Marsha Folks Posted December 2, 1999 Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 I want to share with all readers on this forum the news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. I was saddened to learn of his death, as he was my friend and I know that he was always so open and helpful to anyone who asked him questions. Al had a big heart and his honesty and integrity was never in doubt to anyone that dealt with him. We've lost a wonderful luthier and he will be greatly missed. Marsha Folks - Center, North Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregStewart Posted December 2, 1999 Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 I'm sure I speak for many in extending condolences. He made many friends on this board, and his advice and commentary will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mairead Posted December 2, 1999 Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. That's dreadful news! And so sudden. Had he been ill? Can you tell us more? I feel miserable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_W Posted December 2, 1999 Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 Al's presence here was what brought so many of us to this Board. I know I'm expressing the regret of many that he no longer will be with us. My deepest condolences to Clo and the other great people at Casa del Sol. Mark Wagner : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. : I was saddened to learn of his death, as he was my : friend and I know that he was always so open and helpful : to anyone who asked him questions. Al had a big heart : and his honesty and integrity was never in doubt to : anyone that dealt with him. We've lost a wonderful : luthier and he will be greatly missed. : Marsha Folks - Center, North Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael sowden Posted December 2, 1999 Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 All at Michael T Sowden and Sons would like to express our deepest regret at the news of Al Stancels death. Although we never met him,our conversations via the board and over the telephone meant a great deal to us. His warmth,friendship expertise and intelligence will be sorely missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted December 2, 1999 Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 i received several e-mails from al, but the subject matter usually was about old vacuum tube electronics, ham radio or hobbies. he was a person that i had hoped to meet in person. he will be sorely missed here. mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsha Folks Posted December 2, 1999 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 : : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. : That's dreadful news! And so sudden. Had he been ill? Can you tell us more? : I feel miserable. I will share with the readers of this forum that may not have known Al personally. Many may not know that Al had lost his legs years ago (I never felt it was any of my business to inquire as to how that happened). During September and October, Al had been ill with some sort of intestinal troubles and had been hospitalized briefly. Being the trooper that he was, he never complained about his pain to me, but he did share with me that he had trouble with his protheses because he had lost so much weight and they were painful for him to use them for walking. Al did his work at his shop in a chair with wheels, which he would roll over to the phone whenever anyone called. He was my friend, and I am so saddened by his death. I had been worried about him because of his "silence", but I had no idea that whatever it was that put him in the hospital in October was so serious. I'd like to share with all readers that the last time Al and I spoke on the phone, he had just gotten in a Carcassi violin for restoration work and was tickled to pieces to have that fiddle to work on! Al was a joy and the most positive, honest luthier I've ever known. Marsha Folks - Center, North Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted December 2, 1999 Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 That is very sad news. I haven't been coming to this board very long, but whenever I posted a question I quickly learned that the best responses came from Al. No matter how dumb my question must have been his answers were always helpful and understanding. I have been wondering where he was. He will be sorely missed. : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. : I was saddened to learn of his death, as he was my : friend and I know that he was always so open and helpful : to anyone who asked him questions. Al had a big heart : and his honesty and integrity was never in doubt to : anyone that dealt with him. We've lost a wonderful : luthier and he will be greatly missed. : Marsha Folks - Center, North Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mairead Posted December 2, 1999 Report Share Posted December 2, 1999 : I will share with the readers of this forum that may : not have known Al personally. .... Thank you, Marsha. What an awful loss to us all. I think the epitaph Rab Burns wrote for a friend fits for Al, too: If there's another world, he lives in bliss. And if there is no other, he made the best of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 I would like to say that as a reader and occasional poster of this board for over three years, I've always held Al's posts in the highest regard. To any other family and friends reading this board, my sincerest condolences. Wendy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTAM Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 : .......a great friend and contributor. The world has lost a kind and generous man. : Mr. Stancel has shared with us much more than his love and knowledge of violin and music. He has shown me that, in a time when vulgarity and self-absorption seem to be the norm, it is still possible to be a gentleman. I will miss you greatly, Mr. Stancel. May you find perfect intonation in that big concert hall in the sky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PC Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 I am greatly saddened by the passing of Al. I was never lucky enough to have met him face to face but his multitude of postings on the board and the personal emails he sent speak volumes about the man who was so kind as to share so freely the knowledge that took him a lifetime to acquire. I know that he was a kind, thoughtful, non-judgemental, generous, and intelligent individual, and I am disappointed that I never got the chance to meet him so I could have thanked him in person. Thank you, Al. Paul Carlson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberta Piano Lady Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 : : : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : : : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : : : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. : : That's dreadful news! And so sudden. Had he been ill? Can you tell us more? : : I feel miserable. : I will share with the readers of this forum that may : not have known Al personally. Many may not know that : Al had lost his legs years ago (I never felt it was : any of my business to inquire as to how that happened). : During September and October, Al had been ill with some : sort of intestinal troubles and had been hospitalized : briefly. Being the trooper that he was, he never : complained about his pain to me, but he did share with : me that he had trouble with his protheses because he : had lost so much weight and they were painful for him : to use them for walking. : Al did his work at his shop in a chair with wheels, : which he would roll over to the phone whenever anyone : c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S. Hersh Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 The loss will be deeply felt by us all. Hopefully the many of us that had contact with Al will continue to derive inspiration from his generosity of spirit for the rest of our own lives. S. Hersh : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. : I was saddened to learn of his death, as he was my : friend and I know that he was always so open and helpful : to anyone who asked him questions. Al had a big heart : and his honesty and integrity was never in doubt to : anyone that dealt with him. We've lost a wonderful : luthier and he will be greatly missed. : Marsha Folks - Center, North Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Medina Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 How can I add to what people to already said without repeating? You were a friend and a gentleman. You were more giving than anyone will be able to say. Thank you for your joy and kindess. Thank you for your warm and soft heart. Now, Al, you can make violins in the workshop in the sky you said you would wait for. Daniel : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. : I was saddened to learn of his death, as he was my : friend and I know that he was always so open and helpful : to anyone who asked him questions. Al had a big heart : and his honesty and integrity was never in doubt to : anyone that dealt with him. We've lost a wonderful : luthier and he will be greatly missed. : Marsha Folks - Center, North Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mairead Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 AL STANCEL died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. Marsha, do you know what exactly was the listed cause of his death? I ask because his last post to the list was made that very morning, so whatever it was must have happened very suddenly. Which I suppose was a blessing, in its way. We'll not see the like of him again soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Buckley Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 I've never met the man and only communicated through this forum. He never once failed to respond to any question I addressed with helpful and sincere information and advice from his undoubted wealth of knowledge and experience. You could sense there was something very special and human about him. May you rest in peace, Al, and condolences to family and close friends. I hope many fine tributes will be posted on this board. In the back of my mind I sometimes thought - if I ever had the chance to meet him what a pleasure it would be. omobono. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Victor Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 Al Stancel was a most helpful friend to all of us at the Fingerboard and you could count on his advice and suggestions. His recommendations brought my cello back to life and I am sure all of us whose lives he similarly touched will carry some such physical remembrance throughout our musical days. Thank you Al, I miss you. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Al Stancel. Although I never had the privilege of meeting Al, our interaction on this board made me feel as though I knew him. Amid the turbulence and verbosity of the board, Al was a sea of tranquility, and a wellspring of wisdom. And despite his own busy life, when he came to the board he was never too busy to assist even a newbie like myself with my insignificant little problems. I shed a tear this morning when I read the news, but found comfort in this verse from the poem 'Remembrance' by William Shakespeare: "But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored, and sorrows end." With sympathy, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsha Folks Posted December 3, 1999 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 Yesterday, December 2, there was a Memorial Service for our friend, Al Stancel. My friend in Indiana attended the service and he wrote the following to me. I want to share it with all of you. Marsha Folks - Center, North Dakota ------------------------------------------------------ The service yesterday almost filled a very large church. It was a very nice tribute to Al. Lisa Scott played four pieces on one of the last violins that Al made in 1991. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Air, Irish Air and Amazing Grace were the selections. She was accompanied on cello by Perry Scott. Many of Al's life long friends were called up to talk about their experiences. It was an hour of uplifting and inspiring talks and music. He will be missed. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Powell Posted December 3, 1999 Report Share Posted December 3, 1999 : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. Al was a friend of mine from my early days of violin collecting, and before the internet days. He had called the house on saturday morning, about 2-weeks ago, said a violin I had sent him to look at from my collection looked italian and was sending it to Warren&Sons,Chicago,and he would pay for the expense. I had told Al he could purchase it if he wanted, as he was always looking for french bows and nice fiddles, and I would run across one,sooner or later. He seemed excited about it, and planned to send it right after thanksgiving. I checked last night on the fingerboard to see if Al was around, and saw this posting about Al. I kinda thought back about how Luigi Tarisio was holding one of his favored violins, when they found him in his chair, when know one had heard from him, and how he loved the "old cremonas", and know if I dont see my violin again, maybe Al has it with him! Al,loved to fish, by wheeling his chair to the dock and getting to his boat, as he had lost his legs in a plane crash,flying to Washington, as I recall he worked with the early NASA space program. Als grandfather is listed in the American Violinmkers books under Dailey, (dont remember the first name) and Al had lived his childhood around his grandad and violins in a sharecroppers house. Ill always remember him as "Big Al" as I often called him, and how we would smoke a big ceegar as we looked over finding a nice violin, or catching a big fish. Ill miss Al forever, as I think he took a part of me with him, "but he also left a part" I bid farewell to a my friend, Sincerely, Mike Powell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Brown Posted December 4, 1999 Report Share Posted December 4, 1999 Each Man Has A Name by Zelda Each man has a name given him by God and given him by his father and mother. Each man has a name given him by his stature and his way of smiling and given him by his clothes. Each man has a name given him by the mountains and given him by his walls. Each man has a name given him by the planets and given him by his neighbors. Each man has a name given him by his sins and given him by his longing. Each man has a name given him by his enemies and given him by his love. Each man has a name given him by his feast days and given him by his craft. Each man has a name given him by the seasons of the year and given him by his blindness. Each man has a name given him by the sea and given him by his death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted December 6, 1999 Report Share Posted December 6, 1999 I haven't been on the board in about a week and almost felt sick when I saw this. I wasn't lucky enough to have met him personally, but over the last two years of communicating with him here I felt like I knew him, like he was a friend. I know that's how we all feel. I've never been in contact with a person who was so willing to help. When I started violin making I knew that he would be there to give me advise whenever I needed it. I told him that I'd send a picture of the violin I'm working on now when I finished, I think I'll still send it (if I ever finish). I have deepest sympathy for his widow and family. I know they've lost more than we'll ever know. We've lost a great man, but maybe we've gained something too, all of us who have been helped in anyway by Al gained a friend. Al sold me the bow that I use, I will forever think of him when I play. Al isn't gone, as long as we remember him and his presence on this board and in this world. Again, my deepest sympathy to his family. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverdog Posted December 7, 1999 Report Share Posted December 7, 1999 I have been away from this site for a while and was stunned to find out that AL has passed on. What a kind, generous, wonderful man he is. The other posts have summarized many of my thoughts as well as the grief I am now feeling for this gentleman that I never met, except here. Best wishes to Clo and the folks at Casa Del Sol during these difficult times. He will be sorely missed. The world needs more people like Al. May he rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victor Posted December 20, 1999 Report Share Posted December 20, 1999 I am sorry to hear of Al Stancel's death. I met him on this board about a year ago and got to meet him in person this past August--he examined my violin and rehaired my bow. It was a pleasure having known him. I hope the people at Casa Del Sol are okay considering the circumstances--I will try to visit them as soon as I get a chance. Take care, Victor : I want to share with all readers on this forum the : news I received this morning. AL STANCEL, of Casa : del Sol Violins, died on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999. : I was saddened to learn of his death, as he was my : friend and I know that he was always so open and helpful : to anyone who asked him questions. Al had a big heart : and his honesty and integrity was never in doubt to : anyone that dealt with him. We've lost a wonderful : luthier and he will be greatly missed. : Marsha Folks - Center, North Dakota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts