Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: David Houck on June 30, 2009, 04:25:30 PM

Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: David Houck on June 30, 2009, 04:25:30 PM: Steve (crazykiwi) just emailed me. The following is from his message.

I just wanted to let you know that one of the Alembic forum members, Dr Nicola Knight, passed away recently from a heart attack while playing sport at the age of 33. Nick was Italian but had spent a substantial amount of time at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbour, completing his Doctorate in Anthropology before relocating to the UK.

He wasn't very active on the Alembic forum as he had a busy work life as a research fellow at Oxford University. However in the 4 years I knew him, he scaled his collection of instruments down from a range of Alembics and Smiths to just one, an Alembic Series II with a Europa shape and burl walnut facings.

He was also a close friend who had a deliciously warped sense of humour and will be greatly missed by his close friends, colleagues and his devoted wife Maria.

Jazzyvee purchased his Europa from Nicola in this thread (http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/20365.html?1124897348).

Nicola posted under two different usernames, knight and r5r5, as he had lost his password at one point and created a new account. He first joined our group in 2003 and last posted in 2008; a long time member.

There is an In Memoriam page here (http://cognitionandculture.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=468:in-memoriam-nicola-knight&catid=29:dan&Itemid=34) with a nice picture of Nicola.

While he wasn't one of the regulars who post daily here, Nicola was one of the many who have been with us for many years now, and stop in from time to time, contributing to the growth and evolution of our community.

Thanks for being part of us Nicola.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: David Houck on June 30, 2009, 04:34:14 PM: Steve; thank you again for letting us know about your friend Nicola. I know you'll miss him. You are in my heart this evening.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: crazykiwi on June 30, 2009, 04:53:26 PM: Thanks David, he was a very unique personality.

On the memorial page, there's a link to his last blog, some observations of pigeons entitled 'Pigeon Bothering' which attributes an ability to make morality based decisions to these birds that are otherwise often referred to as 'rats with wings' in UK urban environments.

This is so very typical of Nick's warped sense of humour while no doubt having some underlying academic significance as well.

He occasionally used my bass forum for his research purposes and he last logged in the very day that he passed away. I remember the last time we were together, we were driving up to one of the annual forum get-togethers and we were laughing so hard at our flights of silliness that I had to take extra care in driving.

I'm pleased to say that at least one research student of Nicks will continue to be involved with the forum and it seems a fitting legacy as the student has also indicated he's interested in taking up bass guitar.

I'm thinking also particularly of Nick's wife, Maria as well. They were devoted to one another and I can't begin to imagine what she must have been coping with over the last couple of weeks.

RIP Nick, I feel your loss keenly. I will miss our enlightening and stimulating chats and your particular brand of Italian lunacy.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: artswork99 on June 30, 2009, 06:42:35 PM: Steve,
My sincere condolences. Thoughts and prayers with Maria and friends.
Art
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: pauldo on June 30, 2009, 08:07:27 PM: root 5 root 5 - forever may he play on . . .
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: 57basstra on June 30, 2009, 08:23:03 PM: Sounds like he was a very remarkable man who left the world much too soon. May God's blessings and grace be with his family and friends during this time of sadness.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: willie on June 30, 2009, 08:30:29 PM: Steve My condolences to you and Maria the rest of his family and friends. Even though I did not know him personally, all on this forum seem to be friends even if you never meet them. So it is a loss to all of us. It appears he was quite intelligent so it is not only a loss to the Bass community but to the Academic community as well.
He will be missed by many.
Will
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: basstard on July 01, 2009, 12:04:34 AM: On no... Another Alembician (and a great human being) passing away...

My thoughts are with him and the ones that loved (and still love) him.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: jazzyvee on July 01, 2009, 12:24:28 AM: Gosh, sorry to hear that. I remember him as a very happy and cheerful chap when I went to get my Europa from him and his wife is a lovely lady. He actually let me play his series II bass too.

Sad news indeed.

Jazzyvee
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: white_cloud on July 01, 2009, 02:18:19 AM: Sincerest condolences at this sad time for Nick and his loved ones - god bless!

John.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: georgie_boy on July 01, 2009, 02:30:27 AM: Best wishes to all at this sad time.

George
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: dadabass2001 on July 01, 2009, 05:22:20 AM: My thoughts and condolences to Nicolas family and friends.
Michael
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: serialnumber12 on July 01, 2009, 06:03:25 AM: Wow he was only 33 years old...........that's too young!!!
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: basstard on July 01, 2009, 06:07:52 AM: Yes, only 3 years older than me... It makes me think about certain things in my life...

If there is an other side, may it be filled with love, peace, and custom made Alembics for Nicola.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: olieoliver on July 01, 2009, 06:41:54 AM: WOW this is truly a sad thing. My condolences to his entire family and my prayers go out to them.

OO
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: southpaw on July 01, 2009, 07:18:36 AM: My condolences to his family & friends. Obviously a warm & brilliant man who leaves a great legacy to those who knew him. Godspeed.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: senmen on July 01, 2009, 10:04:28 AM: That is truly sad news.
Another nice Alembic Forum member, and at that age!
My deep condolences to his family and friends.......
Oliver (Spyderman)
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: lbpesq on July 01, 2009, 10:38:44 AM: It's always sad to hear of someone passing, and especially at such a young age. My condolences to family and friends.

May the Four Winds Blow You Safely Home

Bill, tgo
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: crazykiwi on July 01, 2009, 02:21:02 PM: Thanks chaps, I'm currently trying to contact his wife through a number of different avenues and will be passing on your messages to her.

Its come as a shock to everyone who knew him personally and he will be remembered very fondly.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: bracheen on July 01, 2009, 02:35:26 PM: I'm very sorry to hear this. My condonlences to his family and friends.

Sam
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: mica on July 01, 2009, 02:40:44 PM: It's certainly a shock, Steve. So young, you never know, you just never know.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: jakebass on July 01, 2009, 04:17:30 PM: I've already posted on Basschat where I knew Nick a little better, he was a true original, very humourous and always giving pause for thought with his bright and often funny posts, Basschat and this board are poorer places for his passing. My deepest condolences to his loved ones.
Jake
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: chrisalembic on July 02, 2009, 05:59:16 AM: I am sorry to hear this. My condonlences to his friends and family.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: gregduboc on July 02, 2009, 07:48:55 AM: Please accept my condolences as well... Very sad news...
This shows us that we can never expect it... It may happen any time.
May you rest in peace Nicola.

Greg
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: crazykiwi on July 02, 2009, 01:56:56 PM: Thanks again everyone, I'm pleased to report that I managed to get in touch with Maria last night and have just sent her a link to this thread. It's been a nightmare for her and I'm sure she will be extremely appreciative of your kind words.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: David Houck on July 02, 2009, 09:18:04 PM: Thank you Steve.
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: the_mule on July 06, 2009, 10:23:48 AM: Very sad to hear that, R.I.P. Nicola. Hopefully you'll contribute some sweet music to the great gig in the sky...

Wilfred
Title: A fellow club member, Nicola, has passed away
Post by: mario_farufyno on July 08, 2009, 05:47:35 AM: It is always sad when a fellow let us... Condolences from Brazil. Hope his family find the strenght to go trough all this.

(Message edited by Mario Farufyno on July 08, 2009)