Sayonara, SinginSumo ~

[Ron Thorne]

This is unquestionably the most difficult and painful task I've ever faced since joining Jazz Corner.

It is with the deepest sorrow that I inform my friends here of the passing of one of our fellow posters, SinginSumo. He was a dear friend to me for the past 4 years or so, and known to me (and some of you) as Dobie.

After a lengthy illness, Dobie passed away early this morning. I've lost one of the dearest friends I've ever had, and we'd never even met face-to-face.

Dobie's passions were many, and we shared nearly all of them in common. He was nuts about baseball (old-schooler), jazz (especially straight ahead, big band and latin jazz), selective pop and r&b recordings, ethnic food, books, films, photography, sacred music, travel, and most of all ... Japan. I think it's safe to say that Dobie's very happiest years were the nearly five years he spent in Japan as an English teacher. He was adored by the children and his co-workers alike, from the accounts I've received from a friend of Dobie's of nearly 40 years.

In addition to our many common interests, I also appreciated the fact that Dobie was very bright, engaging, compassionate, romantic, and had a trememdous wit, and infectious laugh. He once described us as "twin sons from different mothers - separated at birth". We e-mailed each other virtually daily, spoke on the phone 3-4 times a month, sometimes for a very long time on wide-ranging subjects, from politics to favorite soft drinks, types of soup and pie and r&b favorites, to his fantasy to travel to Alaska and hang with Patti and me. He was very fond of our family, and was thrilled this past Christmas to talk by phone with our son Justin in Japanese while Justin was home for the holidays. Dobie considered himself a family member, often signing off an e-mail with Uncle Dobie.

Dobie was one of the most generous people I've ever encountered. Things would appear in our mailbox, unannounced ... another little package from my buddy, with some CDs he'd burned, an article on the Phillies new baseball stadium, a collector's pin he thought I'd dig, or, in one case ... a dozen cookies sent by FedEx from one of his favorite delicatessens in Philladelphia for Patti and me to enjoy. He was a truly remarkable friend.

Dobie was a very large man, and loved Japan and singers, so his Screen Name on Jazz Corner may now finally make sense to some of you who may have wondered about its origins.

______________________________________

Here is the Jazz Corner Profile for SinginSumo:



Birthday:
January 28

Biography:
I am a former expat, having lived in my adopted country of Japan for almost five years. I have devoted more than four decades to listening to (and appreciating) jazz (from all eras) . I now enjoy watching the waves close to my new American home.

Location:
Ocean City, NJ

Interests:
A heady read; thought or emotion provoking films & DVDs; fine food 'n' drink; photography; language & linguistics; travel & culture; museums and... a smorgasbord more!

Occupation:
Currently enjoying retirement after enjoying a fulfilling life as a professor of English.

________________________________________________________________________


For the past two weeks, Patti and I have been on-edge, hoping for his full recovery while mindful that it would be difficult, if not impossible to achieve.

I'm so glad and proud that he considered me such a good friend. I'll miss Dobie more than words can express.

SinginSumo will always remain on my Buddy List at Jazz Corner.

Now playing: Moments from Eliane Elias, Bob Brookmeyer and the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra, an album Dobie sent us. Thanks for everything, buddy.

Sayonara, and rest in peace, Sheldon "Dobie" Losben (SinginSumo) ~

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

It's hard to type with tears in your eyes. I never knew there was anything wrong with Dobie. I was always so sure I would meet him in person, and we would be friends at once. Even though that will never be, we must have been friends anyway because I know what it is to lose a friend, and that's what this is.

[cookie]

That is very sad news. I didn't know that Sumo was sick. I'm so sorry to hear that he's gone. I really enjoyed what he brought to JC and am so sad to hear this news.

[JoyceJJJ]

Ron -

Your tribute is beautiful and speaks of a rich friendship between complex fellas. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

The world has lost a consummate curmudgeon, a voracious lover of word games and semantics, a supreme wit, a fierce liberal, and a gentle soul. I doubt if many of you know how much he treasured his Jazzcorner relationships. I know that the smile on his face when he introduced several of you to me in DC was as wide as they come.

Sweet, cantankerous Dobie, I thank you for sharing this site and your friends with me, for reminding me that the jazz of my childhood is still the center of the universe, for introducing me to real pastrami on rye and strange candies made from sesame seeds, and for calling me to task on my political beliefs.

Dobie was thrilled at the response to his thread about childhood neighborhoods and read and re-read many of your posts. He relished learning more about all of you and adding to the human context of his favorite site.>>



You are an irreplaceable treasure, Prince Dobie.



Joyce

[Jesse]

http://www.jazzcornertalk.com/speake...137#post197137

This, & a pm sent when I was pointlessly caught up in some Alley brouhaha, were how Singin' greeted me, when I first stumbled into JC. Generous, encouraging:In his pm he stated, "keep coming back, your voice is welcome here". May he find a favorable life wherever he travels, be free of suffering & never lose his hapiness.

Ron:
Thank you for showing your love and respect Singin'. You are a good friend to him, and your response to his passing, like your greeting of your new grandchild, reveal your care for the dignity of all beings. I hope this thread is some medicine for you, and for whomever shares your regard for the ex-pat.
I note that he posted his shared love for the artistry of your boy, Jim Pepper, too.

Best
Jesse

[AntManBee]

Although I didn't know him very well, these news strike me as the saddest. I don't know what to say really. Ron, my kindest thoughts go to you and Patti, and anyone who knew him, and of course, most of all to Dobie.

[Ron Thorne]

This has been a very difficult day for all of us who knew and loved Dobie.

I worried and fretted over every word in my initial post, before succumbing to the need to simply share my love for and loss of my friend without further delay.

Thanks so much, Steve, Cookie, Joyce, Jesse and Peter. Your words and thoughts are comforting.

[hornplayer]

Oh my Goodness! I feel like I've been kicked in the chest! I had no idea he was ill.

He pm'd me some time ago and invited me to lunch should I ever come down his way. I thought about it, but never took the day to go and spend some time with him. I was leaving that for "some day." Bad on me!

I always intended to post on that Street where you Lived thread.. and I still do. just that I haven't had a whole bunch of time to ponder nor to develop the tale of Winnemac Avenue in the 50's.

Ron you are a true mensch.... a giant among men... thank you for being such a sensitive and caring person and for not being afraid to show it.

SS.... go with God. Rest in Peace, and thank you for making this world a gentler place. Amen.

[Steve Reynolds]

didn't know him well - but what a sweet persona he always displayed on this board - I always loved to hear what he was listening to - always joyous music

never had anything bad to say about anyone - what a wonderful soul

very sad news

RIP - the man will be greatly lissed

[Douglas]

This is such a shock and what terrible, terrible news.

I'm at a loss for what to say, but I know I'll miss him. I hope he experienced no pain and was aware how much people loved him and enjoyed interacting with him.

[Tom Storer]

RIP, SinginSumo.

Yesterday I lost a friend I never met. That’s how it goes in this Internet world, and Dobie is the second such friend to make a sudden departure. The first was Randy Oliver, who is still remembered fondly by many who frequent JC.

Odd how this cyber communication often works. Clearly, a person cannot be judged by his or her pixels, and so it was that Dobie and I started out on the wrong foot, a meaningless argument that escalated needlessly and became quite discomfiting before both of us realized how silly our BBS behavior had been, and that we had in common so much more than petty disagreements. That was many posts and off-board exchanges ago, and the gust of bad air that briefly swirled between us is but a blurry memory now--as it should be.

As SinginSumo, Dobie brought warmth and reason to JC. He did not post as frequently as I wish he had, but he regularly sent to my e-mail inbox something that either provoked meaningful thought or brought a smile to my face. Dobie had a great sense of humor, and he loved to share it. He mentioned several times how much he wished that he and I could visit Louis Armstrong’s house in Corona--it became something we intended to do.

Recently, when he started a thread to encourage childhood memories, I may have gone overboard with my lengthy responses, but Dobie encouraged that. In a way, I am thankful for the fact that he never became aware of my disenchantment with Lois and her JC, or the fact that I removed most of my JC posts, even from his thread--I think he would have understood, but I know that it would have bothered him.

Yesterday, I walked over to Broadway and spent some time selecting a card for Dobie. I was getting ready to write something cheerful in it when the daily e-mail from Ron brought the news I did not want to hear. Ron has been absolutely wonderful over the past two weeks as he kept me (and a few others, I think) informed of Dobie’s condition--we both had hopes of meeting him one day when his health returned, and we are both left with warm memories and unfulfilled anticipation.

Twenty minutes ago, I cast my vote for Kerry--Dobie was on my mind and he would definitely have approved.

Finally, because JC was a place where we both used to hang out, I decided to break my vow to never again post here. I will not be back, but I could not easily ignore a singular opportunity to say goodbye to my cyber friend.

Rest in peace, Dobie.

[Richardo Caerleoni]

Chris/Ron...perfectly put.

I think I exchanged a few posts with Sumo...always positive. The joy of this board most times.

RC.

[bobetterblues]

Wow, Ron's tribute brought tears to my eyes. Dobie was lucky to have such a good friend.

I'll miss Singsumo's contributions to the sports threads, and I now wish I would have gotten to know him better.

I will second the remarks make about Ron. A really amazing person and I'm glad to know that way out in there in Alaska I have a friend called Father Thorne.

[Uli]

RIP, Dobie

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I knew Dobie had some serious medical problems. I just didn't realize how serious. I never met him face to face but had many e-mail exchanges as well as a lengthy phone conversation. The voice on the other end was nothing less than ebullient times ten. He told me how he called Ron Thorne regularly. I chided him to come to Manhattan many times but knew that it would be difficult for him. I'm surely going to miss him and saddened that I will never be able to shake his hand........

RIP, Dobie

[Gary Sisco]

Oh, man. What a shock! I hadn't known he was ill, even. Dobie was a nice cat. I got regular emails from him, and we exchanged CDs a couple of times.

I don't even know what to say. First Randy, now Dobie. Seems like the good go first around here. I'm very sorry to hear this and very saddened.

RIP, Singing Sumo. I'll miss your emails. Tonight, I'll play a couple of CDs you turned me on to.

Geez. I'm so shocked and sad. When I saw the thread title I thought he was going on vacation or something.

[stonemonkts]

I'm very sorry to hear about his illness and passing. He was one of the first people to send me a PM, and an offer to meet the next time he made his way out to Scranton. Unfortunately it never happened.

RIP SinginSumo

[Jason Bivins]

Oh man, I don't know what to say. Like so many, I had no idea he was ill at all.

I enjoyed the few exchanges we had, and I always enjoyed reading Dobie's posts, filled as they were with obvious compassion and passion alike. You will be missed, friend. Good luck on the other side.

[gnhrtg]

Rest in peace, SinginSumo. Though it is too late now, I wish I'd have gotten to know you better.

[Brian Olewnick]

Very sad news. Ron, you wrote something last week about a JC regular who'd been unable to post recently and I'd noticed that Dobie hadn't been around. I was afraid it might concern him as I was somewhat aware of his health problems. I know he very much wanted to come to NYC sometime to meet a bunch of us and had even made tentative plans over the summer to do so, but it never happened. All my sympathy goes out to his loved ones, here and at home.

[John B]

RIP Dobie. My condolences go out to his friends and loved ones.

[walto]

Very sorry to hear this. My condolences to his family and other loved/loving ones.

[Enforcer]

I had no idea Dobie was ill. He was a really nice cat with a big heart. Ron, that was a beautiful tribute to him. My deepest sympathies go out to you and Dobie's loved ones.

[Root Doctor]

This is shocking and disappointing news. RIP, Dobie.

[jaka]

RIP SinginSumo, who I did not get to know very well, but considered a nice and caring person on this board, regarding the few exchanges we got.

My condolences and thoughts to his family, friends and the ones around here that are among the latter.

[MRS]

So sad. . .genuinely kind and intelligent poster. We had a running email conversation for some months on the topic of Ozu films. In another life, my friend.

Thanks for the memorable tribute, Ron.

[Noj]

Terrible news. I greatly enjoyed his posts. Very touching tributes, Ron and Chris. RIP SinginSumo.

[Bluebrew]

As I have just come to JC I am sorry that I didn't know him better. We would have had a lot of things in common. I spent several years in Japan. My tastes are very similar to his. A man I hardly knew will be sorely missed. May he rest in glory.

[bostontricky]

Originally Posted by jaka

RIP SinginSumo, who I did not get to know very well, but considered a nice and caring person on this board, regarding the few exchanges we got.

What jaka said, and everyone else as well. I'm at a loss for words. My love and concern to friends and family.

Godspeed.