , t h is s e lf fas h io ne d ar m or made hi m i nva l u a b l e a s a c o l l e a gu e a n d a n exa m p l e t o e m u l a t e . I a m c e r t a i n t ha t I c a n s p e a k for m a ny wh e n I s ay t h at Jo h n was no t o nl y a colleague, bu t a f r ie n d t h a t I w ish e d t o k n ow be t t e r. We mourn for hi s los s, a n d w il l miss h im d e a r l y.” - Dana N ielsen
“ I re c a l l fon d l y wor k i n g wi t h Joh n i n t h e e arly ye ars o f t h e D C offi c e a s i t wa s g e t t i n g u p a n d r u n n i ng… wo rking t h ro ugh offi c e fu r n i t u re bu i l d s , IT a n d t he rol l -out o f Re vit and s t aff t ra i n i n g wi t h hi m . He wa s a g re a t l e a d e r & me nt o r in many wa ys . I m ou r n for h i m p e r s on a l l y, bu t my h e art is als o h e avy for a l l of you i n D C k n owi n g wha t a s p e c ial c o lle ague yo u h a ve a l l l os t . I a m g ra t e fu l t o ha ve h a d t h e o ppo rt unit ie s t o wi t n e s s fi r s t ha n d t h e g re a t p e r s on wi t h a gre at at t it ude h e wa s t h a t m a d e i t a p l e a s u re t o wor k wi t h Jo h n.” - Jeremiah Smith To the Maisto Fami ly an d t h o se w h o k n e w a n d c a re d fo r Joh n : “ I ’m no t sure it’s my p la ce t o re a c h o u t t o yo u a l l , b u t I fe l t a s t ron g c on n e c t i on t o you r s on , you r fa t he r, you r brot he r, yo ur frie nd. I am s im ply n ot p rep ared t o l e t t h a t go . I o n l y k n e w Jo hn for a c ou p l e of ye a r s bu t i n t ha t t i m e , I fe l t l i ke we s ha re d a gre at frie nds h ip; al m os t immediately, an d I d a re sa y re a l l y p ro fo u n d . A s i t t u r n s ou t I d o n ot t h i n k I a m a l on e . Joh n wa s t h a t k i n d of guy. Q uic k t o make deep heartfelt frien dshi p s. A h e a r t b ig e n o u gh a n d o p e n e n ou g h t o l e t s o ve r y m a ny i n a n d i n d e e p . A n d i n t ha t t i m e , I and my life par tner Kay develop ed a swe e t sp o t fo r Jo h n S r. a n d Ma r i a a s we l l a s Joh n’s c u r re n t l i fe p a r t n e r Ka t e . A n d s o, Ka y and I want t o re ac h ou t and share our deep e st co n ce r n s, ca r in g a n d h o p e s for he a l i n g . S u ch a b low; to the whol e b o d y a n d so u l . I k n ow yo u un d e r s t a n d whe n I s a y t ha t I c a n’ t fi n d t h e word s t o ex p re s s t h e s o rrow. And s o per haps I won’t even try. I ca n o f fe r yo u n o so l a c e , n o word s of wi s d om , m ore wi s e q u ot e s t o g e t you t h rou g h or make it all righ t . It s im pl y is n ot all ri ght. My gu e ss is it h a s so me t h in g t o d o wi t h t ha t whi c h i s i n s i d e ou r s e l ve s , bu t I d on’ t re a l l y k n ow w h at t h at is o r how it s up p osed to work. No go o d ex p l a n a t io n w il l e ve r c om e of t hi s . B u t w hat I do kn ow is wh a t a t re me n d o u s a mo u n t o f sup p or t t h e re a l wa ys wa s a n d t h a t t h e re c on t i n u e s t o be for Jo h nny ; no t jus t f ro m the office but from o t h e r a rch it e c t s, d e sign e r s, e n g i n e e r s we k n ow h e re i n D C , from t h e U n i ve r s i t y of Ma r yl a nd Arc h it e c t ure com m u nity, from the bi k in g c o mmu n it y, f ro m t h e mu sic a l c om m u n i t y, from hi s n e i g hbor s on t he bl oc k . S o m a ny p e ople are re ac h ing o ut to m e w ith so many g ood st o r ie s a n d p o sit ive t h o u gh t s for Joh n t ha t I j u s t wa n t e d you a l l t o k n ow t h a t l ove for Joh n is o ut t h e re . And in that l ove, there must be h e a l in g. At l e a st I h o p e t h e re i s . P l eas e know that in our me mo r ie s o f Jo h n , Jo h n co n t in u e s t o l i ve on . A n d g i ve n how m a ny p e op l e I ’ ve t a l ke d wi t h wh o c are d fo r h im, real l y de ep ly cared for him, b e ca u se h e ca re d so t h o u g ht fu l l y for t h e m , h e wi l l l i ve on s t ron g i n a l l of u s . I f n ot t he b o dy we know and l oved, then at least in his so u l a n d h is sp ir it .” Peace, l ove and frien dsh ip t o t h e fa mil y a n d f r ie n d s, - P a u l A n dr e sino and K ay M ena
To the Mai sto Fa mil y“ Words can no t ex p re ss t h e sa d n e ss t h a t t h e s u d d e n l os s of John has brou gh t t o BKV. Jo h n wa s n o t o n l y we l l l i ke d , he was well love d . W h e n I t h in k a b o u t Jo h n , I t h i n k a bou t a guy who was mo re ge n u in e t h a n a nyo n e . He wa s s o ap p roachable, f r ie n d l y, h a d a gre a t a t t it u d e an d p e op l e were drawn to h im. I o f t e n ma r ve l e d a t h ow h e h a n d l e d t h e stress of deadl in e s, p ro je c t a n d cl ie n t d e ma n d s a l wa ys wi t h a boun ce i n his st e p a n d t h e a b il it y t o a l wa y s foc u s on t h e p ositive i n any sit u a t io n . He wa s a gre a t st o r yt e l l e r a n d I alway s loved h e a r in g h im t a l k a b o u t h is t ra ve l s , hi s fa m i l y, and his p assi on fo r mu sic a n d b ike r id in g. Jo hn d i d n ot hol d any on e at arm’s l e n gt h , h e l e t e ve r yo n e in , a n d i t i s wha t I ap p reciated most a b o u t h im. A s I re me mb e r John , I c a n s t i l l hear his voice a n d h is l a u gh a n d t h a t ma ke s m e s m i l e . I wi ll forever reme mb e r h im a s so me o n e t h a t l i ve d l i fe t o t h e fullest, truly a l ife we l l l ive d . Re st in Pe a ce my fr i e n d .”
Joh n’s s c re e n s a ve r - Joy D i v i s i on a lb u m cove r
- K e lly N a y lo r
To the Mai sto famil y, “ John was an i n cred ib l e co l l e a gu e , f r ie n d , a n d me nt or t h a t wi l l be g re a t l y m i s s e d . I h a d t he p l e a s u re of wor k i ng w it h h im fo r t h e pas t seven and a hal f ye a r s. We wo r ke d so we l l a s a t e a m , I c ou l d oft e n p re d i c t wha t h e wa s g oi n g t o s a y i n m a ny s it uat io ns . I enjoyed bei n g able t o t a l k t o h im a b o u t a ny t h in g. He be l i e ve d i n m e a n d I c ou l d c ou n t on h i m i n d i ffi c u l t s c e n a rio s . In my e ye s , John’s g reat gi ft wa s h is a b il it y t o imme d ia t e l y c o nn e c t wi t h p e op l e . A t my fi r s t l u n c h wi t h John we we re g e t t i ng t o know e ac h o t h e r and our work historie s a n d h e t o l d me “ I’m a c o mm u n i c a t or, t ha t ’s wha t I d o”. I n m e e t i n g s a n d c onve r s a t i on s , he wo uld int e rje c t humorous in sight and qu ick a n a l o gie s t h a t t o me we re ou t of t he bl u e , bu t t o hi m we re on t h e t i p of h i s s h a r p mind and re le vant . Movie q uotes, musi c a l in f l u e n ce s, a n d p o p c u l t u re re fe re n c e s we re a bu n d a n t i n a ny d i s c u s s i on . W i t h s o m a ny i nt e re s t s h e h ad s omethin g in commo n w it h a nyo n e h e t a l ke d t o . W he n we we re a l l d own a t t he wa t e r fron t for t h e W WII fl yove r h e kne w and c o uld tal k about the si gnif ica n c e o f e ve r y t y p e o f p l a n e ! Food was another pa ssio n o f Jo h n’s. He a n d I wo u l d t ra d e n e wfou n d e a t e r i e s a rou n d t own , a n d I wou l d g i ve hi m t ips o n plac e s s omewhat out of wa l k in g d ist a n c e w h e n I b e ga n ve n t u r i n g on my bi ke ove r t he l u n c h h ou r t h a t he wou l d e ve n t ually s t o p at aft e r s it e vis it s. He and I had a sl ice o f p ie f ro m B a ke d a n d W i re d on a t l e a s t on e “ P i D a y” t ha t oc c u r s on 3 / 1 4, a n d he was a b ig fan o f t h at day an d remin ded us a b o u t it e ve r y ye a r. He l ike d t o ord e r t h e c r i s py r i c e from Moby D i c k t ha t i s n ot on t h e me nu b ut is a s o rt o f del ic acy that they s c ra p e f ro m t h e b o t t o m o f t h e pa n , a n d of c ou r s e h e k n e w how t o re q u e s t i t by i t s p rop e r n a me . W h e n we h ad s ite v i sits at T he Asp e n we a l wa y s st o p p e d a t Ta yl or G ou r m e t for t h e i r s a n d wi c h e s a n d wou l d c a t c h u p on n on -wo rk re lat e d t o pic s . My favori te memory t h o u gh is w h e n Jo h n a n d I wou l d s p l i t t he hu m on g ou s S t a c hows k i ’s p a s t ra m i s a n d wi c h . Usually it o c c urre d o n a F riday when I woul d r id e u p t h e re w it h a b a c k p a c k t o p i c k u p “ t h e foot ba l l ” a n d we wou l d e a t t og e t he r i n t he c o nfe re nc e ro o m. John’s op timism set t h e t o n e fo r o u r o f f ice a n d t h at s p i r i t wi l l be c a r r i e d on a n d n ot for g ot t e n . I a m ve r y g ra t e ful fo r e ve ry t h ing that I learn ed from h im a n d h is so l id f r ie n d sh ip .“
- B rad Sullivan
“ I ’ m s t u n n e d . T h i s i s s u c h t e r r i bl e n e ws . Jo h n was a s uc h kind, g e n t l e , c a r i n g s ou l a n d a l l a rou n d g re a t g uy. I b e c ame c lo s e t o Jo h n d u r i n g ou r t i m e t og e t he r a t BK V, a s we bonde d t h ro ugh o ur s h are d ex p e r i e n c e s . Joh n wa s a l wa ys s o p os i t i ve . He ne ve r s e e me d t o le t t hi n g s c ha n g e t ha t ou t l ook , re g a rd l e s s of t h e c irc ums t anc e . In a d d i t i on t o a rc hi t e c t u re , we a l s o s h a re d a love fo r play ing mus ic . John wa s a g u i t a r i s t / ba s s p l a ye r a n d I p l a y t h e drums and dab b le in g u i t a r. We d i s c u s s e d t h e s i m i l a r i t i e s be t wee n t h e c re at ive pro c e s s in m u s i c a n d a rc hi t e c t u re on m ore t ha n on e oc c as io n. Ne e dle s s t o s ay, John wi l l be d e e p l y m i s s e d . M y c on d ol e n c e s t o h is family and frie nds , i n c l u d i n g t h os e h e t ou c h e d wi t h i n t he BK V Gro up family.” - M ark Harris
“ It i s ve r y s t ra n g e . It ’s be e n on l y t wo we e ks s inc e Jo h n h as l e ft u s , bu t i t fe e l s l i ke i t ’s be e n t oo lo ng living in a wo rld wi t hou t hi m . I s t i l l c a n’ t re a l l y p roce s s t h e fac t t h at Jo h n i s n o l on g e r wi t h u s . He wa s n e ve r jus t a c o lle ague . He was a fr i e n d , a m e n t or, a p a r t of ou r l i ve s . Any minut e now my p hon e wi l l r i n g a n d i t wi l l be Joh n c alling. Joh n wa s s o p os i t i ve a n d re s i l i e n t . No mat t e r h ow s t re s s e d he wa s or h ow ba d t he s i t u a t i on was , h e c o uld alway s pull hi m s e l f u p s o q u i c k l y. A n d he wou l d alway s lift t h e s pirit s o f e ve r yon e e l s e wi t h h i s u n i q u e c ha r m. At t ime s pe o ple t h o ugh t he be l i t t l e d t h e s e r i ou s n e s s of s i t u at io ns . B ut we w ill s o o n e n ou g h re a l i ze t h a t j u s t be c a u s e of h is po s it ivit y we we re ab le t o ove rc om e s o m a ny d i ffi c u l t i e s we wo uldn’t h ave b e e n ab le t o wi t h ou t h i m . On s om e l e ve l , I a l way s s aw my s e lf grow ing t o be m ore l i ke h i m . Or I s hou l d s a y, I alway s w is h e d I c o uld b e m ore l i ke h i m —be i n g a c he e r fu l t e a m playe r, wo rking h ard and t r yi n g t o l ove wor k a n d l i fe e ve r y minut e I c an. W he n I t h i n k a bou t Joh n i n my he a d, h e alway s h as h is s i g n a t u re s m i l e , c hu c k l i n g , t e l l i n g s o me o f h is funny s t o rie s wi t h 8 0s re fe re n c e s I n e ve r h e a rd of. We s h are a love fo r g ood food . I c a n s t i l l s e e h i s exc i t e d fac e w h e n I t alk ab o ut a re c e n t re s t a u ra n t ou t i n g . He wa s s uc h a h appy pe rs o n I c an’t d e s c r i be h ow s a d I a m t ha t h e wa s t ake n away. No ne o f t h is is fa i r a n d i t d oe s n ot m a ke s e n s e . S ome o ne w ill t ake Jo h n’s ro le a t BK V e ve n t u a l l y. We wi l l s t i l l d o g o o d wo rk h e re and ke e p t h e p roj e c t s m ov i n g . Bu t t he offi c e w ill ne ve r b e t h e s ame . I hop e , I re a l l y h op e Joh n k n ows how muc h h e was love d. Be c a u s e h e wi l l be fore ve r e ve r re m e mb e re d by us ” - A nni Pi
“ Words can no t ex p re ss my sh o c k a n d sa d n e s s over thi s news. I h a ve k n ow n Jo h n e ve r sin c e h e joi n ed us. He h a s a l wa y s b e e n a gre a t co l l a bora t or an d commun ic a t o r, a l wa y s l ist e n in g t o w h a t others had to sa y a n d p rovid in g ve r y t h o u ght fu l , resp ectful in p u t . I e n joye d ge t t in g t o k n ow Joh n over the years a n d h is c o n t r ib u t io n s t o t h e fi r m as well as me p e r so n a l l y. It is a n u n d e r st a t e m e n t to say he wi ll b e misse d , w h o h e wa s, h is c a re a n d consideration we re a gif t .” -Br uc e Sc h w a r t z ma n
“Our hearts a re b ro ke n fo r our fri en d John & h is fa mil y. I worked with Jo h n o n ma ny D C p roj ect ove r t h e l a st 7 years. John wa s so h u mb l e , so gentle, so re sp e c t f u l & so k n owledgeabl e . Re st in p e a c e , my frien d John . Yo u w il l n e ve r be forgotten .” -C h a d Kur d i
Le tter to the fam il y o f Jo h n Ma ist o . “ From the first m o me n t I me t Jo h n w h e n I jo in e d BK V ba c k i n Ju l y of 201 5 , I s a w a g u y t h a t wa s k i n d t o ot he rs , c o nc e rne d ab o ut h is fe llow co-workers a s we l l a s h is c l ie n t s, wa n t e d t o p u t a q u a l i t y p rod u c t “ou t on t h e s t re e t ”, a n d m a d e t h e of fic e a fun plac e t o wo rk in. I was hired to be t h e Co n st r u c t io n Ad min ist ra t or i n t he offi c e , s o I ha d t h e p l e a s u re of wor k i n g wi t h Joh n on s e ve ral pro je c t s . On my f irst day of the j o b Jo h n sa id , “ Co me o n , we a re g oi n g t o a j ob s i t e ”. We h op p e d i n h i s ol d bl u e c a r a n d he a d e d t o T h e V int age . I was no t too famili ar wi th t h e Dist r ict b e sid e s t h e ma in d ra g s , bu t Joh n t ook u s on t h e t i g ht s i d e s t re e t s t h rou g h G e orge t ow n. Righ t , le ft , righ t … . . and that’s how we we n t t o ge t t o 16 t h st re e t . O n t he wa y, be t we e n a s k i n g m e m ore a bou t mys e l f, h e s a ys “ Oh , yo u we nt t o U nive rs it y o f I l lin oi s, my son Ad a m go e s t o Ma d iso n”, t e l l in g m e wh e re t h e t ra ffi c c a n g e t ba c ke d u p a n d s t a r t i n g t o t e l l m e a lit t le ab o ut t h e pro je c t th at we were hea d in g t o . T his was the fi rst d a y o f ma ny w h e re we wo u l d t a l k a bou t p roj e c t s , ou r fa m i l i e s , a n d p a s t ex p e r i e n c e s . Joh n s e e me d t o know e ve ry architect and engin e e r in t ow n a s we l l a s mo st of t he fi r m s . I wou l d s om e t i m e s t h i n k t h a t he a l s o wor ke d on t h e AIA Me mb e rs h ip B o ard o r somethi n g. We b o t h sh a re d a l ove o f movie s, s on g s a n d s p or t s . For s p or t s , John a l l t hi n g s D C : C a p s , Na t s & Re ds kins (in t h at o rde r), m e: Cubs, Hawks a n d a l it t l e B e a r s. Ma y b e h is f i r s t l ove wa s t h e Re d s k i n s , n ot s u re , bu t s i n c e I wa s m ore i n t o b as e b all and h o c ke y, t h at was what we talke d a b o u t mo st . I wa s fo r t u n a t e t o g o t o a Na t s g a m e wi t h t h e offi c e ba c k i n 2 01 6 a l on g wi t h Jo h n’s dad and Sus anna as well I believe. T h a t wa s a f u n e ve n in g. 2 0 16 wa s a g re a t ye a r be c a u s e my C u bbi e s won t he Wor l d S e r i e s a ft e r 1 07 ye ars ! Jo h n was ve ry ha p py for me as we l l d u r in g t h a t t ime in O c t o b e r a n d we ha d m a ny g a m e re c a p s t h e fol l owi n g d a ys . T ha t would b e re vis it e d in 2 01 8 when the Cap s ha d t h e ir S t a n l e y Cu p Ch a mp io ns h i p a n d t h e Na t s i n 201 9 for t h e i r Wor l d S e r i e s wi n ! All total, we worke d o n T h e Va n t a ge , O c t a ve 13 2 0, Ma i P l a c e , T h e A s p e n , S u n r i s e Be t h e s d a a n d C he v y C ha s e, T h e âme , B e c ke rt s Park , Art Sp ace an d cu r re n t l y, P ia z za Te r min a l . Wow, 1 0 p roj e c t s i n u n d e r 6 ye a r s . We we re c e r t a i n l y bu s y. T h e re we re many a nigh t th at some of us wo u l d t u r n in t o “ T h e La t e Nigh t C re w.” Wor k i n g i n t o t he e ve n i n g t o t r y a n d g e t c a u g ht u p on t h ings o r ge t s o me t h ing f inished that was p ro mise d t o a c o -wo r ke r o r cli e n t . Be t we e n 7 a n d 8 , a s h ou t ove r ou r n oi s y H VAC s ys t e m came fro m t h e c o rne r, John’s desk, “How l a t e a re yo u st a y in g? Anyo n e u p t o s p l i t a p i zza ? ” I d i d n ot s h a re John’s l ove of c ook i n g , b ut I did e njoy h is dis h e s th at he would bri n g in t o t h e o f f ic e fo r a p o t- l u c k . Us u a l l y t h i s wa s s om e t h i n g F i l i p i n o a n d a l wa ys ve r y d e l i c i o us . T here are many m o re fo n d me mo r ie s t h a t I c o u ld s h a re , bu t I wou l d l i ke t o fi n i s h wi t h t hi s . John c oi n e d a t e r m “fo und t ime ”. T h is was when a scheduled e ve n t , u su a l l y a me e t in g, wo ul d be c a n c e l e d or m ove d a n d a c h u n k of t i m e on t he c a l e n d a r fo r t h at day wo uld ‘o pe n up’. T hat would a l wa y s b r in g a joy t o h is fa c e a nd a he a r t y t u n e t o h i s voi c e . S om e m ore ‘ fou n d t i m e ’ we would h e ar h im pro no unc e f rom the corn er. Well, I wi ll mi ss t h e “ Fo u n d Time ” mo me n t s a n d u n for t u n a t e l y, I n ow h a ve a n e w t e r m of “ Los t T i m e ”. T h e t i m e t h at I and o t h e rs , w ill not be able to sp e n d w it h Jo h n a ny mo re o n t h is e a r t h. No m ore fu n t a l k s , l a t e n i g h t m e a l s , c a t c hi n g u p on p ers o nal o r family e ve nt s , Mr. John the “Ball o o n ma n” t h a t my k id s wo u l d c a l l h i m a ft e r t h e fi r s t BK V s u m m e r p i c n i c we h a d t og e t h e r, ( We h ad t o o rde r a “do it yourself ” animal b a l l o o n k it a f t e r t h a t e ve n t so my k i d s c ou l d c on t i n u e t o m a ke t h e a n i m a l s a n d i t e m s t h a t he t augh t t h e m), lunc h w it h Adam an d John at T h u n d e r B u r ge r w h e n h e wo ul d s t op by t h e offi c e a n d m a ny ot he r s . S u s a n n a a n d Ad a m , h e was pro ud o f yo u b o t h . He would tell us a b o u t yo u r t ra ck e ve n t s S u sa n n a a n d s c oot ou t of t h e offi c e e a r l y t o c a t c h a m e e t on oc c a s i o n. He o ffe re d fo r me t o l et him kn ow if my k id s, d u r in g t h e ir c o l l e ge se arc h, h a d a ny q u e s t i on s on W& M t ha t h e c ou l d p a s s on t o you . A joy ful, h o ne s t , c aring person whose time h e re o n e a r t h w it h u s wa s cut t oo s hor t . We d i d n ot d i s c u s s ou r fa i t h t oo m u c h t h ou g h a nd I’m now s o rry ab o ut t h at . He kn ew that I wa s a b e l ie ve r a n d I b e l ie ve t h a t h e wa s a s we l l . S o I l ook for wa rd t o s e e i n g h i m a g a i n s om e t i me in t h e fut ure .” Wi th my deep est h e a r t fe l t sy mp h o ny t o t h e fa mi l y, - Jim Hansing
To t h e Ma ist o fa mil y : “ I o n l y k n e w Jo h n fo r a ye a r a n d a ha l f, bu t l i ke s o m a ny ot he r s I i m m e d i a t e l y e n j oye d h is c o mpany. Sinc e h is p a ssin g, I ke e p c o min g ba c k i n my m i n d t o t he l a s t p e r s on a l c onve r s a t i on we h a d . Jo h n rando mly c alle d me up o n e a f t e r n o o n , b e ca us e h e wa s s h owi n g s om e on e a rou n d t he offi c e , a n d i t t u r n e d o ut s h e and I s h are d a c o mmo n e d u c a t io n a l b a ckgro u n d , a n d h e wa s exc i t e d a bou t t h a t . T he ba c kg rou n d i s n ot h i ng re markab le , jus t a lit t le d e t a il in my l ife , a n d c e r t a i n l y n o ex p e c t a t i on for Joh n t o ha ve g i ve n i t m u c h t hough t . B ut o f c o urs e , h e gave it t h o u gh t , b e ca u se t h a t ’s who h e wa s . He t ook g e n u i n e i n t e re s t i n t h e p e op l e i n h i s life , and I’ll alway s re me mb e r t h a t c a l l . It wa s t h e e s s e n c e of John . He wa s a wo n d e r f u l c ol l e a g u e , a n d a n e ve n be t t e r p e r s on , a n d I ’ m s o ve r y s or r y fo r yo ur lo s s .” - B enjamin Yonce
“I am heart b ro ke n t o h e a r a b o u t t h e l o ss of Joh n . He embodi e d a c h a p t e r in my c a re e r t h a t h a s n ow come to a n e n d . I me t Jo h n a t o n e o f m a ny job fai rs tha t we re h e l d a t my sch o o l , Ca t h ol i c U niversity, ju st a co u p l e o f mo n t h s b e fo re I graduated. Jo h n wa s t h e l a st p e r so n I in t e r v i e we d with at this jo b fa ir, b u t t h e f ir st a n d o n l y p e r s on to gi ve me a jo b o f fe r. It wa s a t t h e t a il e nd of the Great Re c e ssio n w h e n n o t a l o t o f f ir m s were hi rin g a n d ma ny o f my p e e r s, e ve n t h os e who p erform e d b e t t e r t h a n me in sch o o l , we re n ot fi n din g wo r k a f t e r gra d u a t io n . He me n t ore d me througho u t t h e d u ra t io n o f my IDP p ro c e s s an d taug ht me h ow b e in g re so u rc e f u l is o ne of the most imp o r t a n t t ra it s a s a n a rc h it e ct . I ’ ve alway s carr ie d t h a t a d vice w it h me . As a n i n t e r n , when I some t ime s wa sn’t p e r fo r min g t o t h e l e ve l of exp ectat io n re qu ire d t o ma ke my p ro je c t s successful, Jo h n re a ssu re d o u r c o l l e a gu e s t ha t I would live up t o t h a t ex p e ct a t io n in d u e t i m e . 1 0 years later I c a n sa y t h a t I wo r ke d o n mo s t of my jobs wi th Joh n a n d h e co n t in u e d t o b e a n exc e l l e n t men tor for me d u r in g e a c h o n e o f t h e m. He a l s o came to my we d d in g w it h h is gir l f r ie n d Ka t e . John was a genuin e l y go o d p e r so n in l ife a n d in hi s career an d ma d e BKV DC a f u n a n d p ro d uc t i ve p lace to wo r k . Yo u w il l b e so re l y misse d .” -G e n t r y K o wa ll
To the Mai sto Fami ly – “ My deep est con dolen c e s t o yo u ! Jo h n wa s a wa r m a n d c a r i n g fr i e n d , a n d m e n t or, t ha t wi l l be g re a t l y m i s s e d . I appre c iat e d his ope n n ess and abili t y t o sp e a k a b o u t n e a r l y a ny t op i c . He s p oke p rou d l y of h i s fa m i l y, p a r t i c u l a r l y m e n t i on i n g h is t rips / vis its wi th hi s children . I re a l l y e n joye d wo r k in g w it h h i m a n d l e a r n i n g from hi m . Joh n a n d I wor ke d t og e t he r on h is firs t few proj ects at BKV G ro u p w h e n I wa s mo re ju n io r in my c a re e r. More re c e n t l y we ha d be c om e p e e r s a n d p a r t n e rs . I w ill rem em ber John most v ivid l y f ro m t h e co u p l e o f n a t io n a l c on fe re n c e s we a t t e n d e d t og e t he r. T h e s e c on fe re n c e s , w it h Mark Har r is , g ave me the opp o r t u n it y t o k n ow h im e ve n mo re a n d wi l l l e a ve m e wi t h p a r t i c u l a r l y fon d m e m or i e s . We had a gre at tim e tog ether atten din g a se n io r h o u sin g c o n fe re n c e i n Ne w Or l e a n s ove r Ha l l owe e n i n 2 01 7. We h a d a bl a s t wa l king t h e city, s e ein g Bourbon St re e t o n Ha l l owe e n n igh t , a n d e n j oyi n g be i g n e t s a t C a fé D u Mon d e . I wi l l fore ve r m i s s my f rie nd and col l eague!” With my deep est sy mp a t h ie s, - Ch r is Palk owit sch
“T his i s t e r r ib l e n e w s t o d ige st . I’ve been sp e e c h l e ss a n d h e a r t b ro ke n fo r the last fe w h o u r s. I me t Jo h n t e n ye a r s ago and we ’ve b e e n f r ie n d s e ve r sin ce . Over the ye a r s, we sh a re d go o d a n d bad time s t o ge t h e r, b u t h e a l wa y s h a d a p osi tive a t t it u d e a n d t h e b igge st h e a r t to overco me p ro b l e ms. Jo h n , yo u w il l b e remembe re d a s a gre a t c o l l e a gu e , gre a t fri en d, b u t mo st l y a s a gre a t h u ma n bei n g. Re st in p e a c e d e a r f r ie n d .” -Wi l l y Be r m ud e z
ARTSPACE SILVER SPRING
Silver Spring, MD
G e n t r y a n d Ja c k - word s c a n n ot ex p re s s t h e a m ou n t o f s h o c k a n d p rofou n d s or row I fe l t whe n I l e a r n e d of Joh n’s de at h , e a r l i e r t h i s m on t h . I wa s i n M i n ot , N D, v i s i t i n g my elde rly m ot h e r who i s i n m e m or y c a re whe n I re c e i ve d t he ne w s . Joh n a n d I we re re c e n t l y t og e t he r, wa l k i n g t he s i t e o n a c o ld d a r k Fe br u a r y e ve n i n g t o i nve s t i g a t e t he l i g ht i n g a l o ng t h e n or t h p e r i m e t e r t ha t wa s bot h e r s om e t o a ha n d fu l o f ne igh b o rs . T h e fa c t t h a t Joh n wou l d t a ke t i m e ou t t o d o t hi s i s no t s u r p r i s i n g , n or wa s hi s g ood -n a t u re d a t t i t u d e a bou t do ing s o , a n d wor k i n g q u i c k l y t o a d d re s s i t . He wa s s u c h a n e as ily likab le g u y a n d a t r u l y t a l e n t e d a rc hi t e c t . M y fon d e s t m e m or i e s of s p e n d i n g t i m e wi t h hi m wi l l alway s b e how we l l we p l a ye d off of e a c h ot h e r - s ha r i n g c or ny jo ke s and q u i p py c om m e n t a r y a bou t t op i c s of t he d a y - a l wa ys ge t t ing t h e wor k d on e bu t h a v i n g a re a l l y fu n t i m e a l on g t h e way. He was on e of a k i n d . I a m s o s or r y for t he l os s of you r d e a r fr i e n d , a n d m ine . We are a l l be t t e r p e op l e t o h a ve k n own hi m . W i t h h e a r t fe l t s ym p a t hy,
- St a c y Mi ck el s on VP / Go ve r n m e nt R el a t i on s A R TS PA CE
Project Legacy.
Fo r th e p a st 29 year s, Joh n h as b een i nvol ve d in a l l a spe c ts o f a rc hite c tu ra l p r a c ti c e , in clud in g desi gn and c onst r u c t io n o f s m a l l s c a l e re s ide n tia l pro je c ts, m ixe d - use housin g, adapt i ve reu se h ou si n g , m u l tif a m il y re side n tia l c o m pl exe s, i n d ep e n d e n t e ld e r ly h ou si ng, assi st ed li vin g / l im ite d c a re f a c il itie s, te n a n t f ito u ts , an d ma ste r planni ng. Jo hn’s prima ry foc u s h as been i n t h e DC m e tro a re a , w ith a m pl e pro je c t ex p e r ie n ce in Wa sh i ngt on DC’s ent i t lem e n t pro c e s s, ra n g in g f ro m by- rig ht wo rk with th e O f f ice of Planni ng, LTR , BZA, and P UD a ppl ic a tio n a n d exe c u tio n .
PROJECTS Sunrise Senior Living Bethesda, Bethesda, MD; Sunrise Senior Living Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, MD; Churchill Senior Housing, Gaithersburg, MD; Fort Washington Senior Housing, Fort Washington, MD; Sugarland Hill Senior Housing, Dranesville, VA; Churchill Senior Housing, Gaithersburg, MD; Potomac Woods Senior Housing Phases 1 & 2, Woodbridge, VA; Jefferson Heights Senior Housing, Charlottesville, VA; Mai Place (1400 14th Street NW), Washington, DC; Artspace Silver Spring Arts Campus, Silver Spring, MD; Brewers Hill, Baltimore, MD; âme (Meridian Hill Hall), Washington, DC; Beckert’s Park, Washington, DC; North Bethesda East Gateway Village, North Bethesda, MD; North Bethesda Market Lofts, North Bethesda, MD; NRP Scranton Peninsula, Cleveland, OH; NRP Ashburn, Ashburn, VA; Piazza Terminal, Philadelphia, PA; The Aspen, Washington, DC; The Octave, Silver Spring, MD; The Shay, Washington, DC; The Vintage, Washington, DC; 141 West Street Condos, Annapolis, MD; 8001 Newell Street Design Concept, Silver Spring, MD; 8th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC; The GEM at Knoxville, Knoxville, TN; Georgia Heights, Athens, GA; Hive Hotel (Allen Lee Hotel), Washington, DC; Royal Courts Apartments, Washington, DC; Savannah Heights Apartments, Washington, DC; Three Tree Flats, Washington, DC; Woodson Heights Condominiums, Washington, DC; Fairlawn Marshall Scattered Sites, Washington, DC; Eastern Village Cohousing, Silver Spring, MA; Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington, DC; City Center South Apartments (drawings only), Falls Church, VA; Sudley Manor House Assisted Living, Manassas, VA; Morningside House in Satyr Hill Assisted Living, Parkville, MD; Morningside House in St. Charles Assisted Living, St. Charles, MD; Morningside House in Harmans Assisted Living, Harmans, MD; Takoma Park Preservation Scattered Sites, Takoma Park, MD; Gilbert Highlands Apartments, Takoma Park, MD; The Colonies of Arlington, Arlington, VA; Antoinette Gardens Apartments, Capital Heights, MD; Capital Manor Cooperative, Washington, DC; Savannah Heights Apartments, Washington, DC; Galen Terrace Apartments, Washington, DC; Hazel Hill Apartments, Fredericksburg, VA; Royal Courts Apartments, Washington, D.C.; Queen’s Manor Apartments, Hyattsville, MD; Burnt Mills Crossing Phase 2, Silver Spring, MD; Cranes Meadow Apartments, Ranson, West VA; Echo Mountain Apartments, Woodstock, VA; Griffith Commons Apartments, Winston-Salem, NC
âme
Washington, DC
PIAZZA TERMINAL
Philadelphia, PA
THE ASPEN
Washi ngton, DC
SUNRISE CHEVY CHASE
Silver Spring, MD
GEORGIA HEIGHTS
Athens, GA
OCTAVE 1320
Silver Spring, MD
THE STANDARD AT KNOXVILLE
Knoxville, TN
THE SHAY
Washington, DC
BREWERS HILL
Baltimore, MD
NORTH BETHESDA EAST GATEWAY VILLAGE North Bethesda, MD
BECKERT’S PARK Washington, DC
John Joseph Maisto J u l y 10, 196 5 - Ma rc h 8 , 2 0 2 1