FishnBanjo Memorial?

[Timbo]

I am stunned by this news, I’m currently having a bowl in my olive wood pipe in memory of Sante. Never met the man but feel like I know him well, in my mind he’s the cool uncle I never had growing up. RIP mate.

Thanks for sharing that Jim, much appreciated here.

 

[Idlefellow]

I suppose many have already heard that our friend Banjo passed away last Monday; I'm told that he was found unresponsive on his lawn after enjoying his last pipe, as he would have wished it I'm sure. He was a kind, generous and helpful man, a friend to all fly fishers, pipe smokers, and many others I'm sure. Godspeed Banjo; you will be missed.

 

[SteveMKentucky]

Sante and I were very close friends. I noticed him declining bit by bit over the past four years, to the point where he was unable to speak to anyone on the telephone. He was a great man who fought several cancers, and other illnesses related to exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam. Later, he worked on nuclear sub-marines. He was one the world's best known fly fishermen.

Sante was an exceptionally generous man. He gave more to his fellow pipers than most forum members: pounds and pounds of tobaccos, many pipes (briars and meers), and other related accessories. He turned me on HU blends back in 2012, and in turn, I turned a bunch of people on to them. Sante jokingly said, "You took my job away from me". A few months ago, he surprised me with a 1960s Andreas Bauer Sultan face meer. Sante said it was, "A sultan for the Sultan of Reviewers." He was amazingly supportive of me.

Through out all of Sante's health problems, he remained strong in spirit. For years, despite his own debilitations, Sante continued to create and lead many cancer support groups, always thinking of others who were under going similar journeys. The number of people he helped is unmeasurable. When he was first diagnosed, doctors told him he had at most, two years to live, but Sante soldiered on for 14. He told me a few years back, "The doctors can't believe I'm still alive. I told them I'm staying here because I'm going to 'shock the world' ". He damn near did.

Sante was a well read, brilliant man. He told great, funny, witty stories and loved a good laugh. "My gift is the gift of laughter. I live to make others happy." We constantly traded jokes and stories. Sante would detail his battles with me, knowing that I knew he wasn't looking for sympathy or attention. I never heard him complain or whine about the pain he suffered, or ask "Why me?" or "Woe is me." He told me everything because he knew I cared and wanted to know what was happening with him, and knew I would not express feelings of sorrow for him. That pain, until now, I kept private in my heart.

God bless you, Sante Guiliani. You were one of a kind. The bravest man I have ever known.  I don't expect I'll meet another like you again. But I did know you, and for everything there was about you, I shall be forever grateful.

Wonderful tribute. It's a sad time indeed.

 

[Fight'n Hampsters]

Sad to hear this news!

 

[Rail Man]

Really sad to hear about his passing, it’s not going to be quite the same without seeing how fishnbanjo is keeping it smokey

 

[MisterE]

Just caught this thread and I'm really sorry to hear of his passing. Banjo is top notch in my book and will be missed. My thoughts go out to him and his family.

 

[swhipple]

Wow just saw this. Very sad to hear this. I will be keeping it smoky in his honor tonight.  

 

[hobie1dog]

Saddened by this news. Thanks for sharing this with us Jim.
I wonder how many pipes he had? The pictures seemed to be never ending.

 

[Stick]

Stunned.

I've only had fleeting visits to the BoB over the past few weeks and logged on tonight to start squaring away June's bombing mission, where I read some worrying lines which I'd hoped I'd misunderstood. Two minutes later I find this thread.

Deeply saddened. Sante was very much in the fabric of the BoB. I will miss his posts. Struggling for words.

Here's to you Sante.

 

[Timbo]

In memory of Banjo, keeping it smoky.



Smoking some homemade Latakia flake in my Charlestown Cobbler.

 

[Stick]

...keeping it smoky.

Nice one Timbo. <img class="emojione" alt="?" title=":thumbsup:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/emojione/assets/png/1f44d.png?v=2.2.7"/>

 

[Blackhorse]

Good one, Timbo.

 

[History Prof 1861]

I am very saddened to hear this news

And those that wrote of his generosity are absolutely correct he was very generous with sharing his gifts.

 

[Stick]

Capstan Navy Cut in a MM Mark Twain.

Here’s to you, Sante.

Keeping it smokey.

 

[smoker13]

I'm stunned......Obviously I've not visited this site for awhile, and so decided to a few moments ago, just to see if Sante had any new wonders to show off.  I was admiring his morta nautilus when my eye caught the sticky about his passing... Great tribute, Jim.  My cousin, 2 tours as a medic in 'Nam,  had much of his insides hollowed out by agent orange.  Took his life Memorial Day 2018.  The strength and fortitude of Sante  was a wonder.  Keeping it smoky in the face of it all.

I'll remember him every time I put flame to bowl and keep it smoky in his honor as long as I can.

 

[huffelpuff]

How the hell I missed this I really don't know but you could knock me over with a feather right now. A more generous, gentle soul you couldn't hope to meet. I will miss him dearly. Always such an inspiration to see him keeping it smoky. Rest in peace brother!

 

[Timbo]

I was lucky enough to get one of Sante’s meers from the ebay estate auctions. It arrived Christmas Eve. Here I am keeping it smokey with some Plum Pudding and an excellent Barossa shiraz to go with it.

 

[Ozark Wizard]

Sorry if I drove the price up on that one, I was trying to get it too! :lol!:

Nice grab sir, keep it smoky! :cheers:

 

[user 2027]

.

 

[Timbo]

All good gents, all is fair in love and war. Gotta say it smokes like a dream and is much lighter than any of my Peterson meerschaums. Fish had superb taste in pipes.