Gotta watch those leg repairs -- they can be killers. Quite a delightful story, Israel, thanks. Given that we none of us are going to be able to avoid death or taxes forever, a sudden massive heart attack or killing stroke while still able enough to be out working is about the easiest exit imaginable, short of dying quietly in one's sleep, after a long walk and a good lunch. Susan Kline At 11:57 AM 11/3/2009, you wrote: > >Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:17:29 -0800 Susan Kline wrote: > > >I will take it as given that once I hang up the tuning hammer, someone > >will somehow appear. If I'm still around and kicking by then, I might > >inform the major schools. Of course, maybe I'll be tuning away and > >drop dead. I believe Ted Sambell once said, "they'll have to scrape > >me off the keyboard." <smile> Sure beats hanging on in some miserable > >hospital or old folks home. > > >Susan Kline, RPT > >Susan, > >If you all don't mind, this calls for another story. Those who have >been around the business in the Boston area probably remember Bob >Ruthman. Bob - after serving as a ship's cook in the Navy through >World War II and playing a mean harmonica all the while - was >discovered to have perfect pitch by some lucky happenstance. So upon >discharge he was advised to use his GI Bill to enroll at the North >Bennet Street School (yes, it's been around for over 100 years) to >learn piano tuning. After that he worked as staff technician for the >Steinway dealer in Boston for 34 years - where I was privileged to >be his colleague for the last one... He was working on a piano at a >motel out in Lynn (some sort of leg or lyre repair - I forget, it >was about 20 years ago) - when the manager got suspicious, not >having heard anything in a long time. He found Bob lying dead under >the piano, victim of his third heart attack. Poor Bob, people at the >funeral were saying... Those of us who knew him rather thought, >"Lucky Bob - he died while doing what he loved". In his years at >Steinert Bob taught a lot of "green" technicians - including me - an >awful lot... > >A week after the funeral, I got sent out to Lynn to finish the job. >It was sort of weird... Still, if one has to go... > >Israel Stein > > >
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