Orlando City supporter Jono Miklos positions during a tailgate. (Image thanks to the Iron Lion Firm).
The first thing to learn about Jono Miklos is that he enjoyed soccer.
Maturing in Virginia Beach, Va., he used a community recteam In primary school, he wrote a letter to the editor of the regional paper promoting for the beach town to construct an arena to attract an MLSteam He found Manchester United in high school and fell in love all over once again.
So when Lori Miklos considers her 39- year-old kid– who died April 22 from problems during surgical treatment to fix a torn aorta– she states soccer is constantly a consistent.
“He was a good man that loved soccer,” Lori stated. “That’s the first thing I tell people.”
After transferring to Orlando for a new task, Jono linked to his new community through soccer. He rapidly ended up being a leader of the Orlando Red Army, an advocates group for Manchester United.
Jono likewise ended up being an Orlando City supporter, signing up with the Iron Lion Firm in2012 He ‘d constantly supported teams from afar, this marked the first time Jono got the possibility to cheer on a team in his own city. Lori stated he required to it instantly.
“He just loved the camaraderie of it,” Lori stated. “He loved to be able to go hang out with people who were as excited and passionate about the game as he was. He practically lived and breathed Orlando City.”
Jono was understood for revealing up for tailgates at what was then called the Citrus Bowl 6 or 7 hours prior to kickoff, talking soccer and subjugating a ball with his pals.
A long time pal and fellow Iron Lion Firm member, Carlos Alvarado states Jono was usually the first individual to invite a new face at a tailgate.
“It was just the little things,” Alvarado stated. “He was always present. Whether we were creating a tifo, whether we had a chant practice, whether we had a volunteer project, he was always present and a really over the top nice guy.”
Without Any warning and no issue in mind you made your journey to the great beyond. Another sibling gone too soon …
I hope you find Miguel and the 2 of you raise some hell up there!! You will be missed out on!!
Rest In Paradise, sibling Jono pic.twitter.com/5zDsKIz9di
— Iron Lion Firm (@IronLionFirm) April 23, 2020
For Jono, supporting Orlando City was a way of life.
He typically sent out Lori videos of the fans groups’ shenanigans each game– new two-poles and tifos, smoke-filled events and marches to the arena. He brought his child McKenna– who is now 9 years of ages– to tailgates and matches when she was still a child, raising her to support the Lions.
“He’s one of the original guys who was around in the early days of Orlando City that was a pillar of making us grow,” Alvarado stated. “A lot of the members that we have today, they’re a direct result of Jono and just how kind and friendly of a spirit he had.”
The Iron Lion Firm ended up being a second family forJono That family rapidly rallied behind him when he suffered a brain aneurysm in the middle of the 2015 season.
The Iron Lion Firm developed a GoFundMe page to assistance Jono and hisfamily Within 5 hours, the campaign had actually raised more than $5,000; after a week, an overall of 199 contributions had actually exceeded the preliminary goal of $10,000
The response surpassed simply financial assistance. The Iron Lion Firm showed a banner that check out “For Jono” at the front of The Wall duringmatches Fans gathered player autographs on a jersey to provide to Jono, connecting to Lori and the rest of the family to offer motivation.
“It was amazing to me that so many people reached out,” Lori stated. “It made us feel how much he was loved. It was such a comfort.”
After the aneurysm, Jono lost a few of his motor functions, consisting of sight in among hiseyes That didn’t keep him from making it out to the arena to watch Orlando City matches.
“His love for the sport never died,” Alvarado stated.
Even after he moved back to Virginia Beach in 2017, Lori states Jono’s enthusiasm for Orlando City stayed the very same.
At his funeral service today, Jono will be buried in his Iron Lion Firm Tee Shirts and Orlando City hat.
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