FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tony L. Potucek]

I started the tradition of the rolling bar at mineral shows I attend because the social element of the mineral collecting passion was ebbing. Rod Tyson soon joined me, and Johnny V. became one of our patron "members" immediately because he felt the same way, and we became fast friends. Several respondents on this thread have joined us over the years to celebrate life, our common passion, and our close friendships, and so have many others, some passed, many living. Johnny V. truly loved the downtime and the migrant gathering when not walking the mineral venue. We visited about what we were seeing at the shows, newly emerging specimens and species, our families, our friends, mineral trends, and we celebrated being able to see each other again. Then, it was time to continue the chase for lovely and wonderful minerals, only to return and continue our camaraderie.

Johnny V. chased solar eclipses like he chased minerals, and together with Ronna, they visited us in Idaho this past year to see that eclipse. It was special and unexpected and yet, there they were. Celebrate...

Paraphrasing John White, another dear friend I cherish, "Where were you all of my life, and where ever we next meet, keep an open chair for me, pard."

[Jesse Fisher]

I've known John for many years. I think we first met when he was starting out as an internet mineral dealer in the mid 1990s. He quickly became one of the group of friends I would meet up with at various mineral shows around the world, sharing meals, drinks and stories. The thing I enjoyed most about his company was that he always seemed more interested in friends and minerals than money and appearances. When I first got involved with mining fluorite in England he was the first dealer to take our specimens and put them on the web. He also spent a good bit of time helping me to subsequently develop our own website, and I had a difficult time getting him to take anything for his efforts.

Fast forward to about a year ago. John and Ronna had recently moved to Reno, about a four hour drive from where I live. He had just acquired a fluorite collection and invited me to come have a look. When I got there, it had not been unpacked yet, so we spent an afternoon unwrapping specimens. The lot was rather disappointing, overall, and contained far too many large, mediocre Chinese specimens that would be difficult to sell. There were a few nice bits, however, including a very good bicolor fluorite cluster from the Denton Mine. It was undoubtedly the best piece in the lot, but when I ask him what he wanted for it, he quoted me a ridiculously low price! Knowing that even with a fair price on it, he would struggle to make anything on the collection, I had to insist that he take more money for it. But that was the kind of person he was!

Sessions at the Munich show biergarten and at Tony's rolling bar will feel a bit empty without him.

[bob kerr]

John's passing is so very sad. for all of us who truly love minerals, I think Jordi said it best:

"He loved the minerals above the money they could give to him."

can't really say much more.

bob

[bob kerr]

Is anyone planning a memorial display case for John at the upcoming Tucson show?

another "mineral man" - George Stevens - passed away recently and a memorial case is planned for him.

bob