Gerard Nicholas "Nick" Pool

Birth date: Jun 21, 1931 Death date: Nov 23, 2010

Gerard Nicholas “Nick” Pool, born June 21, 1934 Lincoln Park, NJ, passed away on November 23, 2010 in Muskegon. Nick, a 1956 graduate of Hope College, worked for Gordon Laughead Piano Co. in Grand Haven for a few years before goin Read Obituary

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Anonymous

773w ago

Hello Ellen and Family~
Some of my early Muskegon memories are of being at your home, Katrina an infant, and having dinner, with Nick showing us some of his magnificent old instruments. Nick was a brilliant mind, piano technician and truly unique person. My dad, John Dragone, a displaced New Yorker, and Nick became piano technician pals. Nick coached Dad in becoming a piano tech, offered his shop so Dad could rebuild our old Weber grand (which only became a project after Mom put down money on a Chickering grand for John Jr. and I!). I also refinished a piano at Nick's store in my pause from college, but I wasn't the personality for such loner work! Nick and Dad were certainly characters! My thoughts and blessing are with all of you. I hope you are all well and happy. Much love, Christina Dragone##imported-begin##Christina Dragone##imported-end##

Anonymous

774w ago

We spoke to Andrew yesterday at Nick's memorial services. What an inspirational experience it was, especially the music and Andrew's special tribute. Jim is a fraternity brother and classmate of Nick's and was contacted by him even when he was in the army. Nick was the Chaplain's Assistant and looked Jim up and entertained him at Fort Knox,Kentucky.
They had participated in the ALL-College Sing at Hope College with Nick directing the fraternity chorus! What a beautiful memory! They sang,"Stout-hearted Men"; and they were and are!
Andrew, please send us a copy of your beautiful words via email, if it is not too much trouble. (We are sure that Jim helped him with some of the pranks; and another song they did was "The Impossible Dream" and they both achieved it!
We love your father!
Blessings,
Jim and Marilyn Klyn Galer##imported-begin##Jim and Marilyn Klyn Galer of Grandville and Manistee, Michigan##imported-end##

Anonymous

774w ago

I've known Nick for 35 years, ever since I moved into the Keyboard Shop in 1975. Soon thereafter, Nick moved into the back of the shop and we shared the kitchen, the garden, good friends, and good times. Nick would play everything from Scott Joplin to Chopin on the Steinway Grand in my livingroom. Our friends would gather round, drink a few, maybe burn one. Nick was a collegue and a co-conspirator in all things Muskegon - politics, music, arts, invention, and innovation. He was an enormous talent in West Michigan, an historian extrordinaire, a man of great character, and one of the most brilliant persons I've known. Nick Pool was truly a Renaissance Man and a man for all seasons. He will be missed both as a friend and as an inspiration to Rochelle and me. Our sincerest condolences to Sara, Ann, Andrew, Ellen, and the rest of Nick's family. Rochelle and I are both saddened we were out of town for the memorial service.##imported-begin##Peter Sartorius & Rochelle##imported-end##

Anonymous

775w ago

We were Knickerbocker friends at Hope College. I am a year older and was a class ahead of Nick. We both played the baritone horn, and he sold me his horn, and I still have it. Nick was a marvelous musicial person. He was planning to reprogram the bell chimes at the college chapel to play a nursery rhyme. Only ran into Nick a couple of times in all these years.##imported-begin##Donald L. Bussies of Jenison, Michigan##imported-end##

Anonymous

775w ago

My sincere condolences to Ellen and the family during this time of loss. May you all find comfort in God the Father, and the peace that surpasses all understanding through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace and love to all of you.##imported-begin##Kevin C. Barnhill##imported-end##

Anonymous

775w ago

I knew Nick since the early 1960's when he was living in Grand Haven. He frequently visited my family at the cottage at Spring Lake and home in Grand Rapids. I gained a world of information about pianos, player pianos and music rolls over many years and even just days before his passing. He was a great tuner/technician and a long time friend who always had my interests in mind . I'll miss him a great deal.##imported-begin##Bill Burkhardt##imported-end##

Anonymous

775w ago

I first got to know Nick when he married Ellen. I was one of Ellen's choir students at the time. He was such a gentle soul, soft spoken and enormously talented. He played the organ at my wedding, making the small affair seem so wonderfully regal. I have seen him off and on over the years, and each time was such a joy. He will be missed.##imported-begin##Kathryn Morency Schrader##imported-end##

Anonymous

775w ago

Nick was one of the first people I became friends with when I joined the Piano Technicians Guild in 1998. He was truly one of my favorite people!
He was extremely generous and always enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge. I really enjoyed his dry wit and the fact that he never beat around the bush when sharing his opinion of a piano, or tool, or technique. I learned a lot from him as a beginning piano technician.

I moved to Phoenix in 2006, and shortly after I moved, I tuned for a new customer who had moved here from Michigan. In talking about our common roots, I learned that Nick had been her technician when she lived in Muskegon. She and I speak about our fondness for Nick every time I tune for her, and the last time I was there, she gave me a copy of the full-page article about Nick from the Chronicle. I still have the article, and if for some reason Nick's family doesn't have a copy, I would be happy to send it. I will always have very fond memories of Nick, and think of him every time I see a toy piano!
--
Scott A. Helms, Registered Piano Technician
480-818-3871
tuner@helmsmusic.net##imported-begin##Scott A. Helms##imported-end##

Anonymous

775w ago

Jane and I loved Nick for his kindness and incredible talent...we visited him several times in the recent years, and Nick will be missed tremendously by all those who knew and loved him. Nick suffered tremendously from physical problems in recent years, and never once lost his wit or smile.

I was talking with somebody from the Muskegon Heritage Association and bragging about Nick yesterday...as it turns out, on the day he passed.

Nick was truly an inspiration, and a dear friend and collegue, who always delighted in assisting the rest of us with technical solutions over the phone to problems he already knew the answers to! We have lost a great, and kind supporter and mentor to the arts.

Rick and Jane##imported-begin##Rick Davies and Jane Sytek##imported-end##

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