<HTML>List, >From 1975 through 1996 I was the bass trombonist in the Peninsula Festival Orchestra in Door County, Wisconsin.  John Browning was a regular soloist with that orchestra, having had a close relationship with its founder, Thor Johnson.  John bought Thor's home in Sister Bay a few years later when the Festival Committee decided that it needed to sell that very valuable, wooded bayfront property.  Over the 22 seasons that I played, John was soloist in at least 18 of them. During the mid-70's and for a while after he was not the most--well--approachable person.  From about the mid-80's on all that changed, John seemingly having come to grips with a lot of personal things.  During that time I was chairman of the orchestra committee, and since John was heavily involved in the administration of the Festival, we had many opportunities for conversation.  He was not only a masterful performer, but had a keen interest in all things musical around him, and was willing to spend the time to help out, though it was obviously not necessary as a career move. I remember particularly a conversation with him in 1996 concerning a performance of the Tschaikovsky 3rd Concerto (I was in the orchestra, he was attending, not performing).........I asked, rather tentatively, if he had ever played it.  He said, "NO, and I gather you understand why, or you wouldn't have asked the question!"  At that point we both laughed, shook hands and went our separate directions. Incidentally, his little Papillon, Tyler, attended all of the concerts and rehearsals in a small canvas tote bag..............he was better behaved by FAR than some of the regular concert patrons!!!! Rest easy, John.............you've earned it! Regards, Stan Ryberg Barrington IL Associate Member mailto:jstan40@aol.com</HTML>