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Some of you in here may know Nick Pool like Rick over in Battle Creek so, I am posting this here to inform you all of his passing. I've known Nick since I was just a kid. He was funny as all get out too. Loved telling a good or bad, joke and he never minced words. He was a valued member of our local chapter with the knowledge that many of us only wished that we could retain. I received this notice in my email just now from Lyle Wood, a dear friend and colleague in Muskegon Michigan.

Members and friends,

Here is the obituary for Nick Pool, published in today's Muskegon Chronicle.

POOL, MR. GERARD N. "Nick" Muskegon Gerard Nicholas "Nick" Pool, born June 21, 1934 in Lincoln Park, NJ, passed away on November 23, 2010 in Muskegon. Nick, a 1956 graduate of Hope College, worked for Gordon Laughead Piano Co. in Grand Haven for a few years before going to Germany, where he earned a Klavierbaumeister (master piano builder) certificate in 1961. He returned to the United States and worked as a prolific musician and freelance keyboard technician throughout the region until his retirement in 2007. A dedicated steward of the arts in West Michigan, Nick supported numerous organizations including the West Shore Graphic Arts Society and was actively involved with the Community Concert Board and the Muskegon Museum of Art, among many others. Nick's interests also included collecting antiques, from toys and toasters to a number of Edison phonographs and disc music boxes. Nick also was an active member of the Chicago Oriental Rug and Textile Society, a group that treasured his encyclopedic knowledge of oriental rugs. He also belonged to the Piano Technicians Guild, which he served in various capacities through the years. Nick could play practically any tune by ear and though he may have forgotten the name of a former customer, he never forgot the make and model of their piano and what its malady had been. He was very interested in politics and never shied away from expressing his opinion on current events. He was predeceased by his parents, the Rev. Gerard C. Pool and Elsa Lillian Schmid Pool and a daughter, Katrina Pool. He is survived by his former wife, Ellen, and children, Andrew (Kathleen), Sarah, and Ann Olson (Tom) as well as four grandchildren and brother, Tom Pool (Nadine) of Evanston, IL. A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, November 27, 2010 and VISITATION will take place 2-4 and 7-9 PM Friday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church (1006 Third St., Muskegon). In lieu of flowers, memorials in Nick's name can be made to WBLV - Blue Lake Public Radio or to the Muskegon Community Foundation Performance Fund. Share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements by The Walburn Chapel Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 1547 W. Sherman Blvd. (231) 759-8565
Published in Muskegon Chronicle on November 24, 2010

Jane and I knew Nick well...we visited him several times in the recent years, and Nick will be missed tremendously by all those who knew and loved him. Nick suffered tremendously from physical problems in recent years, and never once lost his wit or smile.

I was talking with somebody from the Muskegon Heritage Association and bragging about Nick yesterday...as it turns out, on the day he passed.

Nick was truly an inspiration, and a dear friend. Thanks for sharing this Jer.

Rick and Jane
(RPD)

I met Nick for the first time at the PTG convention in Arlington back in 2000. I remember how excited he was to see the Piano 300 exhibit at the Smithsonian. We rode the bus together to and from the exhibit. We also had dinner twice at local area hot spot restaurants. I was happy to find someone who also appreciated 5-star dining.
I also indulged Nick's interest in various historical subjects pertaining to New Jersey through e-mails over the Years.
He was a very unique individual.

My Sincere Condolences in his passing to you Technicians that knew him and his Family.


Scott

Nick had a sense of humor that nobody could match and his wit was remarkable! Strange Rick, I too had been thinking of Nick yesterday. I was going to call him....

Visited family and friends of Nick on Friday's visitation in Muskegon...he's well loved and was a huge driving force in the region for all things musical. I don't know if anybody from the family will know to check here, but any comments can be left at Jer's link above...

RPD

You did????? Crap man! So did I! We got there at around 3 PM. Met Lyle Wood there and left at around 3:45 or so. From there, we went out to dinner, to Logan's. Wish I would have known darn it!

You know, Lyle told me that he was the very first American to Achieve the "Klavierbaumeister (master piano builder) certificate in 1961." They had a picture of the piano that he had to build in order to pass the class. That must have been quite an achievement!!

Sheesh Jerry! I must have been in the room at the same time...I was over against the wall talking with Chuck and Sue, and looking at pics of Nick as a young man (some of which I remember!)...I left and overheard somebody saying something about an F# in a basement in Ludington or something, but we were needing to travel...bummer I missed you!!

You'll just have to buy us dinner another time then!

RPD

Geez Rick, that was probably Lyle talking guessing, because he was talking about a piano up that direction where the lady was complaining about a few notes that were out of tune. She wore a hearing aide and had to take it out to hear what she was complaining about. Lyle, as you know, is an excellent technician. Nick was his mentor. We must have walked right past each other and never recognized one another! Oh well, I think that means, dinner is on you because you were more observant than I was.