[Fwd: Richard Hassig]

[Kent Swafford]

Begin forwarded message:

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Richard Hassig
> Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 21:33:29 -0700
> From: "Loren Buntemeyer" <lbuntemeyer@ku.edu>
> To: <sandy@ptg.org>
>
> PTG Members,
>
> John Baird had mentioned some of the great things that Richard Hassig 
> had
> accomplished with the National PTG, colleges  and his local chapter.  I
> wanted to add a few special tributes to Richard also.
>
> As Richard was blind, he accepted his blindness and did not allow it to
> interfere with his life schedule.  He attended all PTG classes 
> possible,
> which included sighted and visually impaired, in order to stretch his
> knowledge about pianos.  He was proud of his accomplishments and always
> wanted to share them with the sighted and the blind.  As some sighted
> persons are not comfortable attending the visually impaired classes, he
> always encouraged the sighted to attend the classes so we could 
> exchange
> technical tips and let the sighted know that there are also excellent 
> blind
> technicians.  He always wanted to break the ice barrier or 
> stereotyping of
> the blind.
>
> Richard and I talked or exchanged e-mails frequently discussing 
> computers,
> piano tech or just life in general.  He was a great friend and I will 
> miss
> him dearly.  His enthusiasm for promoting the field of piano tuning for
> everyone and especially the blind will be missed.  His support of 
> students
> and graduates from the Emil Fries School of Piano Tuning & Technology 
> was
> appreciated also.
>
> One of Richard's favorite jokes was: How many piano tuners does it 
> take to
> screw in a light bulb?  None, good tuners don't need a light.  
> Electronic
> tuners always appreciated this joke.
>
> Loren Buntemeyer RPT
> lbuntemeyer@ku.edu