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Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 2009
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Subject: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Jon Bartlett Date: 10 Apr 09 - 08:28 PM I've just heard from Devon Leger that John Ross has gone. I hope Devon or some other informed person will update us. A huge loss. Jon Bartlett |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: katlaughing Date: 10 Apr 09 - 09:02 PM This is Mudcat's John Ross? I hope we learn more, soon. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Jon Bartlett Date: 10 Apr 09 - 11:17 PM Further: Devon Leger has just emailed the following: "Dear Family and Friends of Northwest Folklife and Seattle Folklore Society, We are very sorry to give you the sad news that our friend, John Ross, has passed away. We heard about this today from the police and it comes as a shock to us all. We do not know much about his passing yet, but we have been told that he died of apparent natural causes at his house. We are sorry to send this information to you over email, but we hope that you will be able to forward this email on to other friends and colleagues of John Ross so that they may be informed of his passing. At this point, the investigators are asking for information on John's family. We know that his parents passed away some years ago and that he was an only child, but we do not know if he has any living relatives. Investigator Monty Nelson has asked anyone who knows about John's family history to call him with this information. His phone number is 206-731-3232. If you push the number 1 after calling, you can skip the automated machine and go straight to his number. Monty would appreciate any information you have about John Ross' family or anything to help the police contact next of kin. It is clear that John Ross drew his family and friends from the Seattle folk music scene. It is up to us to celebrate his life and to help in his passing. It is our hope that those who are interested could organize a service or remembrance of some kind in his name prior to the Northwest Folklife Festival. We're thinking of ways to remember him at Folklife as well. Thank you, Devon Leger" - forwarded by Jon Bartlett |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: mg Date: 11 Apr 09 - 12:26 AM Oh my goodness..what a loss..hopefully we will wake up and find out it is not true.. I know that he is a veteran..I think Coast Guard..perhaps Navy though.. He also was a writer/editor of computer type books..and a font of knowledge on all sorts of topics. mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Deckman Date: 11 Apr 09 - 12:31 AM So long John, Bob |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Deckman Date: 11 Apr 09 - 12:41 AM Yes Kat, he was a strong mudcatter. VERY knowledgable on most issues surrounding traditional folkmusic. While he himself was not a performer, he knew many of the giants. He leaves a large hole. Bob |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: mg Date: 11 Apr 09 - 12:45 AM I believe he was also Jewish if that would help. mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Genie Date: 11 Apr 09 - 03:22 AM This is terrible news. John has been a vibrant member of Mudcat and contributor to the NW Folklife Festival for years, and I always appreciated his droll wit, his extensive knowledge and his friendship. Among other things, he rand the Band Scramble at PNWF Festival every year and did a great job of that. The Festival will not be the same without John. RIP, John. There a few -- way too many -- others in the Pacific NW music community who've also recently departed too soon. I hope you all can continue the music wherever you are. Genie |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Haruo Date: 11 Apr 09 - 03:32 AM It is a shock, even though I didn't really know him aside from Mudcat, and not that well here. But my dad's name was John Ross, and for a moment I thought it was about him (even though he died 40 years ago). Seattle's Haruo Ros' |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: RoyH (Burl) Date: 11 Apr 09 - 08:23 AM I didn't know John Ross personally but there was a time when we were in contact regarding me coming to sing in the PNE. It didn't work out but I remember the courtesy of his replies and his efforts on my behalf. I am sad to hear of his passing. Yet another friend of folk music leaves us too soon. Burl. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Amos Date: 11 Apr 09 - 02:14 PM Posts by John. A |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Don Firth Date: 11 Apr 09 - 04:12 PM This was a real jolt when I first saw Jon Bartlett's opening post yesterday. I can't recall offhand where I first met John, but I do remember his inviting Barbara and me, plus a whole bunch of other singers to his house on Queen Anne Hill for an informal reception or party during the first Northwest Folklife Festival I sang in in the late 1970s. The house had a large living room and he often had house concerts there. And I kept running into John from time to time, but I can't say that I knew him all that well at first. But as I understand it, John was also the one responsible for the Coffeehouse Reunion Concert (or "Geezer's concert") at the 2003 Northwest Folklife Festival. John, along with some of the singers involved, met in Barbara's and my apartment a few times before the concert to plan things out, and it was then that we got to know each other better. A few years ago, I was trying to set up Barbara's and my computers with a wireless internet connection and I was getting nowhere with it. Knowing that John wrote computer books, I gave him a call to ask him a few questions and he came over and got us all set up. From that time on, knowing he didn't have family in the area, we have been inviting him to our holiday get-togethers, along with a number of other "orphans" we know—friends who also have no families nearby. John was very knowledgeable in many areas, and in the folk music field he knew many of the "biggies" and "not-so-biggies." He was hard at work writing a book on the history of folk music in the Pacific Northwest. I am doing the same thing, but John was using an academic, historical approach, whereas mine is taking a more informal, personal approach, so we weren't stepping on each others toes and we frequently exchanged information. I don't know how far along John was with the book (I gathered from some things he said that it was fairly well along), but I hope that the work he has done so far doesn't remain unfinished and get lost—that someone highly competent can take it over and finish it, because I am sure it will be of considerable value. I would be very reluctant to try to tackle it myself because frankly, I don't feel up to the task of completing the work in the way he started it, but I certainly hope someone does. He has done a great deal of work in archiving material for the Seattle Folklore Society, and he generously offered Bob Nelson some major assistance in his archiving project, along with digitizing and preserving some of my tapes and irreplaceable vinyl records. It's a cliché to say that John will be sorely missed, but—he will be sorely missed, both for his efforts in behalf of folk music and for his friendship and generosity. Don Firth P. S. Regarding mg's observation, John said that his heritage was Jewish, but as he put it himself, he was "non-practicing." |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: katlaughing Date: 11 Apr 09 - 04:25 PM Thanks for telling us more about his 3D life, Don. I have always admired his knowledge, etc. here at Mudcat and am really sad to hear of his passing. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, April 09 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Apr 09 - 04:55 PM This is so sad! He was a "go to" guy for so much information to do with the preservation of Northwestern music. We'd talked several times about my father's collection. John was one of those who traveled on the Washington State ferry (from Edmonds) to scatter my father's (John Dwyer) ashes in Puget Sound. He is in this photo from that trip, second from the left. Maggie Dwyer (Stilly River Sage) |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: catspaw49 Date: 11 Apr 09 - 05:15 PM Though I had no personal interaction here with him, I also remember reading a number of his posts. I too want to thank Don and Maggie too for the additional info and picture. Another sad loss for many and the 'Cat as well...... Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Genie Date: 11 Apr 09 - 05:25 PM Yes, thanks, Don for all that info on John's work as a music historian and archivist (and tech expert). I was aware of some of that but didn't know just how extensive it was. And thanks, Maggie, for the pics too. I see you have one (the last pic) of Stan James, too, who also left us way too soon. Thanks, Genie |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,GP Date: 11 Apr 09 - 06:17 PM Such a sad shock. I provided a huge stash of archival material to him several years ago (folk audio), and we had many wonderful conversations over the years - about music, about archiving, about cider, about any of his many and varied interests. The Folklife Festival will be a lesser event this year without him. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Fred Maslan Date: 11 Apr 09 - 09:37 PM Another shock! I was talking to him a few weeks ago at a concert and he was excited about a new archive that was being formed. He looked the same as always and did not seem ready to leave us. RIP Fred |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,Squeaks at Folklife Date: 12 Apr 09 - 02:29 AM It is with a heavy heart that I add this post. I've known John for many years & the hole that his passing leaves will not be filled any time soon. I'll miss his droll wit & the times we shared. RIP, JR. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,MCMC Date: 12 Apr 09 - 03:34 AM I still haven't fully grasped the fact that John is gone. He was definitely an iconoclast and "self-proclaimed curmudgeon"; but he was a good friend and ardent supporter of the folk community. I was looking forward to seeing him at Folklife again this year, and hearing about his new book, and discussing the best local places to find dim sum, and comparing our record collections (he was the only person I knew who enjoyed old Elektra stuff as much as I did), and finding out more about his latest projects, and doing all the other things we used to do whenever we saw each other. He was eccentric but considerate, and I will miss him deeply. RIP, JR - you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Apr 09 - 11:38 AM There were some large gaps in his posting. I hope it didn't take a month and a half for people to realize he wasn't around. That is one of the heartbreaks of an older person living alone. My father died a week before his neighbor found him. I could usually expect gaps of a few days in the email if he was going out of town, but I'd started pinging him to see why he hadn't written back, and the neighbor reached a point when it had just been too long since he'd last seen him. I hope someone who has John's folk preservation and research interests at heart serves as his administrator. It doesn't have to be an attorney, it doesn't even have to be a family member. But it does have to be someone a judge approves. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Jon Bartlett Date: 12 Apr 09 - 02:34 PM My last email from John was March 3. We spoke about some David Levine material he was helping David sell. Jon Bartlett |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Deckman Date: 12 Apr 09 - 02:59 PM I met with David Levine and John at David's house then. We all spent several hours pouring over old material and enjoying ourselves. John did not look well at the time. Bob |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,MCMC Date: 13 Apr 09 - 11:42 AM As many people know, John used to tell Mudcatters who were planning to go to the Northwest Folklife Festival to pick up their "Mudcat ID Stickers" at Festival Services. We are happy to announce that, in his honor, we will be continuing the tradition that he began: anyone wanting to be readily recognizable by their fellow Mudcatters at Folklife can go to the Festival Services desk on the 3rd floor of the Center House and ask for a Mudcat ID sticker. In the past, the ID stickers were green dots; and they probably will be again this year. If that changes, we'll be sure to post the new information to this site as soon as possible. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: wysiwyg Date: 13 Apr 09 - 11:46 AM RIP ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,Richard Anderson Date: 13 Apr 09 - 03:36 PM I have known John for a number of years, but not well. He did have a dry wit. What is interesting is how he partitioned his life. John was active as long as I can remember in cider. He helped form the Northwest Cider Society, serving in various capacities. I will miss him. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: devonleger Date: 13 Apr 09 - 07:02 PM John Ross passed away on April 6, in the evening, from a sudden heart attack. I just got the information from the coroner. They are still looking for any family or next of kin. If you know of any living family members, please contact me and I'll pass the info on to the police. devon@nwfolklife.org It is clear that John Ross drew his family and friends from the Seattle folk music scene. It is up to us to celebrate his life and to help in his passing. It is our hope that those who are interested could organize a service or remembrance of some kind in his name prior to the Northwest Folklife Festival. We're thinking of ways to remember him at Folklife as well. -Devon Leger |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,mg Date: 13 Apr 09 - 07:04 PM Has there been any luck in finding family members? Cousins etc.? I have a vague memory of him talking about Cincinatti or Cleveland..mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: devonleger Date: 13 Apr 09 - 07:11 PM We've heard about cousins, but nothing else. He was an only child and his parents passed away some years ago. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Apr 09 - 07:19 PM I wonder if reading through his Mudcat posts would reveal anything? He usually stuck to music, but he might have gotten into an off-topic discussion somewhere. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,Jef Jaisun Date: 13 Apr 09 - 07:32 PM Apparently, the people on this board are the only ones who know about John's passing. Neither Seattle paper (I still include the online P-I) has anything, and I found out through a mutual friend in California! I'd known John since our days at KRAB, and that goes back at least 35 years. A couple years ago I rewired the outlets in his house so he could plug in all his gear. He was a good man who worked mostly behind the scenes. My guess is he will be severely conspicuous in his absence. RIP, J.R. Jef |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Genie Date: 13 Apr 09 - 08:07 PM I emailed Bruce Baker, of the Seattle FolkMusic Society, when I read the news here. Stewart and Fred M and some other catters are also involved in the Seattle Song Circles, which include quite a few people who knew John. Yes, John will be quite conspicuous in his absence, especially at Folklife but way beyond that as well. I do hope there will be some sort of tribute to John at Folklife and before that too. (I think the band scramble should continue at Folklife as "The John Ross Memorial Band Scramble," though he will be hard to replace as emcee. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Big Mick Date: 13 Apr 09 - 08:09 PM Breaks my heart to lose John. He was always a memorable and well informed poster who could be counted on for great insights on folk music. He also circulated among some of the greats of our times, and shared many wonderful stories here. I have gone back through a great deal of his postings and the only clues I find are the following: Perhaps some 'catters from those areas can contact the older folkies in the area and see if they have any clues. We will miss you johnross. You were a mighty contributor in these here precincts. But your voice will be heard for many years in the Pacific Northwest, in the folkies your work touched and inspired. God be good to him. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,MCMC Date: 13 Apr 09 - 08:31 PM He was born in Brookline, MA and lived in that general area all through high school; but his parents had moved to Florida after John was grown and moved away. (As has been mentioned before, they're both gone now; his mother died about fifteen or twenty years ago, and his father followed a couple or three years afterwards.) He was an alumnus of St. John's College in Annapolis, and he was very proud of having gone there - he often told me he was planning to bequeath his record collection to their library (he thought it was particularly appropriate in light of the fact that Jac Holzman, the founder of Elektra Records, was also a St. John's alumnus). He also got a kick out of the fact that he spent his four years in the Coast Guard stationed in St. Louis, which wasn't anywhere near a coast! He had even started to write a humorous song about it, and would sing a few lines here and there when he was hanging out at Festival Services during Folklife, but unfortunately he never got it down on paper. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Deckman Date: 13 Apr 09 - 09:32 PM This posting will be long ... John and I had been having many discussions over the last months about our collections of folk music. He had been helping me get started in the proper archiving of my own collection. He also had been very active in the formation of a concertium of reputable organizations toward the goal of creating a public facility for the proper storage of these materials, as well as the public dissemination of these musics. These were key issues with him, and remain key with me also. Since his death I have had several conversations with other archivists in the Seattle area regarding the future of our own material. Of course we are all concerned about the future of John's material. Right now we are all asking the same questions: were their relatives, a will, an executor? We don'y know yet. Perhaps a will will surface that will give legal guidelines for the future repository of John's lifelong work. We can only hope this will prove to be the case. On a personal level, the loss of John has caused me to realize that I need to revise my own will by paying speciall attention to the materials I have collected. I will be discussing this soon with my children. While they are not driven with the passion for traditional folk music that has haunted me all my life, they nevertheless have always enjoyed "my music" and certainly respect the material. It may turn out the I may simply place a certified letter in my will, adressed to my children, stating my desires for the future use of my collection. That alone might save it from the garbage dump. This something that perhaps all of you also need to exam. Bob(deckman)Nelson |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Apr 09 - 09:56 PM A letter like that could have saved us a lot of grief; Bob knows my story, but I'll leave it at that. John sent a number of pieces of useful advice over the years as we talked about my father's collection. Ironic that this month I've been working on my office, rearranging all of that material to a more readily examined collection. The papers are still scrambled, but the books that I have are right here in reach. After a burglary a few years ago I stopped work on the collection, but I've been getting back to it. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Jon Bartlett Date: 13 Apr 09 - 11:23 PM Yes, I recall him speaking of leaving his record collection to St. John's, too, which makes me more sanguine that there's a will somewhere around. He was a vet of the Coastguard: does that help with funeral expenses, etc? Let me second Deckman's excellent suggestion about all of us leaving some kind of instructions re the disposition of our stuff. We take it (and, I suppose, life) too much for granted. I've got Jeff Warner's song "Little Black Train A-Coming" running through my head these days: "... Get all your business right/Better put your things in order/for the train might come tonight..." Thank you, Devon, for taking the lead with all this. I'd love to help but I'm in Princeton, 6 hrs north. Jon |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: GUEST,mg Date: 14 Apr 09 - 02:18 PM Is lack of kin holding up the process of cremation or burial? I hope not. I think he would not want to be a fuss and I suspect he would have requested cremation. I hate to think of him being "on hold" while this gets worked out but I am sure there are laws etc. mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: mg Date: 14 Apr 09 - 03:54 PM I presume people have been in touch with the board of the Seattle Folklife...they would have known him pretty well..also John Watt of SFS...there has to be some sort of resolution asap, not of the sale of the house or the record collection but of the body. Perhaps this has alreay been done, and in which case, could someone put our minds to rest on this. mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: mg Date: 14 Apr 09 - 04:05 PM I presume Phil and Vivian of the Folklife board (still?) are being consulted, and Phil is a lawyer so would know various things...mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: devonleger Date: 14 Apr 09 - 04:37 PM The police are actively looking for any living family members. The family members will then be in charge of the body and the estate. If there are no family members, then local friends will help take charge of the body and estate. We're working on it now and will know more this week. Devon Leger If you would like to help out in resolving John's affairs and/or planning a memorial, let me know (devon@nwfolklife.org). I'll compile an email list and get everyone talking. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: mg Date: 14 Apr 09 - 05:10 PM Someone here at work just spoke of a similar situation and said that the Homeowner's Policy paid for a pretty good cleaning of the house. His property is a matter of public record and it might say who holds the mortgage if there is one..I remember when he bought the house and it seems to me it was private contract and could be paid off by now. Insurance should be contacted. Phil has probably looked into that... Do we know if there was delay in finding the body? I just want this aspect of it taken care of and the rest done at a more steady pace. If it has been a while since the death occured, I would hope for immediate resolution of this. mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Apr 09 - 05:26 PM Apparently if there was a delay it was only a few days. Further up here you'll see the death was on April 6 and we learned of it on April 10. No saying (yet) when the discovery occurred. Whoever manages his estate will have the death certificate, and will have to be appointed by the court to manage his affairs, so the contacting of various entities will have to wait until that person comes forward. The estate doesn't need to be probated by family, an attorney could do it. There are standards established for how to do that. Records must be clear, and if heirs come forward, they WILL require complete access to the process, that is guaranteed. But if there is a competent friend or colleague who is willing to do the job, they need to be the first to step forward and do it. Estates are a LOT OF WORK. But it sounds like this is a very important estate to the Seattle Folk Community. Wills can be filed in advance. Check with the county in which he resides and see if this has happened, but chances are, it hasn't. So talk among yourselves, and someone go ahead and take care of it for John. And keep in mind that if you live alone, someone may have to take care of all of this for you one day. Be kind, be discreet, be non-judgmental. Keep good records. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Genie Date: 15 Apr 09 - 12:25 AM Ah, yes, Mary G, John Watt is the friend of John's whose last name I was trying to remember. I think if anyone at SFS has more info about John's wishes he might well be the one. I don't have his e-dress but I think I know someone who does. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: mg Date: 15 Apr 09 - 01:30 AM I put in a call to him. I also have written the medical examiner in Seattle asking what the procedure is. Especially because he was at least culturally Jewish, although I think not overly observant..they want burial as quickly as possible..they also do not allow cremation but he might have expressed wishes to the contrary. mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: mg Date: 15 Apr 09 - 07:14 PM Can we get some focus here please. Don't worry about his music collection. His body is lying in the morgue and the examiners are asking for information. We can not just let him lie there..they are about to consider the indigent process, which he would not have wanted. His estate would be able to finance a simple cremation or burial, I am pretty sure, if he at least still had the house in Wallingford...or computer equipment could be sold..we need to get going here...I have an email from the examiner I could forward if someone pm's me. mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Apr 09 - 09:43 PM Mary, for those of us who aren't part of his family, if we are to help, it ends up being a package deal. Whoever deals with the estate deals with the burial, that's how it works in most cases. So if someone is going to step in, the most prolonged and detailed part of the process is the estate. That person needs to know what they're doing with all of the research and whatever he collected. John is at peace. If he was in pain, it is over. His friends can do the best for him by making sure his life's work is dealt with efficiently and respectfully. If family isn't there to step forward, then things will be taken care of more slowly, but they will be taken care of. If, as you think, John was a secular Jew, then I think burial versus cremation would not have been something he would get overwrought about. My two cents. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: mg Date: 15 Apr 09 - 10:58 PM The estate stuff can take ten years for all I care. And I also think cremation would be the logical thing in a case like this and I doubt he would object. The state is about to do something soon though about the body, which is my only concern, not that it is a bad idea, but I do think he should not be considered indigent when he was middle-class as far as I know, and a way could probably be found to pay for a simple cremation or burial, charged against his estate. There are things that can be done from a distance in terms of finding relatives or ruling out the fact reasonably at least that none exist and expediting this..also Jewish people sit shiva etc., which I do not know about but maybe some of then want to do something along those lines. mg |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Genie Date: 15 Apr 09 - 11:11 PM Mary, the problem with an estate taking ten years is that that costs money, and it can mean that some things (e.g., John's books and music collection, in this case) might be sold at auction (and not to the people the decedent would wish) to pay court expenses (including executor's fees if the court appoints one at random). Handling an estate is not just about who gets money (if any). How it's handled can make a big difference as to whether one's wishes are given proper respect after one's death. I can't speak for John, but I suspect that Stilly is right that John probably cared more about what happens to his "life's work" than what happens to his remains -- assuming that he didn't tell anyone how he felt about cremation, burial, or "the indigent process" either in a will or in person. But of course if there is anything we non-Puget-Sound folks can do to help in either regard (e.g., contributing to a cremation fund if needed), I'm sure there will be many of us ready to do that. I did email John W for info and suggestions too. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Seattle's John Ross, Mudcatter, April 09 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Apr 09 - 11:19 PM Estates have to be approved by judges if there are problems or protests. The courts hope the family will take care of it and everything will go well, but they're there if it doesn't. It seems awfully soon for him to be declared anything, let alone "indigent." If he was found in his home, he isn't indigent. Be patient. It'll work out. I think I read somewhere that estates tend to take an average of two years, not 10. Unless you're Elvis Presley or John Lennon. SRS |
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