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From Jean Baptiste

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all.



It is with a sadness I have never felt that I must report that Jon Brian Waugh passed away on the evening of March 5, 2005.
It has been hard to get to this as I have lost a brother, mentor, and dear friend of over 25 years. Brian and I met and immediately became brothers, teaching and learning from each other many things over the years. I am still in shock, and hope that it carries me through a little longer. I now sit and twiddle my fingers, twisting fringe into braid and breaking-up dogbane to make cord for our camp. I'm trying not to think about him every moment, but it's hard - I never realized how ingrained in my life he had become until we lost him. No longer can I call my brother and tell him how far I've gotten on knapping something, nor can I hear him talk about where he had dinner with Char, or how much time he spent learning how to make trunks. He is exactly the person I would have called to help me through this hardest of times, and exactly the person I cannot.

Robin, Brian's dear wife (whom you may have read about elsewhere on this site), amazed me with her strength, as did the rest of the family. I loved Brian so much that it pains me that I cannot do something for them. I can say that I share in their loss, but that doesn't even come close. I am glad to see that Brian's family is large and strong, and very supportive. They are all very special and unique people, and are lucky to have each other.

I guess there's a little of Brian in all of us who knew and loved him. I will think about him often, remember his quotes and great sense of humor, his smile and funny expressions, his love for his family, his ability to learn and teach, his example as human being. In the future, I will dedicate time to write about him and some of the many things I learned from him, but for now...

I bid you fare well on a familiar trail.---JBL

As always, write to me at jeanbaptiste@armoryhill.com with your questions and suggestions.

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