[sdiy] Fw: John Simonton

[john mahoney]

Sad news from the MOTM list. :-(
I know that I'm one of many people here who was influenced in a big way by
PAiA.
This is a bad year for synth people!
--
john


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "pacificamsx" <pacificamsx at earthlink.net>
To: <motm at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 2:07 AM
Subject: [motm] John Simonton


> It is with heavy heart that I report the passing of John "PAiA" Simonton,
sometime last
> week, following a battle with cancer.
>
> John created PAiA something like over 30 years ago, and was a constant
source of
> inspiration, education, and affordable synthesizers to at least a couple
of generations of
> us. I know that I am immersed in my career today, in part, because of the
knowledge and
> skills I obtained from reading John's "Lab Notes" in Polyphony magazine
(ancestor to
> Electronic Musician) and building his synthesizer circuits.
>
> I had a computer sequencer, D/A and multiplexed S/H outputs YEARS before
almost
> anyone else I knew because of his designs (mid-to-late '70s!), and my
early experiences
> with his 8700 computer/controller laid hugely valuable groundwork for my
subsequent
> involvement with computers and other hi-tech meldings of art and machines.
>
> And, of course, my fond memories of solder fumes and analog circuitry
eventually led me
> right here to MOTM...
>
> I never met him in person, but we shared some great emails over the last
few years--- I
> just had to thank him for affecting my life so positively--- he said he
always got a kick out
> of hearing about the success of his customers in their 30s who first
bought a kit from him
> back when they were teenagers (like me!)...   :)
>
> If I hear anything further about services, etc., I'll pass them on--- but
mainly, I just wanted
> to speak up in honor of this fine gentleman and genius--- I shall greatly
miss his
> presence in this world. My sincere condolences to his family and PAiA
colleagues.
>
> Thank you, John!!!!! Rest well, my friend.
>
> -Russell