Our parents loved "Johnny Boy'' - he was a loving and bright child, the family's first born and only son.

It all started when Mrs. Bea landed in New York. A musician in her own right, Bilge Gündüz was the daughter of Dr. Ali Birgen and grew up in a Mansion in Paşabahçe, Istanbul on the Bosporus. She was 20 years old when she had my brother and he was 3 years old when he first arrived in the US. My mother became a US citizen and was proud to be a registered Democrat. This is the story of the life of patriotic immigrants who brought their son to a country where he would fulfill his potential.

To many my brother is Awesome John or Asim Can Gunduz, but to me he is "Abi", my big brother, my best friend, and my guardian angel. On June 24th, half of me died with my brother.