2022 our 25th year online!

Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums
Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments.
Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers (it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

SEARCH
Piano Forums & Piano World
(ad)
Who's Online Now
70 members (Barly, 1957, btcomm, brennbaer, Animisha, bobrunyan, 1200s, 36251, 13 invisible), 1,912 guests, and 351 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#96934 03/23/07 07:39 AM
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 13,236
Platinum Subscriber
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
OP Offline
Platinum Subscriber
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 13,236
Some of you may remember JimM. - member #2524. He was a fairly active member here who always had a fresh perspective to offer.

He was a very bright man who bought and sold technology for a living. After years of hard work, he bought a Mason BB in rosewood from me in 2003. He relocated to Northern California soon after when he (kind of) retired and built the home of his dreams with the love of his life Barbara. We became friends and got together when he was in the area. I had plans to spend some time golfing with him, but we never actually planned the trip. I stopped seeing him but simply thought he wasn't getting to the East Coast as much.

I didn't know it, but Jim became ill with cancer and passed away last year.

I knew some of you would remember Jim and would want to know. Barbara currently has his piano on this site for sale and would love for someone to love it the way Jim did. I can personally tell you that he chose a great piano.

I'll miss you Jim.

Jim\'s house (and piano)


Rich Galassini
Cunningham Piano Company
Visit one of our four locations
(215) 991-0834 direct
rich@cunninghampiano.com
Learn more about the Matchless Cunningham
#96935 03/23/07 07:55 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,203
3000 Post Club Member
Offline
3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,203
Sorry to hear you've lost a freind ...


Les Koltvedt
Servicing the Greater Atlanta area
www.LKPianos.com
PTG Associate
#96936 03/23/07 08:06 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 18,356

Platinum Supporter until Dec 31 2012
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Offline

Platinum Supporter until Dec 31 2012
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 18,356
I'm sorry for your and PW's loss, Rich.

I will admit that I got completely mesmerized by reading that description and seeing the pictures of their house. Not only do I want the piano (which is gorgeous in Rosewood), I also want the house! I'm glad he was able to build and live in it before he died.

#96937 03/23/07 08:47 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,326
R
1000 Post Club Member
Offline
1000 Post Club Member
R
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,326
What horrible news, I'm very sorry this happened.

Buying a piano seems a very petty thing when compared to the life of a human being.

#96938 03/23/07 08:58 AM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,645
1000 Post Club Member
Offline
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,645
Thanks for the touching story Rich.

Making music (because it is part of our humanity) is one of the few things you can do from earliest childhood until the hospice nurse comes to visit.

I'm sure he touched a lot of lives, as have you.

There's a continuity (immortality?) in the piano world unlike anything else.

John


Full-Time Music/Entrepreneurship Major: (Why not compose music AND businesses?)
Former Piano Industry Professional
************
Steinway M
Roland Atelier AT90R
************
All Posts are Snarky Unless Otherwise Noted
************
#96939 03/23/07 09:38 AM
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 6,574
Piano World Founder - Piano Tuner - Pianist
6000 Post Club Member
Offline
Piano World Founder - Piano Tuner - Pianist
6000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 6,574
I remember Jim as a being a gentleman and a nice guy.

He became a forums member in November of 2002, and was one of our early "subscribers" (supporters).

Jim joined us for an M&H factory (2004) ...
http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/22/52.html#000005

When Rich called me looking for Jim's member number (2524) I got a big lump in my throat.

My condolences to his wife, and may his piano find a loving home.

The piano is for sale on our Piano Exchange...
http://www.pianoworld.com/exchange.htm

Enter Mason as the brand name, and click Show Me The Ads


- Frank B.
Original Founder of Piano World
Owner of...
www.PianoSupplies.com
Maine Piano Man

My Keyboards:
Estonia L-190, Roland RD88, Yamaha P-80, Bilhorn Telescope Organ c 1880, Antique Pump Organ, 1850 concertina, 3 other digital pianos
-------------------------
My original piece on BandCamp: https://frankbaxtermrpianoworld.bandcamp.com/releases

Me banging out some tunes in the Estonia piano booth at the NAMM show...


It's Fun To Play the Piano ... PLEASE Pass It On!



#96940 03/23/07 09:56 AM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,714
L
4000 Post Club Member
Offline
4000 Post Club Member
L
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,714
I didn't know Jim, but I also add my condolences. That he was able to retire and build his dream house and a great piano...how wonderful. I pray he did have time to enjoy all of it. He sounded like a great person and if life is what it should be...he is playing on that wonderful piano...in a better place.

Kathleen


Chopin’s music is all I need to look into my soul.
#96941 03/23/07 10:08 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,167
2000 Post Club Member
Offline
2000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,167
Sorry to read the story

I didn't know Jim either...but my condolences to his wife and family.

what a beautiful home and piano


very sad


Lee


Twitter: @Seaside_Lee
#96942 03/23/07 10:19 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,380
1000 Post Club Member
Offline
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,380
I didn´t know Jim, but he apparently had good aesthetical and musical taste, qualities the world is in great need of.

My condolences.


“There are only two important things which I took with me on my way to America, It´s been my wife Natalja and my precious Blüthner.” – Sergei Rachmaninov

1913 Blüthner model 6
1929 Blüthner model 9.
#96943 03/23/07 10:24 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,546
3000 Post Club Member
Offline
3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,546
I'm sorry to hear of this as well. It is great that he had to chance to live in that beautiful home and play a wonderful and lovely piano. Rich, it must be satisfying to know that you were able to help him realize that dream.

Sophia

#96944 03/23/07 12:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 616
500 Post Club Member
Offline
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 616
Wow...

He lived 30 minutes away from me.

I've seen this over, and over, and over, and over again. Guy works hard his entire life, finally retires with his dream fulfilled, and drops dead within a year or two. We lost a recently retired co-worker this way 2 weeks ago - who lived about 3/4ths way between me and Jim.

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today - tomorrow may never come!


-Zorba
"The Veiled Male"
http://www.doubleveil.net
1918 Hobart M. Cable "H"
"No-one would knowingly provide Franz Liszt with a mediocre piano." -E. M. Good
#96945 03/23/07 12:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,760
1000 Post Club Member
Offline
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,760
Thanks for sharing this Rich. He sounded like a great guy. Reading through some of his posts by using his member number in the search engine, I noticed he contributed a lot of valuable information.


P.S.
If you need someone else to play golf with in California, look me up!


Jeff Bauer | Keyboard Concepts

Yamaha | Schimmel | Bösendorfer | Knabe | Restored Steinway

My soundcloud page
#96946 03/23/07 01:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,621
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Offline
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,621
I didn't know Jim, but if a home and his surroundings reflect a man's soul, this man was very special indeed.

Thanks for sharing - best regards and sincere condulations to the wife!

Norbert



#96947 03/24/07 11:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,522
G
1000 Post Club Member
Offline
1000 Post Club Member
G
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,522
My condolences to all who knew Jim, and especially to his wife. At least he had a little time to enjoy his beautiful vacation home and his piano.

Life often throws a curve at us, and wrecks our plans. Zorba is right about enjoying the moment, as tomorrow may never come.

I know too well how true this is. My dear husband and I had planned a long and happy future together, but it never came to pass. He was stricken with a combination of Parkinson's and ALS, and passed away before we had a chance to really enjoy the things we had planned.

I hope Jim's piano finds a loving home, and that Barbara finds conmfort and peace.

Gaby tu

#96948 03/24/07 05:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,340
2000 Post Club Member
Offline
2000 Post Club Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,340
I had the great pleasure to meet Jim at the M+H tour and later share posts/pm's with him regarding his dream home.

What a wonderful man. He was a gentleman and oh, so happy about his home and piano but more importantly marrying the woman of his dreams.

What a great loss.


BeeLady

Life is like a roll of toilet paper...the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes!
#96949 03/25/07 11:57 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,326
R
1000 Post Club Member
Offline
1000 Post Club Member
R
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,326
Because of my immense empathy, I was able to talk with the man's wife for a few moments. She is very, very torn up about it. I didn't know Jim or his wife, but I felt a need to call and give my condolences.

What a horrible occurrence. I hope she turns out okay.

-Colin

#96950 03/25/07 07:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,522
G
1000 Post Club Member
Offline
1000 Post Club Member
G
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,522
What a lovely thing to do Colin. I am sure Jim's wife appreciated your call. This is a devastating time for her, and she needs all the support she can get from friends, and concerned people. Gaby Tu

#96951 03/27/07 05:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,651
1000 Post Club Member
Offline
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,651
Condolences, and supplications for JimM's wife and family. Life is short, and precious.


http://www.ecital.net
Wikicital: A collaborative effort to build a knowledgebase of classical music history combined with examples. Your chance to both perform and write...

Don't click here!
#96952 03/27/07 10:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,990
J
3000 Post Club Member
Offline
3000 Post Club Member
J
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,990
Rich,

I'm sorry to hear this. I never met Jim, but I read many of his posts. My condolences to his wife Barbara.

John


Current works in progress:

Beethoven Sonata Op. 10 No. 2 in F, Haydn Sonata Hoboken XVI:41, Bach French Suite No. 5 in G BWV 816

Current instruments: Schimmel-Vogel 177T grand, Roland LX-17 digital, and John Lyon unfretted Saxon clavichord.
#96953 03/28/07 01:19 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 271
Full Member
Offline
Full Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 271
what more can I add? it's a tragedy beyond description.

i can only hope, to some grater plan.


Brian Lucey - M&H BB 1930
the day job: Magic Garden Mastering
"the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ecology" - unknown
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Gombessa, Piano World, platuser 

Link Copied to Clipboard
What's Hot!!
Piano World Has Been Sold!
--------------------
Forums RULES, Terms of Service & HELP
(updated 06/06/2022)
---------------------
Posting Pictures on the Forums
(ad)
(ad)
New Topics - Multiple Forums
Very Cheap Piano?
by Tweedpipe - 04/16/24 10:13 AM
Country style lessons
by Stephen_James - 04/16/24 06:04 AM
How Much to Sell For?
by TexasMom1 - 04/15/24 10:23 PM
Song lyrics have become simpler and more repetitive
by FrankCox - 04/15/24 07:42 PM
New bass strings sound tubby
by Emery Wang - 04/15/24 06:54 PM
Forum Statistics
Forums43
Topics223,386
Posts3,349,204
Members111,631
Most Online15,252
Mar 21st, 2010

Our Piano Related Classified Ads
| Dealers | Tuners | Lessons | Movers | Restorations |

Advertise on Piano World
| Piano World | PianoSupplies.com | Advertise on Piano World |
| |Contact | Privacy | Legal | About Us | Site Map


Copyright © VerticalScope Inc. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community.