Passing of Andrew Kirby

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Blackwood
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Passing of Andrew Kirby

Post by Blackwood »

I'm very sorry to announce the passing away of Andrew Kirby this past Thursday. Andy has been bravely fighting cancer for a long time.

Known as "Mad" Andy to his friends, Andy was a very successful lawyer by trade at one time. He was a man of great passion and well respected for his detailed historical knowledge of flutes, fiddles, and stringed instruments.

He was also a great source of support and inspiration to flute maker Chris Wilkes, a close friend for many years.

His unique character and humor will be greatly missed.

Sven

Pictures of Andy:

http://static.flickr.com/111/306821524_ ... f1.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/120/306821527_ ... 56.jpg?v=0

with Chris Wilkes in September 06:
http://static.flickr.com/112/306849122_ ... f5.jpg?v=0
Last edited by Blackwood on Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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chas
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Post by chas »

I'm sorry to hear of Andrew's passing.
Charlie
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Post by peeplj »

I'm very sorry to hear that.

Condolences and best wishes to his family and friends.

--James
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rama
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Re: Passing of Andrew Kirby

Post by rama »

Blackwood wrote:I'm very sorry to announce the passing away of Andrew Kriby this past Thursday. Andy has been bravely fighting cancer for a long time.

Known as "Mad" Andy to his friends, Andy was a very successful lawyer by trade at one time. He was a man of great passion and well respected for his detailed historical knowledge of flutes, fiddles, and stringed instruments.

He was also a great source of support and inspiration to flute maker Chris Wilkes, a close friend for many years.

His unique character and humor will be greatly missed.

Sven
very sad to read this. thank you sven, very well written. i echo your sentiments. he was a unique character full of passion, wit and humor.
i'll surely miss him. may he rest in peace.
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Henke
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Post by Henke »

I can't believe it.

Rest in peace dear Andrew. You will be missed.
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cocusflute
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Goodby Andrew

Post by cocusflute »

He was a rare, wonderfully funny man. He was smart and generous and sensitive. He was brave and erudite and without guile. He spoke from his heart. His passing is our loss.
He had much to teach us.
It is a pity that his voice was denied to the forum before his passing.
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Post by eilam »

what a shame, such great passionate person, i loved the guy.
even though he never forgot to give me hard time, i always know he really cared for me, and others.
last year i was having really hard time, andrew called me about once a week for a long time,
to make sure things are OK.
i'll really miss you Andrew, and never forget you.
eilam.
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Post by jim stone »

Maddening, brilliant, lovely fellow.

For whom the bell tolls

No man is an island, entire of itself; every
man is a piece of the continent, a part of the
main. If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory
were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or
of thine own were: any man's death diminishes
me, because I am involved in mankind, and
therefore never send to know for whom the bells
tolls; it tolls for thee."

John Donne 1624
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toddyboy50
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Post by toddyboy50 »

I would also like to pay my respects to Andrew.... he was a caring person with a great sense of humor and faced his illness very bravely. Andrew, I salute you!

Tod
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Post by AaronMalcomb »

jim stone wrote:Maddening, brilliant, lovely fellow.
That sums it for me quite well from the occasional correspondences I had with him.

Sad news.

All the best.

-Aaron
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Post by Unseen122 »

He will surely be missed. I have always liked those who spoke their mind regardless of what others would think. RIP.
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RudallRose
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Post by RudallRose »

As one who mixed it up with Andrew.....and often spoke with him on the telephone privately.....I'm saddened by his loss.
Witty and sharp.

And I learned lots from him.....flutes and personal.

I was hoping to visit him this past summer, but ailing health prevented that.
I tried unsuccessfully a few times to reach him via email lately .....and had his home phone number on my desk waiting for me to call.....in the past couple weeks. I sensed something had happened.

I'll miss him.

dm
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carrie
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Post by carrie »

Very sad news. I enjoyed the brief correspondence I had with him very much. May he rest in peace.

Carol
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Post by jim stone »

It's strange, because we don't know, many of us, what the folks
we're corresponding with here look like. And one
tends to create a mental image of that from reading
their posts.

Andrew, for me, was a large Falstaffian
figure with a pot belly, red cheeks, and dark eyes
that darted a bit wildly this way and that. The pictures
Sven kindly posted above reveal an ordinary, nice looking fellow,
looks just like anybody else.

I saw what was inside, I guess, AK's soul.

I'm so very sorry he's gone. Stupid world.
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Jon C.
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Post by Jon C. »

What sad news! Although I knew this day would come and sensed it would be soon, it is always a shock to hear. I had been thinking to email Chris Wilkes and ask about Andrew’s condition all week.
He was such a great help with my antique flutes. When a flute would come up on ebay, I would either email him the link, or he would contact me, and we would plan our strategy… I know that whenever I find a unusual flute, I will think, “I must email Andrew, and show him this!” And then I will realize that he isn’t there anymore.
Always such enthusiasm for any new find! He had a vast collection of flutes, but also collected works of other great artisans, like Hester Bateman, one of the finest silversmiths of our time.

It is strange, in these modern times to know someone so well, from email and a few phone calls, never meeting him in person, (though he did consider flying out with Chris Wilkes to Mary’s party in Texas, and offering to fly me there also to meet.)
His photos are just as I imagined he would look.

I can just imagine his response to our eulogy on Chiff & Fipple, which he often referred to a “fish and Chips”! It would start; "Could you be so kind , as to maybe post ..." "Or you might mention..." But I will not be able to channel his thoughts anymore…
May he rest in peace.
"I love the flute because it's the one instrument in the world where you can feel your own breath. I can feel my breath with my fingers. It's as if I'm speaking from my soul..."
Michael Flatley


Jon
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