Bob White's #health

[Brian Aldridge]

I just got off the phone with Mrs. White. I had called to see how Bob was doing, and I am sad to report that he has had a decline due to the strokes he has suffered. She told me that his fine motor skills, short term memory, ballance and attention span has suffered greatly. His PT wanted him to try to play his mandolin, but he cannot. They are continuing to experience finacial woes. Mrs. White says that it would be of tremendous help to Bob's moral to receive visits from old friends (and even play him some music) when possible, but also that cards would be of much help, as Bob has been plagued with depression and feels like he has been forgotten. For those who have not heard of Bob, he has been a great lover of the mandolin as a fine player, builder and repairman for well over 50 years. He has influenced and inspired many of the great luthiers of today, including Mike Kimnitzer and Pete Hart, both of whom actually apprenticed under Bob.
Bob's address is:
Robert White
3157 Carr Rd.
Coolville, OH 45723
Also of interesting note is that Bob is being recognized by the Ohio Arts Council this July 3rd in Dayton Ohio, and will be receiving a very welcomed $1500 check.
I am planning to pay him a visit ASAP, and if any interest is shown here, I will report anything further I may find to add.

[jim simpson]

Brian,
Sorry to hear of Bob's health problems. I was fortunate to meet him in the early 70's when I accompanied a friend who was taking a really old blackface Gibson guitar down to him to repair. I lived in Wheeling, WV at the time so the drive down to the Athens, Ohio area wasn't too bad of a road trip. I couldn't believe how well he restored this guitar. He touched up the area on the black top yet didn't take away the vintage patina, the repair was invisible. You could tell from the restoration that he truly was an artist and well worth travelling to. I wish Bob and his family well.
Jim

[Scotti Adams]

..thanks Brian...My thoughts and prayers our with Bob and his family.

[Steve Williams]

Brian - thanks for the update on Bob. He's truly one of a kind...a real influence to a lot of us who started picking in SE Ohio/West Virginia back in the 70's and 80's.

Steve Williams