Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)

Subject: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Stewart
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 06:56 PM

Sad news from Seattle: Bob (Deckman) Nelson phoned me this morning - "It is my sad duty to announce the passing of Don Firth. He died in Seattle, Washington on Friday morning, September fourth, 2015. He was a pillar of the folk music community of the Pacific Northwest since the early 1950's. He was unique and will be greatly missed. Here is a link to a recent article about Don." Bob Nelson

Don was a founding member of the Pacific Northwest Folklore Society, a great source of knowledge on folk music, a long-time member of Mudcat, and a true gentleman and friend. He introduced me to Bob Nelson soon after I moved to Seattle nineteen years ago, and they both gave me a great introduction to the folk music of the Pacific Northwest. I will miss him, but feel very fortunate to have known him.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:00 PM

Sad News indeed - RIP Don

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:02 PM

Another Mudcat stalwart gone. May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:14 PM

Don was my father's guitar instructor back in the 1960s. I think was probably my first little kid crush - he had such a great voice and wonderful repertoire. My condolences to Barbara. And to Bob - they've been friends for decades.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: gnu
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:26 PM

Oh dear. So sadly, RIP and thanks. I'll miss you, buddy.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Alice
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:37 PM

Don was always one of the bright spots on Mudcat for me. This is very sad news. My sympathy to all of Don's loved ones.

Alice in Montana

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:37 PM

Very sad. I always enjoyed Don Firth's posts........even when I disagreed with them. His passing feels like a shock.....he seemed, to me, to be one of those people who defined Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:39 PM

Condolences to his family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Janie
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:41 PM

No words other than so sad.

I will miss you, Don. You were such a contributor to this community, above and below the line.

Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends who really knew him.

Gonna go off a cry a little while now, and I really can't say I knew him personally, even on-line.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:43 PM

A great bloke, and I never disagreed with his posts. A star and a real human being.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: freda underhill
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 07:51 PM

It's sad that he's gone, so talented, such a gentleman. I always agreed with his posts - yes, what a loss to Mudcat and the world.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 08:03 PM

Rest in peace, Don.

XOXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 08:09 PM

Don's Mudcat posts: here.

A well-lived life, and a loss to this and his home community.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 08:28 PM

RIP

I always hate it when one more thinking, reasoning, reflective person leaves us.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 08:30 PM

I was sorry to hear of Don's passing. I did not know him personally but would often enjoy reading his posts here on Mudcat. I was reading the interesting article about his musical background that Guest Stewart left a link to today. Don was a very talented man!
Condolences to his family and friends for their loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 08:57 PM

Thank you, Stewart, for letting us know,man thank you, Becky, for the links to his posts. I was wondering when he most recently posted, and evidently it was August 25--not long ago. I hope someone will share the cause of death when that information is available.

My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 09:12 PM

Really sorry to hear this.

One of the few people on Mudcat who always talked complete sense.

I will miss you.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 09:40 PM

I like Don. I liked his views on his wife, on society, on marriage, on disabilities, on debate and disagreements, on music. I will miss him.

Condolences to his wife and all those who also loved him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Mary Katherine
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 09:45 PM

So sorry to hear this sad news.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 10:08 PM

................. Don & I shared our thoughts on so many threads over the years, and I could always rely on him to say clearly & succinctly what needed to BE said. Over the years, I have met many Mudcatters... he was on my short list of folks I dearly wanted to chat with and make some music with.

I think of him in the same way I do Rick Fielding as one who made this crazy place a pleasure....

bye Don....

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: frogprince
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 10:15 PM

My best words for Don have already been spoken here: "thinking, reasonable, reflective", "gentleman". I've really appreciated so much of what he posted, and will miss him. Condolences to his wife and son, and to Bob Nelson, Stewart, and his other personal friends.

             Dean

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,mauvepink
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 10:15 PM

Sorry to read this sad news :(      RIP Don

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Ron Davies
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 10:36 PM

So, so sorry to see this.   


Don was always so sensible, thoughtful, rational, calm.



And he told great stories.

To some extent it seems he was present at the creation, at least in the US

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 11:14 PM

I always liked reading his posts. May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 11:17 PM

Don Firth's posts logged in and signed in as a guest.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 11:38 PM

Very sad. He'll be missed around here. Wish I'd met him in person.

Rest in peace.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 12:02 AM

No use pretending that I always got along with Don, or that I always agreed with him-and I am feeling kind of bad about some of that right now.

I suppose that when you've connected with someone over a long period of time--that is to say, you've gotten to see their life, their tastes, their interests, their quirks and predispositions unfold over time, there are bound to be some differences. I hope he understood that I always liked him a lot, and that I read and and carefully considered everything that he wrote.

The thing about Don was that he had a wonderful sense of the sound and effect of his voice. Not just his singing voice or his speaking voice, but of his written voice, as well. This isn't just a talent, it is the stock and trade of a broadcaster--the ability to fill and extra 60 seconds or to cut something short, to make the improvised fit seamlessly with what has been carefully prepared, and to always hit the sweet spot.

If you listen to his singing, you will hear not only a deep, resonant voice, but also a "natural" voice-he had an excellent sense of phrasing and great timing, so you forgot about everything else and only heard the story he was telling--

His writing was like that, too--I particularly loved his reminiscences because he had gift for taking you to a distant time, to a room you'd never been in, with people you'd never met, and making you feel at home. He mentioned writing a book on numerous occasions--I have a feeling that was never realized, but I think a lot of his notes and first drafts are with us in the many, many threads that he contributed to--

Don, you were a luminous presence here for long, lo, these many years. Your voice was so clear, so constant, that it felt like you'd be with us forever-tho that is not so, we will always remember you.

Blessings and condolences to friends and family. Holding you all in the light.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Deckman
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 12:26 AM

To "guest Stim" ... Barbara Firth told me this morning that Don's son is now dedicated to completing Don's book.   bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 01:15 AM

That's excellent news, Bob. Thanks. I was pondering how to ask about that project, and about his son. You answered both in one.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Bert.
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 01:33 AM

Oh no, not another one. Bye old Mudcatter. I never met you in person but I'm gonna really miss you.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: KT
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 01:56 AM

So sorry to hear this news. This place is better for his having been here. Condolences to his loved ones. Rest in peace, Mr. Firth.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 02:12 AM

I'm missing him already. He was involved deeply in Mudcat and his comments often made me smile. My condolences to all those that know and love him.

RIP

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 03:13 AM

Keep us posted on that--

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Monique
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 03:17 AM

Sorry to hear this. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: treewind
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 03:31 AM

RIP. Sorry to hear this news. Mudcat won't be the same without him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 03:56 AM

Sad news indeed. RIP, Don. Much respect.

Sean Breadin / Sedayne.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: vectis
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 04:47 AM

A sad loss to his family as well as to the Mudcat family. We will miss his wisdom and down to earth attitude.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: JennieG
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 04:58 AM

Condolences to Don's family......he was a man I would have loved to have met, he seemed such an interesting bloke.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 06:03 AM

Very sad news indeed. RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 06:26 AM

That is sad and we will miss him here. Condolonces to all his real life family and friends.

Dave

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Ernest
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 08:58 AM

Sad news indeed. I will also miss his contributions here.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Ernest

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 09:05 AM

Very, very saddened by this news. A man who exemplified the best of what Mudcat is all about. His posts were always worth reading.

Another fine one gone...

My deepest condolences to his family and friends.


Jay

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 09:34 AM

I never met Don, but his posts were always well worth reading.

Another great loss for this forum.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Elmore
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 09:54 AM

I always found Don's post interesting. They extended far beyond the limits of folk music. May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 10:12 AM

I didn't know Don in the years we lived in Seattle - I'm not entirely sure why not - but we've met a few times since at Folklife. A great loss to the Northwest folk community and to Mudcat...and of course to his own family. Thank you for everything.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 12:20 PM

I will miss him.

"Nothing gold can stay."

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 12:29 PM

Such sad news. My condolences to all Don's family and his many friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 01:53 PM

i only knew him from his posts i loved them. they evoked a time when the folk song movement looked outwards, forwards with optimism confident enough of itself not to denigrate and infight.

i'll miss him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: GUEST,Rappa
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 03:22 PM

Oh no!

Subject: RE: Obit: Don Firth (1931-2015)
From: Tootler
Date: 05 Sep 15 - 03:28 PM

I never met him - an ocean and a continent away but I shall miss his posts.

I didn't always agree with his posts but his points were always well made and politely argued.