ATTENTION, ATTENTION!!!
Dear Fellow Members of the NY Pipe Club,
A few weeks ago, I posted about an extremely important need and a way that you could help make the situation hopefully a bit better. You may or may not already know that one of the most respected pipe carvers in America, and more importantly, our dear friend, recently became ill.
Rolando Negoita, whom many of you already know from the Northeast Regional Pipe Smoking Contest, (Kaywoodie Event), held in December, had a malignant tumor in his brain which was surgically removed a couple of months ago. Rolando’s family set up a site for donations to help them through this difficult time (https://www.youcaring.com/rolandonegoita-1077649).
In addition Marty Pulvers, of Pulvers Briar online store, has started a second effort, this one focused around asking members of the pipe community if they have any pipes in their collection that they aren't smoking and would be willing to donate. I think Marty's idea is that while cash may be short for many of us at any given time, most of us probably do have one or more pipes that we don't smoke and are too busy to sell. Any pipes donated will be sold by Marty on his website, and the entire proceeds donated towards Rolando's care and recovery. If you go to Marty's website you can see his description of the effort, but you need to scroll down a bit to find it: http://pulverspriorbriar.com/index.html
As per Marty:
On the Rolando Negoita front: A thoughtful &
generous, but anonymous, member of our
community has developed an excellent plan, it
seems, to help raise funds for a much loved pipe
maker in need. In addition to the money he
donated for Rolando's medical expenses, our
friend is going to send me a couple of pipes for
this site, the sale proceeds of which will all be
donated to Rolando's care. If you care to donate
a pipe or two, that you no longer smoke, for this
purpose, please contact me and I will give you my
home address & the pipe will be posted as quickly
as possible.
If you care to make cash contributions, that is
still a great option. The site through which you
can do that is listed below, at the bottom of my
initial posting regarding Rolando's health woes, which follows here...
Folks, unlike most of my drivel, here is some
very important news, which I should have known
but only just found out about: Rolando Negoita
had a serious brain tumor, was operated on and
will be under-going chemo and radiation therapy.
Pipe makers, even great ones like
Rolando, do not make the kind of money
that gets them through major medical crises. If
you know Rolando, and the exceptional, sweet
person that he is, I know you will want to donate.
This is the link to so doing. Be generous.
https://www.youcaring.com/rolandonegoita-1077649
If any of you have pipes you'd care to donate, please reach out to Marty directly at mpulvers@aol.com, and he will give you the mailing address to which they should be sent. Please remember to include a note specifying that the enclosed pipes are donations to the Rolando Negoita pipe project.
I encourage all of you to dig deep and do what you are able to help this wonderfully sweet and gentle soul, not to mention being one of the most talented and unique pipe makers in the world and who resides right here in the Hudson Valley, our brother Rolando, as he and his family rebuild after this difficult time.
See below for a quick update from Rolando and his family.
I thank you all,
Lou
Posted on February 12, 2018
Thank you so so so much to everyone!
Your support for Rolando and our family has been tremendous. We can't believe how well the community has come together to help us out.
Times are tough, but we have to make the most from it and take each day as it comes. Rolando is handling the treatment relatively well.
Here's a photo of Rolando showing off his scar :)
Thank you for your love, from the bottom of our hearts.
-- Luka, Rolando, and Alexandra
PS: SAVE THE DATE -- Saturday, March 17 -- people will be getting together at Paula Kucera's White Barn Farm space to rally more support for the Negoita family.