Gary Sessions, of Dallas, TX, lost his valliant battle against cancer on March 17, 2009. I first met Gary and his lovely wife, Barbara, at the IGKT-NAB AGM, in Charleston, SC, in 2005. I was surprised and delighted to see that they were in Fareham, when I arrived at the IGKT Silver Anniversary meeting there, in 2007.
They had planned to attend the IGKT-PAB Tenth Anniversary meeting, several weeks later, in Long Beach, CA, but Gary was too ill to travel, when the time came. Then, when I got to the NAB meeting in Orlando, FL, that winter, there they were! It was so wonderful to see them again.
Gary was a very generous man and taught many knot-tyers, over the years. He founded the Texas branch of the IGKT, and was a long-time member of the NAB, as well. He will be sorely missed. My love and prayers go out to Barbara and the rest of the family.
C. E. "Bud" Brewer, of Flagler, CO, passed suddenly from a heart attack, also on March 17, 2009. I first began chatting with Bud in the online knot chats. At that time, he lived in New York, but on retiring, he soon moved to Flagler, CO. My best-friend-since-kindergarten, lives in Colorado Springs, and we visit her every few years, on our family vacations. The next time we went to Colorado, I told DH we must go visit Bud, as part of the vacation. On that visit, Bud generously and very patiently, taught me to turn a project on his lathe.
I will treasure forever the fid I made that day!
Bud was able to attend the IGKT-PAB Tenth Anniversary meeting in 2007, and generously donated many of his lovingly-crafted tools. I was fortunate to win a couple of those wonderful pieces, but I treasure the time we were able to spend together even more. It was over far too quickly.
The last time we (DH, our two sons, and I) visited Bud was this past summer. He gave generously of his time and talents while we were there. He took us to visit the farm his friend runs, and we all had a wonderful time.
He made me a very nice (TINY) hollow fid with black and red LEATHER knots on it (a square Turk's Head on the end and wider pineapple, just below that). I knew then that I must be special, because he gave of his PRECIOUS red and black stash! ; - )
I often told him how generous he was, and he always told me not to tell anyone else that, because he had a reputation to uphold. He wanted everyone to think of him as a gruff old man -- but I knew better. He was friend, mentor, father-figure, and much more, to so many of us! My prayers are with his daughter, Kim, and the rest of the family.
Sad, tearful hugs, everyone.
3 comments:
Lily, a most appreciated notice of the passing of two of the "giants" of the present-day knotting community. Gary and Bud were two of those upon whose shoulders we stood and they will be very badly missed.
Fair winds and following seas to both.
thank you so much for posting a tribute to wonderful men. I never met or had dealings with Gary, but Bud and I chatted frequently at night until about 3 months ago - when life got in the way. Now, I am so sorry it did, as I've missed so much that I will never be able to regain.
I have two spikes made for me by Bud - and will treasure them eternally.
God speed my friend.
I never met Bud in person, but enjoy his tutorials that are posted on-line. I have emailed back and forth with him on a couple of occasions to clarify how to work up some turk heads. Most recently, he was kind enough to send me a metal spike that he made. I must say that I do treasure it. In the envelope he sent it in, Bud also put some knots that he made on a dowel. I was going to make a TH of my own to adorn the spike with, but now it seems fitting to use the star heel knot in black small stuff (synthetic). I will always refer to this as my "Bud" spike.
Andrew "Amphiprion" J.
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