Bootlegger - Sad News

I am sad to report that we have lost Bootlegger. He was suffering from lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The lymphomas had spread throughout his lungs and also his kidneys. Dialysis was, in his case, very complicated and was putting an intolerable strain on his heart. He died earlier today, Wednesday May 18. The only good news is that he had been sedated for the last ten days and did not suffer.

Boot was, as Stanford once said, the heart and soul of bj21. He was generous with his knowledge and his time. Although he generally had an opinion, he knew how to express it in a way which offended no one and always left the door open for discussion. I have known Boot since 1996. I have played with him, dined with him, laughed with him and even sang with him. He has given of his time and talent, singing and pickin' at various Green Chip parties across the country since 1998. He and his wife have been friends to my wife and me for a long time. Truly one of the good guys, I will miss him.

His wife, Dianna has okayed the posting of her home address for those who wish to send a card or condolences:

Dianna Turner
1289 Waycross Rd.
Cincinnati OH 45240-2920

I only knew him via his posts, but he was clearly a stoutly-charactered, good-hearted soul. Condolences to his family, and his many friends and fan on bj21.

I agree with Everything ad hoc said.

Boot was a great spirit on BJ21 Green Chip. I was honored that we were friends.

For those of you that don�t know, he took his handle from his family. They were involved in some questionable activities during the Prohibition era.

Boot freely gave of his time to anyone who asked. He was always civil. He gave away copies of his books when I asked him..
My recollection is that the BJ 21 glossary (http://www.bj21.com/glossary/main.html ) was primarily his work.

He was also a voce of reason on our Politics page. For those of you who have never been on Green Chip, let me explain the Politics Page. Imagine a family gathering and a few people want to discuss Politics, which naturally turns into a food fight and a shouting match. So the family makes them �take it outside.� The Politics Page is our �outside�, so that people who want to discuss Politics are sent there. This keeps the food fights off the core pages of BJ21.

Boot was a voice of reason and civility on the page ! He was never in a foof fight or flame war. He was a poster to emulate. His political views were more Liberal than mine (some on the Politics Page would say that this was an understatement) as was his voting pattern. Yet we enjoyed our Political discussions. When we talked with Boot, it was a genuine discussion; never a food fight.

I know that I can speak for almost everyone on Green Chip when I say that we are all genuinely saddened by his passing. He will be missed !

I met Boot at the very first Green Chip party and took an instant liking to the man. I think he affected most folks that way. Bob was a very giving person and will be missed.

Pork

Will miss him. As MP says, he was a voice of moderation and reason on the politics page, as well as giving freely of his advice and wisdom on the other bj pages. We have lost a great one.

Neko

Although I only met Boot and Bootsie a few times, they were always very kind and considerate. I shall miss Boot tremendously.

Dog Hand

Bootlegger was a major contributor to both the Free and GC pages on this site for many years. He was always eager to help and provide assistance to those who had questions no matter how basic.

Boot and I at one time had some heated discussion about PATCO and union support for our efforts. Having been fired by President Reagan as a striking Air Traffic Controller in 1981, I always felt that the AFL-CIo should have helped us more than they did. Boot made his points and was also disappointed at the lack of support. I always respected him for his opinions on the topic.

I met he and his wife at one of the GC parties in Tunica, a lovely lady. I enjoyed Boot's music as he provided the entertainment for not only this, but several other get-togethers.

A very classy guy, he will indeed be missed by many.

Deepest sympathies to his wife Dianna and his family. Know that your husband and dad was admired by the mamy, many friends he made here.

I didn't even know he was ill.

What a fine gentleman. You could never miss him if you ran across him and Bootie if you ran across them at a casino or in a gambling town.

I can't imagine what a Greenchip Party will be like without his concert. Anybody remember how that verse he wrote and added to the end of Ray Charles' This Blackjack Game went? Something about getting a tap on the shoulder.

As for as debate on the political page, Boot once told me that you couldn't truly be friends if you couldn't tell each other your differing opinions and still respect and like each other.

Bootie, my heartfelt condolences. Everyone knows how Boot adored you. I'm sure that Boot is now sitting with Kenny Uston at a table where they have early surrender, no heat, and they deal to the last card.

At Bootlegger's Greenchip Party Concerts, he would always sing the old Ray Price song, Heartaches by the Number. He would wink as he sang the final line: On the day that I stop counting, that's the day my world will end.

I met him at several green chip parties and loved his mini concerts. He will be missed. God bless him and his family.