And Joel Mabus sent this message to the FOLKDJ-L. I don't think he'd mind my passing it on here:

Gerry Armstrong was a wonderful person. I knew her only these past few years. When I would play Hogeye Concerts in Evanston she put me up for the night in her house. She insisted I take her bedroom because she "slept better on the couch." On the Sunday morning she was up early and off to sing in choir. Even after staying up late to listen to her friend, Studs Terkel, on the radio.

She showed me the wonderful children's books she and her late husband, George, wrote and illustrated in the 1950's. He was taken by Alzheimers some years ago, but his marvelous books (which should still be in print but are not) attest to his fine mind, which must have been such a sad loss to her.

The Golden Ring (and the sequels) were landmark recordings in the folk movement, in my book. In one gentle recording, the folk bubble was so elegantly deflated. Folk music was reclaimed from the big names and hyped record companies and all the hoo-ha. It was real people, with human talents singing real songs with no pretense of stardom nor any bookish claim of authenticity.

It set the tone for a whole generation of singers in the 1970's who kept the flame alive when commercial folk music retreated to the corners of church basements and America went disco. It inspired countless lovers of song to try their own voices on for size.

The Golden Ring was un-hyped then and remains so today. But it still shines. Maybe that's why I am so sure it is real gold.

Gerry was a lovely lady and she is missed.