Remembering Jon Hull
Jon Hull, along with his partner Alan Stringer, was one of the founders of Common Bond in 1981. He served in many capacities in the Board of Directors’ early years, including managing the organization’s database. In 1983, acting as Common Bond’s Director of Special Projects, he was the principal coordinator of Gay and Lesbian Pride Week, including Albuquerque’s ninth annual pride parade.
In September of that year, he was elected as the third President of the Common Bond board. In his “My Turn” column in the October issue of the Common Bond Ink newsletter, Jon wrote, “You and I watched this organization grow from the ideas of a small group of people wanting a formal broad-based voice for the Albuquerque gay community to a culturally and politically influence in the state of New Mexico. We are known to the press, to social service organizations, and to radio and TV as a reliable source for gay news and opinion. We are on everyone’s mailing list, and major businesses welcome our social events, fundraisers, and cash.
Common Bond was also formed to do something about the loneliness and isolation which many of us felt, and which many still feel. And I think we’ve come a long way in that area, too. Couples have met through Common Bond, people have developed organizational skills and become stronger and smarter through participation in Common Bond projects and activities, and there is a new sense of resource in dealing with legal, social and bureaucratic problems. The result of this is that Albuquerque is getting to be a better place to live for you and me.”
In September of that year, he was elected as the third President of the Common Bond board. In his “My Turn” column in the October issue of the Common Bond Ink newsletter, Jon wrote, “You and I watched this organization grow from the ideas of a small group of people wanting a formal broad-based voice for the Albuquerque gay community to a culturally and politically influence in the state of New Mexico. We are known to the press, to social service organizations, and to radio and TV as a reliable source for gay news and opinion. We are on everyone’s mailing list, and major businesses welcome our social events, fundraisers, and cash.
Common Bond was also formed to do something about the loneliness and isolation which many of us felt, and which many still feel. And I think we’ve come a long way in that area, too. Couples have met through Common Bond, people have developed organizational skills and become stronger and smarter through participation in Common Bond projects and activities, and there is a new sense of resource in dealing with legal, social and bureaucratic problems. The result of this is that Albuquerque is getting to be a better place to live for you and me.”
Jon’s greatest legacy and gift to Albuquerque’s LGBTQ+ community are the 19 productions of the “Caught in the Act” variety shows which he started as an annual fundraiser for Common Bond. We are privileged to have access to Jon’s media archive and will be documenting as many of those shows as possible to revive fond memories for those of you who were here back in the day…and for newer LGBTQ+ Albuquerqueans to appreciate what you missed. Visit our website often as we post more of the very entertaining performance videos.
His Son’s Tribute
After the scattering of Jon and Alan Stringer’s ashes in the Sandia Mountains, his son Scott posted this message on a Facebook page that had been set up in Jon’s memory:
My father, Jon Hull, passed away in his home on October 12, 2020. He was 75 years old. He didn’t visit Facebook much, but I figured this is a place where most of his friends could be reached. I encourage anyone who knew my father and has a story to share, please share it here. This will be his memorial.
Jonathan Philip Hull was born in Schenectady, NY on May 3, 1945 to Joe Frederick and Lillian Mabel Hull. He and his family moved to Redwood City, CA in the mid-50s as his father followed his career with Litton Industries. Jon would grow up with his sister, Priscilla, in Redwood City. He studied and achieved an undergraduate degree in Electronics Engineering from California Polytechnic Institute in San Luis Obispo, CA. Later, he would achieve a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management at the University of Utah.
In the mid-1960s, Jon joined the United States Air Force which would take him to Hill AFB (Ogden, Utah), Wright Patterson AFB (Dayton, Ohio), and eventually Kirtland AFB (Albuquerque, NM). His son, Scott, was born during the time at Hill AFB in 1971. After 10 years of active duty and achieving the rank of Captain, Jon transitioned to Federal Civil Service. At the time of his retirement, Jon had completed 30 years of combined Federal Service.
It’s difficult for me to put into words with any degree of satisfaction how much and what my father meant to me. I always looked up to him. I always loved his laugh and tried very hard to make him laugh. When I visited him after my parents’ divorce in December 1979, I was happiest just digging through his records, discovering Herbie Hancock, Michael Franks, Miles Davis, Gentle Giant, Eddie Harris, and a seemingly endless list of others. Thanks for my first movie project, WAY back before the times of VHS or DVD players. Thanks, Dad, for my first guitar. For my first drum set. Thanks for my first gig playing a drum solo during one of the Caught in the Act talent shows at the KiMo. Thanks for bringing diversity, love, and inspiration into my life. So few people are fortunate enough to get that. I have been really, really lucky. I always call Albuquerque my home, because it was always and will always be my dad’s home.
You will be missed, dad. I love you.
Any memorial words I can write must certainly include his 40-year support and nurturing of the LBGTQ+ community in Albuquerque. I’m hoping his close friends from his community can contribute a few words here. Thanks, David Seidel, for being an amazing partner to him for the past 18-19 years or so, especially after Alan passed. Thanks to his friends who I know about on Facebook including Christopher Valles and Dean Squibb.
-Scott Hull
December 4, 2020
My father, Jon Hull, passed away in his home on October 12, 2020. He was 75 years old. He didn’t visit Facebook much, but I figured this is a place where most of his friends could be reached. I encourage anyone who knew my father and has a story to share, please share it here. This will be his memorial.
Jonathan Philip Hull was born in Schenectady, NY on May 3, 1945 to Joe Frederick and Lillian Mabel Hull. He and his family moved to Redwood City, CA in the mid-50s as his father followed his career with Litton Industries. Jon would grow up with his sister, Priscilla, in Redwood City. He studied and achieved an undergraduate degree in Electronics Engineering from California Polytechnic Institute in San Luis Obispo, CA. Later, he would achieve a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management at the University of Utah.
In the mid-1960s, Jon joined the United States Air Force which would take him to Hill AFB (Ogden, Utah), Wright Patterson AFB (Dayton, Ohio), and eventually Kirtland AFB (Albuquerque, NM). His son, Scott, was born during the time at Hill AFB in 1971. After 10 years of active duty and achieving the rank of Captain, Jon transitioned to Federal Civil Service. At the time of his retirement, Jon had completed 30 years of combined Federal Service.
It’s difficult for me to put into words with any degree of satisfaction how much and what my father meant to me. I always looked up to him. I always loved his laugh and tried very hard to make him laugh. When I visited him after my parents’ divorce in December 1979, I was happiest just digging through his records, discovering Herbie Hancock, Michael Franks, Miles Davis, Gentle Giant, Eddie Harris, and a seemingly endless list of others. Thanks for my first movie project, WAY back before the times of VHS or DVD players. Thanks, Dad, for my first guitar. For my first drum set. Thanks for my first gig playing a drum solo during one of the Caught in the Act talent shows at the KiMo. Thanks for bringing diversity, love, and inspiration into my life. So few people are fortunate enough to get that. I have been really, really lucky. I always call Albuquerque my home, because it was always and will always be my dad’s home.
You will be missed, dad. I love you.
Any memorial words I can write must certainly include his 40-year support and nurturing of the LBGTQ+ community in Albuquerque. I’m hoping his close friends from his community can contribute a few words here. Thanks, David Seidel, for being an amazing partner to him for the past 18-19 years or so, especially after Alan passed. Thanks to his friends who I know about on Facebook including Christopher Valles and Dean Squibb.
-Scott Hull
December 4, 2020