Posted by: thepinetree on 05/01/2013 04:06 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 05/01/2013 04:06 PM
Expires: 01/01/2018 12:00 AM
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Andrew Merrick Fahrenwald - 1942-2013
Amador County, CA... Farewell to an Everythingist from Amador Student Music Fund...
Amador Student Music Fund Calendar
MAY 2013
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Andrew Merrick Fahrenwald was born on June 28, 1942, in Chicago, where he grew up. Andy, also known to his fellow musicians as "Banjo Andy," described himself as an "everythingist." Often, when filling out forms, in addition to putting "human whenever asked for his "race,"Andy would write "Everythingist" as his occupation. To the locals around Amador County, California, he is probably most known for his devotion to and enthusiastic involvement in the effort to restore the Knight Foundry in Sutter Creek, and his dream of turning the foundry into an educational "living history museum." He threw himself wholeheartedly into this project, impersonating Samuel Knight--the foundry's founder and inventor of the Knight Water Wheel and high-pressure "water motor," which Andy managed to say in a Maine accent (Knight was from Maine).
He is also recognized for co-founding the annual "International Jug Band Festival" of Sutter Creek, which has been going strong for the past decade, bringing jug bands from all over--as far as Japan.
Of his many different interests, qualities and occupations--which, as one of his friends pointed out, cannot possibly be adequately captured in such a brief format as this--most importantly and above all, Andy was a truly good person. He was a loving, kind-hearted, open-minded and honest individual with a strong sense of justice, a childlike creativity and a sparkle in his eyes. He was, to say the least, quite a unique character whose extraordinary vibrant presence will be missed by all who knew him.
Sutter Creek certainly will not be the same without its quirky
Samuel Knight impersonator. Jug band festivals and music parties will be lacking the same sparkle without their Banjo Andy. And coffee shops all across Amador County and beyond will miss this non-morning-person as he was gradually awakened by their cups of black coffee and copy of the
New York Times.
Andy was a noble fighter of prostate cancer for 4 years, who never gave up hope. Unfortunately the cancer got him in the end. He passed away on April 7, 2013, at age 70 in our home in Sutter Creek. He was my partner of 4 years, (far too few)my soulmate, my comrade, and the finest friend i have ever known. i will miss him beyond words.
I'll close this obituary of sorts with a few of what he called "Andy Aphorisms" "Necessity is the mother of all invention, having nothing to do with the necessity" "All things come to those who live right" "The unknown is larger than the known by an unknowable factor.", and fittingly, "What can you do today that no one has ever done before?"
May we all continue to carry Andy in our hearts and minds and learn from his example...to live life to the fullest,to love deeply, to be kind and just, to appreciate beauty in nature, and all around us, and to always hold on to our inner-child and our dreams.
Oliah 'bird" Fehrenwald April 22, 2013
RIP Andy, you will be missed.
Board of Directors at ASMFund
Contact Information
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phone: 209-304-3618
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