Jonathan E. Estanislao

I’ve known Jonathan since 1992. I can still recall seeing him the first day of orientation for the Architecture program at UIC. He was joking and laughing with another classmate during the orientation but discreetly so the group leader didn’t notice or get disrupted. I like to observe people before engaging them. I thought to myself, “he seems like a genuinely nice person.” Cut to the official start of school. We ended up in the same group in Architecture class and had English class together. We didn’t interact immediately but when I had a question regarding something the architecture professor asked us to do I thought I’d ask Jonathan. He was the most kind and helpful person. From this point we formed a fast friendship. We found out we had the same sense of humor and some similar tastes in music. I wouldn’t have survived all those late nights staying up in architecture studio working on projects without him cracking me up. He said I was his “sister from another mister” and I said “he was my brother from another mother”. He coined us the “Wonder Twins” since we were almost always on the same wavelength in thinking. We lost touch after a couple of years at UIC when Jonathan transferred to IIT. About 6 years later we reconnected by pure chance. It was a cold winter day after working in the loop. Everyone all bundled in scarves walking around trying to get home. I was walking on Lake street headed towards State street. I locked eyes with someone bundled in a scarf and hat and all I could see was the eyes peeking out. I wasn’t sure who it was but his eyes grew big and I was thinking I don’t think I know you. Then in dramatic fashion, he ripped off his hat and pulled down his scarf and yelled my name. We gave each other a big old bear hug. From that point we kept in touch and later worked together for 13 years. I will miss hearing about your adventures and misadventures. Thank you for being my friend for all those years and I will miss you old friend.