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DATE: Fri, 11 Mar 1994 16:01:39 CST
From: Jack Ely 466-0458
Subject: My toughest gig


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From: "JACK EL~rgate.mec.ohio.gov
Subject: My toughest gig

March 1, 1994 -- My friend, buddy and partner in the amateur harmonica
group, Harpers Bizarre, passed away after several months of suffering from
a series of strokes - and surgery (where he suffered another) to minimize
further strokes. The surgery, almost a year ago, was risky and it left him
paralyzed on the right side and unable to speak. Nine hours prior to his
death Marv (another member of the group) and I played for him in his room
at the nursing home. Don White was a fine chord harmonica player and a
dedicated musician. He endured a lot of pain in order to play. He was a
trooper - I remember before illness put him down for the count - he would
play gigs when we had to carry his equipment for him - and he would sit on
a padded stool - it took all his strength to hold that two foot harmonica.
He was blinded in one eye by a stroke and also endured diabetes and
arthritis. But he said he wanted to play harmonica as long as he could.

At the request of the family - the BSHC club played at his funeral
service. There were 21 of us - we played AMAZING GRACE and JUST A CLOSER
WALK WITH THEE. Harpers Bizarre (there are 4 of us now) also played a
special tribute to Don at the service. Don, besides loving the harmonica
all his life, was an aeronautical engineer, graduate of Notre Dame, and a
Commander in the USN - retired. Our tribute consisted of PEG-O-MY HEART,
THE NOTRE DAME FIGHT SONG, ANCHORS AWEIGH, AND THE NAVY HYMN (ETERNAL
FATHER) - which we learned hastily. At the end of the service, rather than
saying the LORD'S PRAYER as is customary, HB played it.

It was a tough gig and there was a lot of natural vibrato but we were
proud of the send off we gave Don.
Hit the third wire!
Jack, Marv, John & Bill
HARPERS BIZARRE
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ Jack N. Ely, Operations Mgr. Internet: SYS_E~DE-A1.OECN.OHIO.GOV +
+ Ohio Department of Education ely~ecn.ohio.gov +
+ Information Management Services BITNET: N/A +
+ 2151 Carmack Road UUCP: mecsys!ely +
+ Columbus, Ohio 43221 Voice: (614)466-7000 FAX: (614)466-0022 +
+ ________________ +
+"Have harmonica, will travel." [|OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO|]=<] +
+ Wire Cat Daddy, Columbus /_________________/ +
+ Buckeye State Harmonica Club+
+"If Music is the international language, Columbus, Ohio +
+ then why not the harmonica to speak it?" +
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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