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It is with heavy sadness that this sad news reached our ears this night. Local PTG mailing list just sent out notice that our great friend Jerry Groot has passed away. He had been very recently diagnosed with a serious iillness. As details emerge I will update, or others can as well.

God speed old friend, mentor, advocate. You were loved by all and your humor and knowledge and your beautiful humanity will be VERY much missed.

Rick and Jane

Let me be the first to say RIP. He was a great guy, a great forumer, and I'm guessing a fantastic tech. I exchanged many a pleasant PM with him. He will be sorely missed, but it is my prayer that he is now in a better place where illness isn't a worry.

That's very sad news! I just got the news through our chapter email. Very quick from when (I at least, with my head stuck in the shop) heard he wasn't doing well.

He will be missed, though I'm sure he's doing much better now. West Michigan owes a lot to him and the Groot clan for keeping the bar high.

My condolences to his wonderful wife, Co, and the rest of his family. It was pancreatic cancer and as is often the case, was caught too late. Rest in peace, my friend. It was a pleasure to know you.

It is a testament to his spirit and character that in the face of the horror of pancreatic cancer-he maintained such a sense of humor and generosity. His posts bear witness to this fact. May we all learn from his example.

Sad, indeed. His presence will be missed.

Very sorry to hear this sad news. I only 'knew' him through PW here. I also had many great PM's, talking about pianos et al.

My sincere condolences to his family.

Indeed. I learned plenty from the man.

As I read this, I was desperately hoping the date of the original post was April 1st. Unfortunately, it wasn't. I appreciated reading what he had to say, and Jerry was helpful to me through PM's as well.

Thoughts and condolences to his friends and family. I'm sorry I never had a chance to meet him in person or play one of the concert instruments under his care.

I only knew him through this forum. What he showed here impressed me greatly. I could tell he was a world class tech. I also greatly respected his role as peacemaker here at PW when things would get out of hand.

He was a good guy.

I am sorry to hear this. I had wondered why we had not heard from him lately, and knowing about his health problems I was afraid for him. I think we had made his last days brighter, and we can all be happy to remember that.

My condolences to his family and loved ones.

As did I. Jerry was one of the contributors to this forum from whom I learned many subtle points (and some not so subtle ones ). I hope that his family and loved ones will find avenues to new strength and happiness.

I was wondering why I haven't seen Jerry on here for awhile. I'm shocked. I have PM with him on PW and Facebook. I was hoping to meet him one day in person at a convention. My sympathy goes out to his family

Jerry was diagnosed in mid-February and by the time it was found, the cancer had metastasized. I've been in contact with him through the treatments, and have been following the CarePage that had been set up for him.

I will caution that there hasn't been an update confirming this on the CarePage that the family maintains, though I have no reason to doubt the information. Jerry will truly be missed. Though I never met him in person, he and I became very good long distance friends. My prayers are with the family.

Some people leave us too soon. Jer is one of them. I'll miss his encouraging presence. My heart goes out to his family.

--Andy

Even though i'm a new member, been lurking long enough to know who Jerry Groot was. His avatar was a perfect match! I knew something was up when he stopped been a daily contributor. Was hoping he was on vacation...
Now he is gone but will never be forgotten. The knowledge he gave us lives on, here at Piano World. A belated thank you and my condolences to the family and friends.

-H.W.

A member to Jer's family confirmed.

I'm truly sorry to hear this. Jerry was so gratious to answer any question thoughly that I ever put to him. I'll sure miss his sense of humor too. I too had hoped to meet him in person one day. SIncere condolences to his family and all here who were his friends.

RIP Jerry

I couldn't believe this when I read it. Like others here I just knew him through the forum, but he was always so full of life I had no idea he was even sick!

He made a great impact on me with his optimism, wisdom, and general good spirit. Always lightening things up, mediating something for peace, or providing good perspective. So much knowledge and experience shared as well.

You'll be very much missed Jerry. It's a sad day in the piano world.