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vic rzonca
Joined: 18 Nov 2008
Posts: 820
Location: MA
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Posted: Sep 26, 2015 07:54 Post subject: Rock Currier |
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Rock Currier has passed. Rest in peace Rock.
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
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Posted: Sep 26, 2015 08:26 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Oh no....
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Michael Shaw
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Joined: 30 Apr 2008
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Location: Oklahoma
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Posted: Sep 26, 2015 08:29 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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This is sad news, and a big loss to the mineral community. I always looked forward to visiting with him in Tucson and Denver. In fact I found a few little goodies in his tent at Denver last week. Hard to believe he is no longer with us. Condolences to family and friends. RIP Rock.
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rweaver
Joined: 13 Apr 2009
Posts: 259
Location: Ridgecrest, California
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Posted: Sep 26, 2015 08:38 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Check out Lithographie Ltd Facebook page. They have a nice write up on Rock.
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Jordi Fabre
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Gail
Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 5839
Location: Texas, Lone Star State.
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Posted: Sep 26, 2015 08:55 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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I saw him last week in Denver in his big pick up truck. He had said, to others, that he wasn't feeling well. Sigh.
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bob kerr
Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 537
Location: Monroeville PA
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Posted: Sep 26, 2015 09:43 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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What a major loss to the mineral world. I loved his 5 articles in the MR and going into his room at the HTCC/Inn Suites was always a pleasure.
Does anyone know if his business - Jewel Tunnel Imports - will continue??
bob
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Carles Millan
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Joined: 05 May 2007
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Location: Catalonia
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Posted: Sep 26, 2015 13:59 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Very very sad news. I never met Rock in person but I'll miss him.
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Tobi
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Joined: 07 Apr 2009
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Location: Germany
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 03:09 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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I can fully agree with Carles: Never met this outstanding man in person, but I know what enormous loss his passing is for the mineral world. Very sad news :-(
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alfredo
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 11:16 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Yes, Bob, Rock's business, JTI, will continue.
Rock and I shared a hotel room at the Denver show last week. Late-night chats with him were always enlightening. He was full of obscure mineral locality knowledge, interesting anecdotes about infamous people in the mineral world, general wisdom about humanity, and good business advice. I miss that man!
He did say just a few days before he left us that he was proud of his employees and that he was sure they were capable of running JTI without him.
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John Medici
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
Posts: 124
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 12:28 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Sad news! Rock was a wealth of interesting mineral information, including some surprising trivia. He and I interviewed for the same chemical-oriented job at one time. His chemical career was much shorter-lived than mine, and I purchased some of his early pre-Jewel Tunnel items (from an early Asbestos, Quebec buying trip) when he decided to become self-employed; I don't think he ever regretted his world travel-loaded life since then. Rest in peace, Rock!
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Peter Megaw
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 14:29 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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We should not lose track of the fact that Rock...in addition to his manifold positive attributes... actively embraced his argillaceous pedal extremities. The "Inner City" told some of the story, as did his limericks, his encylopedic memory for nasty jokes and profound disgust with political correctness, sanctimoniousness, ignorance and stupidity of all stripes.
On learning of his demise, I pulled out my long-sought and only recently acquired (thanks Ron) 1/9th leather bound second edition of his classic "World's Most Incredible Mineral Specimens" (Jewel Tunnel Press, 1989) and was delighted to find his "Crystals Not Pistols" bookplate in the back stamped "Deaccessioned". This was a slightly raunchier version of the CnP T-shirts he had made ...which is in a drawer around here somewhere.
St. Peter has his hands full with this one...
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Peter Megaw
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 14:39 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Rock had a remarkable ability to pierce the blather and bluster of the commercial mineral world...and was not shy about pointing out publically when the Emperor of the moment was underdressed.
From the Second Edition 1/9th Leather edition of "The World's Most Incredible Mineral Specimens" (Jewel Tunnel Press, 1989) comes Rock's priceless Glossary ...shorter than Fleischer but infinitely more amusing
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alfredo
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 15:26 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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"argillaceous pedal extremities"... ;))
Fabulous! I'll definitely plagiarize that.
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Ed Huskinson
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 318
Location: Kingman, Arizona
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 16:26 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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In the winter of 1974, I had just finished Phase 1 of a drilling project in the Christmas Mountains of Texas, working as NORANDA Exploration's Texas Projects geologist After the end of the year holidays had passed, and the dust had settled, I headed off the the Tucson office to work on drafting the interim report and maps. This placed me in Tucson during the first week in February. Reading the local newspaper, I saw an advertisement for a local mineral show. "Hey!" I said to nobody in particular, "there's a mineral show this weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday." It was late Thursday afternoon. "They'll be setting up right about now." I saw that it was to be held at the Community Center, or Convention Center, whatever it was called, and realized that it was just a few blocks away.
Off I went, found an entrance, and rode the escalator down onto the show floor. No security, no oversight, just a bunch of mineral enthusiasts setting up to showcase their wares and/or collections. I wandered in.
I was sticking my head into various cases for a better looksee at the specimens, when a big old guy said "Can I help you?" I asked a question or two about his display and we chatted. He introduced himself. "Rock Currier? That's your name, really?"
"Yep, it is.".
Rock led me around, introduced me to a few guys. Dick Gaines and Richard Bideaux stand out in my memory for obvious reasons. At Dick's insistence, I signed up for a subscription to Mineralogical Record. More to follow
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Ed Huskinson
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 318
Location: Kingman, Arizona
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 16:55 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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So much to write, so little room. So Rock introduced me to most of the mineral collecting/dealing community in 1975. I saw him every year thereafter. Our friendship was long-lasting and comfortable, and I only now realize just how much I cherish(ed) it. JTI was almost always the first stop for me at Tucson each year, and not for the colorful geegaws, but more for Rock's companionship. He always had a good joke or story to tell, and was invariably full of good humor. Or Cheetos. Sometimes it was difficult to differentiate.
Rock Currier's most important lesson to me was that I should collect for myself, just pick up those things that give me enjoyment, and don't worry about what others might think. Couple that with my acquisitive nature, and you wind up with a house full of rocks, which is what I have. As Dr Megaw is fond of saying "You have every rock you've ever picked up." So going back some 50 years or more, that's a lot of rocks, eh?
Rock was a good friend and mentor, and a tireless advocate for anti-BS-ism.
He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him, from the lowliest toadies to the loftiest mallards.
Ed in Kingman
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Peter Megaw
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Posted: Sep 27, 2015 17:51 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Knew Rock for so long I don't remember when I first met him, but I'm willing to bet it was through you Ed!
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Riccardo Modanesi
Joined: 07 Nov 2011
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Location: Milano
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 09:47 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Hi to everybody!
Maybe I saw him once or twice in Munich, but I know he was so great a personality in the mineralogical world. For sure we all miss him and his knowledge about minerals. It's a big loss, I agree with all of you. Just I hope he didn't suffer too much while passing away.
My condolences to Rock's family and greetings from Italy by Riccardo.
_________________ Hi! I'm a collector of minerals since 1973 and a gemmologist. On Summer I always visit mines and quarries all over Europe looking for minerals! Ok, there is time to tell you much much more! Greetings from Italy by Riccardo. |
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bob kerr
Joined: 13 Nov 2011
Posts: 537
Location: Monroeville PA
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Posted: Sep 28, 2015 10:03 Post subject: Re: Rock Currier |
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Peter Megaw wrote: | Rock had a remarkable ability to pierce the blather and bluster of the commercial mineral world...and was not shy about pointing out publically when the Emperor of the moment was underdressed.
From the Second Edition 1/9th Leather edition of "The World's Most Incredible Mineral Specimens" (Jewel Tunnel Press, 1989) comes Rock's priceless Glossary ...shorter than Fleischer but infinitely more amusing |
Peter - many thanks for posting these historical/hysterical "Rock" items. he was a truly unique individual.
One of my favorite "Rock quotes" is from his MR article "About Mineral Collecting - Part 2". Concerning "high end dealers and heavy hitters", Rock wrote: "They will often try to coax the best clients away from each other...operating under the principle that there are no new customers - only other people's customers."
Always "speak the truth to power"!!
bob
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GneissWare
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