.122 Jessie Deo

I feel very fortunate when I develop a friendship with a colleague, especially one that outlasts the job itself. That’s what I got with Jessie, and it didn’t take very long. I quickly saw how masterful he was at being both diligent with his role and capable of not taking life too seriously. Every day working with Jessie was a true joy; from asking him questions about things I didn’t understand to laughing hysterically over some meme, Office reference, or Dean & DeLuca habit (and prices…). I genuinely felt better whenever Jessie was in the office, especially since we saw right next to each other.

Jessie was at The Met for over 10 years and he and I overlapped for about 2 of those years. I’m so grateful for that because I was really able to learn a lot from him, including the idea that if you’re just kind to people, you’ll have a good time. People would often come to visit Jessie at his desk and it was such a testament to his strong relationships with those he worked with and by him just being compassionate. It was a sad day for us when he left to his next gig, but the presiding feeling was joy and excitement for him and his next chapter.

Jessie, thank you for always making me laugh and for calming me down whenever something bothered me. Thank you for keeping me humble and for always being such an example of treating others with respect and dignity. I really appreciate our time working together and am excited for the eventual day when I visit you and the new home! Thank you, Jessie, for being you.

-BD