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.
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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.
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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) ~
Linear Mode
