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Guestbook
Andrew G. Woolf
Michael McKernan
Ars longa, vita brevis. We will miss him,even as his music lives on. I wish this were more comfort to family and friends. Deepest sympathy for your loss, and best wishes.
Dear Karen and family,
We are so sad and at this moment in disbelief. Karen, our hearts go out to you...there are no sufficient words. Love to you, you are in our hearts and prayers...Ron and Carol Chapman
Dear Karen: Our daughter Gail Lamothe told us about your sudden loss. We want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this trying time. God's Blessings.
Sharon Davis Green
I was shocked and incredibly saddened to hear of Andy's passing. I was the director of the Music School at the Emporium and Andy taught the fiddle class. I'll remember his music but, most of all, I'll remember laughing until my sides hurt at his humor. Karen, my heart goes out to you and all of Andy's family and friends.
I attended high school with Andy. We shared the unusual interest of old-timey music. There were only a few of us at that time and place with this interest, and I happily recall Andy's wonderful talent and willingness to share it.
From the picture on his website, he looked pretty much the same except for a bit of grey hair. Though our paths never crossed after high school, I have often thought of Andy, and recall his combination of great talent, enthusiasm, and humility, even as a teenager. It was a pleasure to know him, and now, to remember him. All who knew him will mourn his passing.
John Burke
Jim Younger, London UK
I send my condolences to the family of Andy Woolf. A number of fiddle players over in the UK are aware of Andy's music and his dedication - not least to interesting settings of tunes.
Requiescant in pace
Dear Karen,
What to say at such a shocking and devastatingly sad time? My heart goes out to you, and I know I speak for hundreds of people in CDS. I have a very similar slide of Andy at Pinewoods some 30 years ago, always at the fiddle but always acknowledging listeners, smiling at them with both mouth and eyes. I'll always remember the talks Andy and I had about work and life purpose. He may not have fully known then he was fulfilling his life's purpose with his music. I hope he got that. My deepest caring to you.
Judy Otto
This world's a darker place without your light, your song.
For the inspiration that you gave & your wise & generous heart I'll be ever glad.
Now, in the sweetest silent dream, dear friend, find peace.
& ~
no more again to know the troubles of the hour.
As always ~ The Poet ~
"L" ~
Dear Karen and Family,
We were so sorry to hear of Andy's death. We will always remember your visit to Oak Ridge and Athens, when you and Andy sang and played (The Sinkhole Blues) and shared stories with college students and sixth graders at E. K. Baker School. Jenny's students could not believe that two traveling minstrels would visit their classroom. They talked about the afternoon they spent with you for months afterwards.
There was more shared music, stories, and laughter when you visited us again on the shores of Lake Superior.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Jean, Bob, Pete, Kate, and Phillip Stevenson
Andy is irreplaceable and the tears are flowing. We can find a little solace in his many records, on which he played and sang and babbled just as warmly and generously and crazily as he did in real life. Anybody who doesn't own these CDs should get them all. Listening to them last night was like having Andy in the room. I played some for friends who had never met Andy and they immediately fell in love with him. I will miss him terribly. But he is still alive in hismusic.
Much love to all who knew and loved him.
Bill Burnett
Paddy Swanson
Our whole Revels community is stunned by the news of Andy's sudden passing. Karen, my personal sympathy for you who must bear the heaviest burden. I remember Andy as a completely unpredictable and eccentric genius. In our Revels touring troupe he would open every show with an extraordinary version of a Native American chant that riveted every audience, and then make smoke rise from his wild fiddle and laughter rise from his zany antics. We will miss him greatly.
Dear Karen,
You are in my thoughts everyday. All the staff at Cutler sends their love to you. My best memory of you and Andy together was listening to you play at the HW talent show a few years ago. You were definitly the best talent at the show!
Take care, Gretchen Ahearn
My condolences Karen, that Andy left so suddenly. I will always hold dear in my memory enjoying his musical knowledge of "foreign" languages. My heart goes out to you.
Judi Wisch
Dear Karen
I am so saddened by your sudden loss. I will always be grateful for the time we spent together at Interlocken this past September. I had the opportunity to laugh with you and Andy and reminisce for hours about music we shared and enjoyed over the years. I even got to request songs to be sung by Andy in my favorite language selections! He was a genius at that. But his music will always remain in our hearts and in our humor forever.
Much love, Anny Dobrejcer Michael Paley
Karen, it seems like only yesterday we were playing contra dance gigs for Tod. I'm stunned and saddened by your enormous loss. Andy's creative spirit and wicked sense of humor will be most sorely missed. Warm hugs to you; may you find comfort and be buoyed up by the caring of the music and dance community.
Joyce Desmarais Isen
Karen,
I am holding you close in my heart and sending love to help you through these sad days. Andy left us with the gift of his music and memories of entertaining the Cutler family (young and old)for years. Please know we are thinking of you constantly and keeping you in our prayers.
Love, Pam
Dear Karen,
My thoughts and love are with you and also scanning back across my many fond and vibrant memories of Andy and you. How many times have I told the story of Andy at the community house telling his story in what ever extraterrestrial language that was! Some how I was convinced that I understood every word ( or at least the gist of the story ) I can never think about it without smiling. And that's what will be forever in my memories the light and smiles Andy shed every where.
Dear Karen, I hope these words can provide you some measure of solace. Andy will be so terribly missed. How much more predictable the world has become. More than ever we could use the Doc's tonic, that inspiring blend of wisdom and nonsense, that gentle intensity of spirit, that knowing smile.
Love, Anne and Mark
our trip to japan with andy, dana, and our son geordie was something we will never forget. we were treated like visiting royalty, shown the temples and shrines, factories and schools, listening and jamming with local musicians, and the food,oh my what fantastic meals we ate. andy was in heaven. at our farewell party the mayor delivered a long speech only two words did we recognize "andy woolf" after which there was much smiling and clapping and bowing. when we finally got home after a long flight and were trying to catch up on our sleep the phone rang early the next morning. it was andy wanting to know "did we miss him". yes old friend we missed you that morning and we miss you now but we'll never forget you.love to you karen jay and lauriekeefe
We were so sorry to hear about Andy. We send our love and sympathy. A little bit of Andy lives on through David for every time I hear David play the banjo I think of Andy, his talents and inspiring teaching techniques. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Wendy, Jeff, and David
Andy, the mad preacher, the stuffy professor, the blues-stricken warbler, the cherubic fiddler. . .He gave so much of himself to his creative projects, and though my experiences with him were brief, he left behind a warmth and humanity that helps sustain that drive to live life artfully. Thank you, Andy. My deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones. His is a rare light that will be missed.
Jim Rioux
Andy and his pal Don Pedi gave us some wonderful concerts and dances down here at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. We feel fortunate to have shared his music and good humor and send our condolences to his family and friends.
Bob Dalsemer
Coordinator, Music and Dance Programs
John C. Campbell Folk School
Dear Karen,
We weep deep tears for you and for the whole folk community. Andy has left a hole at the center.
We send our love,
Molly and Danny
Karen, Iam so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Elaine Gagnon
Dear Karen
I was shocked and saddened to read in today's Buker bulletin about Andy. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you in this hardest of times.
Andy Nagy
So many memories of Andy.... They start in the third grade, and they don't end.
Going to Andy's house after school to play, usually in his room. (At our 20th high school reunion we stopped by the house together. "Are you boys going upstairs to play?" his mom asked.)
Walking the Goertzel Twins home from school, the four of us, in the fifth grade. Over a ping-pong game I told Andy I "liked" one of them. "I'll bet it's Susie," he said. It was, but I didn't want him to be right, so I said no, it was Marion. So Andy got Susie.
Rock hunting together all through grade school -- including an exciting trip to see what the blasting to construct I287 had exposed. And classifying what we found, as best we could. (I remember one crumbly specimen carefully labeled "rotten mica schist.")
Andy stayed interested far longer than I did, and eventually donated a respectable collection to the high school.
Playing games with funny voices. (Who knew it would be a lifelong interest for Andy, a major component of his art?) For a few months we telephoned classmates at home, pretending to be "CBS's new radio quiz show, Junior Jackpot." I wanted to fool them; Andy wanted to amuse them. Sometimes we managed to do both.
And then on to junior high. In Mr. Hinkle's 7th grade math class we classified quadrilaterials. Andy invented a new one -- I think it had three equal sides -- that Mr. Hinkle appreciatively dubbed the Woolfium.
It goes on. Andy striding down New York City streets 10 yards ahead of the rest of us on a class trip to see Three Penny Opera ... Andy at high school parties playing his guitar in the kitchem ... Andy playing the Statue in "Don Juan in Hell," one of the gangsters in "Kiss Me Kate," a robot in "R.U.R.," the love interest in "Romanoff and Juliet" ... Andy at MIDAS meetings ... Andy writing poems for the Roar that were funny-sad, and doing the artwork for other people's poems too ... Andy musing on the magic of Gale Cooper....
The adult memories are too many even to think about listing.
Karen's loss, all our loss, is incalculable. But so is what Andy gave us before he left.
--Peter Sandman
It was a wonderful service tonight, my appreciation and respect for Andy has done nothing but grow since the first time I met him and I expect it will continue to do so! Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories, my love to Karen and the rest of Andy's family.
Amy Richardson
Can you believe that I met Andy years before I ever met you, Karen? In the late 70's, he occasionally played for a series of very popular and well attended contra dances that I helped to organize in Newburyport. Once we tried to expand our territory, by holding a dance in Beverly. About 6 people came...it was a total failure. After it became clear that the evening was going to be a bust, I approached Andy and told him it would be OK for the band to call it a night. "Why?" he replied. "We're having fun. Aren't you?" So, the band stayed until the end, and our few dancers had a wonderful and very private contra dance. (Maybe you were there too, but I don't recall.) I've never forgotten the true joy he found in playing for others.
Last night's service was a wonderful tribute. Everyone at Cutler sends our love to you. Amy
Ed Taylor (aka Uncle Banjo)
newwow@comcast .net
Dearest Karen,
The musical grapevine is humming with the irrational news of Andy's death. When I got the call, I was in a room full of happy, laughing dinner guests. As if in a movie, I stopped hearing the guest's banter and the clinking of glasses. Weirdly, time actually did seem to stand still as I tried to get my mind around what I was hearing: Andy gone? ... Not possible ... Too soon ....
My wife Helen has asked me when I first met Andy. I can't remember. He must have come to my music shop one day (probably with you) but in my mind he has just always been around. Over the past few years, meetings at the Jabberwocky book store or bird watching at Plum Island served to substantiate his continued presence.
For the past week I have been remembering the sound of his voice, the wry and expectant expression on his face. And the time he told a folk tale in a "foreign" language at a sharing party at Sally (Sarah) R's. home in Concord. It must have been one of the first times he did it in front of crowd and the unfolding of the story was hilarious and astonishing because we could all follow the plot of it.
Thank you so much for offering thoughts & memories of friends & yourself at the Service last Friday. There were nuances of Andy that were new to me & gave me a fuller understanding of him , his ways, and art. Miss you, A.
Ars longa, vita brevis. We will miss him,even as his music lives on. I wish this were more comfort to family and friends. Deepest sympathy for your loss, and best wishes.
Dear Karen and family,
We are so sad and at this moment in disbelief. Karen, our hearts go out to you...there are no sufficient words. Love to you, you are in our hearts and prayers...Ron and Carol Chapman
Dear Karen: Our daughter Gail Lamothe told us about your sudden loss. We want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this trying time. God's Blessings.
Sharon Davis Green
I was shocked and incredibly saddened to hear of Andy's passing. I was the director of the Music School at the Emporium and Andy taught the fiddle class. I'll remember his music but, most of all, I'll remember laughing until my sides hurt at his humor. Karen, my heart goes out to you and all of Andy's family and friends.
I attended high school with Andy. We shared the unusual interest of old-timey music. There were only a few of us at that time and place with this interest, and I happily recall Andy's wonderful talent and willingness to share it.
From the picture on his website, he looked pretty much the same except for a bit of grey hair. Though our paths never crossed after high school, I have often thought of Andy, and recall his combination of great talent, enthusiasm, and humility, even as a teenager. It was a pleasure to know him, and now, to remember him. All who knew him will mourn his passing.
John Burke
Jim Younger, London UK
I send my condolences to the family of Andy Woolf. A number of fiddle players over in the UK are aware of Andy's music and his dedication - not least to interesting settings of tunes.
Requiescant in pace
Dear Karen,
What to say at such a shocking and devastatingly sad time? My heart goes out to you, and I know I speak for hundreds of people in CDS. I have a very similar slide of Andy at Pinewoods some 30 years ago, always at the fiddle but always acknowledging listeners, smiling at them with both mouth and eyes. I'll always remember the talks Andy and I had about work and life purpose. He may not have fully known then he was fulfilling his life's purpose with his music. I hope he got that. My deepest caring to you.
Judy Otto
This world's a darker place without your light, your song.
For the inspiration that you gave & your wise & generous heart I'll be ever glad.
Now, in the sweetest silent dream, dear friend, find peace.
& ~
no more again to know the troubles of the hour.
As always ~ The Poet ~
"L" ~
Dear Karen and Family,
We were so sorry to hear of Andy's death. We will always remember your visit to Oak Ridge and Athens, when you and Andy sang and played (The Sinkhole Blues) and shared stories with college students and sixth graders at E. K. Baker School. Jenny's students could not believe that two traveling minstrels would visit their classroom. They talked about the afternoon they spent with you for months afterwards.
There was more shared music, stories, and laughter when you visited us again on the shores of Lake Superior.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Jean, Bob, Pete, Kate, and Phillip Stevenson
Andy is irreplaceable and the tears are flowing. We can find a little solace in his many records, on which he played and sang and babbled just as warmly and generously and crazily as he did in real life. Anybody who doesn't own these CDs should get them all. Listening to them last night was like having Andy in the room. I played some for friends who had never met Andy and they immediately fell in love with him. I will miss him terribly. But he is still alive in hismusic.
Much love to all who knew and loved him.
Bill Burnett
Paddy Swanson
Our whole Revels community is stunned by the news of Andy's sudden passing. Karen, my personal sympathy for you who must bear the heaviest burden. I remember Andy as a completely unpredictable and eccentric genius. In our Revels touring troupe he would open every show with an extraordinary version of a Native American chant that riveted every audience, and then make smoke rise from his wild fiddle and laughter rise from his zany antics. We will miss him greatly.
Dear Karen,
You are in my thoughts everyday. All the staff at Cutler sends their love to you. My best memory of you and Andy together was listening to you play at the HW talent show a few years ago. You were definitly the best talent at the show!
Take care, Gretchen Ahearn
My condolences Karen, that Andy left so suddenly. I will always hold dear in my memory enjoying his musical knowledge of "foreign" languages. My heart goes out to you.
Judi Wisch
Dear Karen
I am so saddened by your sudden loss. I will always be grateful for the time we spent together at Interlocken this past September. I had the opportunity to laugh with you and Andy and reminisce for hours about music we shared and enjoyed over the years. I even got to request songs to be sung by Andy in my favorite language selections! He was a genius at that. But his music will always remain in our hearts and in our humor forever.
Much love, Anny Dobrejcer Michael Paley
Karen, it seems like only yesterday we were playing contra dance gigs for Tod. I'm stunned and saddened by your enormous loss. Andy's creative spirit and wicked sense of humor will be most sorely missed. Warm hugs to you; may you find comfort and be buoyed up by the caring of the music and dance community.
Joyce Desmarais Isen
Karen,
I am holding you close in my heart and sending love to help you through these sad days. Andy left us with the gift of his music and memories of entertaining the Cutler family (young and old)for years. Please know we are thinking of you constantly and keeping you in our prayers.
Love, Pam
Dear Karen,
My thoughts and love are with you and also scanning back across my many fond and vibrant memories of Andy and you. How many times have I told the story of Andy at the community house telling his story in what ever extraterrestrial language that was! Some how I was convinced that I understood every word ( or at least the gist of the story ) I can never think about it without smiling. And that's what will be forever in my memories the light and smiles Andy shed every where.
Dear Karen, I hope these words can provide you some measure of solace. Andy will be so terribly missed. How much more predictable the world has become. More than ever we could use the Doc's tonic, that inspiring blend of wisdom and nonsense, that gentle intensity of spirit, that knowing smile.
Love, Anne and Mark
our trip to japan with andy, dana, and our son geordie was something we will never forget. we were treated like visiting royalty, shown the temples and shrines, factories and schools, listening and jamming with local musicians, and the food,oh my what fantastic meals we ate. andy was in heaven. at our farewell party the mayor delivered a long speech only two words did we recognize "andy woolf" after which there was much smiling and clapping and bowing. when we finally got home after a long flight and were trying to catch up on our sleep the phone rang early the next morning. it was andy wanting to know "did we miss him". yes old friend we missed you that morning and we miss you now but we'll never forget you.love to you karen jay and lauriekeefe
We were so sorry to hear about Andy. We send our love and sympathy. A little bit of Andy lives on through David for every time I hear David play the banjo I think of Andy, his talents and inspiring teaching techniques. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Wendy, Jeff, and David
Andy, the mad preacher, the stuffy professor, the blues-stricken warbler, the cherubic fiddler. . .He gave so much of himself to his creative projects, and though my experiences with him were brief, he left behind a warmth and humanity that helps sustain that drive to live life artfully. Thank you, Andy. My deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones. His is a rare light that will be missed.
Jim Rioux
Andy and his pal Don Pedi gave us some wonderful concerts and dances down here at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. We feel fortunate to have shared his music and good humor and send our condolences to his family and friends.
Bob Dalsemer
Coordinator, Music and Dance Programs
John C. Campbell Folk School
Dear Karen,
We weep deep tears for you and for the whole folk community. Andy has left a hole at the center.
We send our love,
Molly and Danny
Karen, Iam so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Elaine Gagnon
Dear Karen
I was shocked and saddened to read in today's Buker bulletin about Andy. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you in this hardest of times.
Andy Nagy
So many memories of Andy.... They start in the third grade, and they don't end.
Going to Andy's house after school to play, usually in his room. (At our 20th high school reunion we stopped by the house together. "Are you boys going upstairs to play?" his mom asked.)
Walking the Goertzel Twins home from school, the four of us, in the fifth grade. Over a ping-pong game I told Andy I "liked" one of them. "I'll bet it's Susie," he said. It was, but I didn't want him to be right, so I said no, it was Marion. So Andy got Susie.
Rock hunting together all through grade school -- including an exciting trip to see what the blasting to construct I287 had exposed. And classifying what we found, as best we could. (I remember one crumbly specimen carefully labeled "rotten mica schist.")
Andy stayed interested far longer than I did, and eventually donated a respectable collection to the high school.
Playing games with funny voices. (Who knew it would be a lifelong interest for Andy, a major component of his art?) For a few months we telephoned classmates at home, pretending to be "CBS's new radio quiz show, Junior Jackpot." I wanted to fool them; Andy wanted to amuse them. Sometimes we managed to do both.
And then on to junior high. In Mr. Hinkle's 7th grade math class we classified quadrilaterials. Andy invented a new one -- I think it had three equal sides -- that Mr. Hinkle appreciatively dubbed the Woolfium.
It goes on. Andy striding down New York City streets 10 yards ahead of the rest of us on a class trip to see Three Penny Opera ... Andy at high school parties playing his guitar in the kitchem ... Andy playing the Statue in "Don Juan in Hell," one of the gangsters in "Kiss Me Kate," a robot in "R.U.R.," the love interest in "Romanoff and Juliet" ... Andy at MIDAS meetings ... Andy writing poems for the Roar that were funny-sad, and doing the artwork for other people's poems too ... Andy musing on the magic of Gale Cooper....
The adult memories are too many even to think about listing.
Karen's loss, all our loss, is incalculable. But so is what Andy gave us before he left.
--Peter Sandman
It was a wonderful service tonight, my appreciation and respect for Andy has done nothing but grow since the first time I met him and I expect it will continue to do so! Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories, my love to Karen and the rest of Andy's family.
Amy Richardson
Can you believe that I met Andy years before I ever met you, Karen? In the late 70's, he occasionally played for a series of very popular and well attended contra dances that I helped to organize in Newburyport. Once we tried to expand our territory, by holding a dance in Beverly. About 6 people came...it was a total failure. After it became clear that the evening was going to be a bust, I approached Andy and told him it would be OK for the band to call it a night. "Why?" he replied. "We're having fun. Aren't you?" So, the band stayed until the end, and our few dancers had a wonderful and very private contra dance. (Maybe you were there too, but I don't recall.) I've never forgotten the true joy he found in playing for others.
Last night's service was a wonderful tribute. Everyone at Cutler sends our love to you. Amy
Ed Taylor (aka Uncle Banjo)
newwow@comcast .net
Dearest Karen,
The musical grapevine is humming with the irrational news of Andy's death. When I got the call, I was in a room full of happy, laughing dinner guests. As if in a movie, I stopped hearing the guest's banter and the clinking of glasses. Weirdly, time actually did seem to stand still as I tried to get my mind around what I was hearing: Andy gone? ... Not possible ... Too soon ....
My wife Helen has asked me when I first met Andy. I can't remember. He must have come to my music shop one day (probably with you) but in my mind he has just always been around. Over the past few years, meetings at the Jabberwocky book store or bird watching at Plum Island served to substantiate his continued presence.
For the past week I have been remembering the sound of his voice, the wry and expectant expression on his face. And the time he told a folk tale in a "foreign" language at a sharing party at Sally (Sarah) R's. home in Concord. It must have been one of the first times he did it in front of crowd and the unfolding of the story was hilarious and astonishing because we could all follow the plot of it.
Thank you so much for offering thoughts & memories of friends & yourself at the Service last Friday. There were nuances of Andy that were new to me & gave me a fuller understanding of him , his ways, and art. Miss you, A.
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