Horace, I only met him a few times but he was one of those types you don't forget. Very ecclectic and super interesting to talk to. I once saw him give a class about the trials and tribulations of making his own Seven ft. Grand, including casting his own plate. This was probably 10 or more years ago. Bummer. Doug Hershberger ----- Original Message ----- From: Horace Greeley <hgreeley@leland.Stanford.EDU> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 7:49 AM Subject: Re: Torches and passings > > Friends, > > It is with great sadness that I add to Jim B's earlier list of > those no longer with us. > > Last Friday, Sheldon Smith died suddenly and unexpectedly at his > Berkeley, CA, home. > > For those who may not have known of him, Sheldon was, for over > 25 years, the concert technician for the San Francisco Symphony, > and was still active at Herz and Zellerbach Halls at CAL, as well > as maintaining a very active rebuilding business at the time of > his death. His work may be heard on virtually any recording made > by the SFO between 1970 and 1995. > > His candle burned, perhaps, too brightly; and he constantly fought > with the inner demons which have driven so many into divorce or, > out of the profession. A brilliant technician, he was also a gifted > teacher, whose classes were always jammed to overflowing and well > received. Even when one disagreed with his conclusions, it was > clear that great energy and intelligence had gone into arriving at > them, and that they were not dogmatically cast in concrete. > > The shops, first in SF and then in Berkeley, have long been centers > of very high quality, innovative work. He was capable of craftsmanship > second to none. Constantly experimenting, he was designing and making > his own soundboards (including some highly successful laminated ones), > as well as things like crossband laminated ribs long before most others > on the West Coast were even doing any successful shimming. > > For some, Sheldon's passing is a footnote. For some others, it is > the shattering loss of one of the few true remaining original > geniuses of the profession. (Think of Leonard Jared, or Chas. Frederick > Stein, and a handful of others.) > > A Wake, which is, after all, the only truly appropriate way to celebrate > Sheldon, is planned for later in August. > > Best to all. > > Horace > >
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