Blitzo Memorial Service - Joshua Tree, CA

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Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber

moving thru

Nov 11, 2013 - 01:13pm PT

Burch3y, wish I would have known. I brought my uke too, altho I am a newbie at it. Anyone have a picture of the Cactus Pricks playing? Mine didn't turn out? The real lynne.

Todd Gordon

Trad climber

Joshua Tree, Cal

Nov 11, 2013 - 01:17pm PT

Mr. Todd Battey........Queen Mountain pioneer, ace climber, and all around great dude..

StahlBro

Trad climber

San Diego, CA

Nov 11, 2013 - 01:22pm PT

It was a really good tribute and a ton of great people. Cactus Pricks and Jazz trio were going off.

Special thanks to Susan, Russ, Todd, Andrea and everyone who helped put this together. Thanks again to Robert for letting us hang out with the Ranch posse.

Rob

Todd Gordon

Trad climber

Joshua Tree, Cal

Nov 11, 2013 - 01:47pm PT

Amber and Brandon......(Cute girl;...must have a good looking Mom...)..

Jingy

climber

Somewhere out there

Nov 11, 2013 - 06:58pm PT

Jingy was there Nita, just not during daylight hours, missed most of the good times that happened during day….

Cheers Nita and All!!

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, CA

Nov 11, 2013 - 07:22pm PT

I was going to express how much I missed this event, but I won't. As is evident with all sh#t the Taco does, we pull together and REPRESENT the whole community.

I'm glad to see that Blitzo was properly honored by those that knew him. I'm sorry I missed it, but I said prayers for our brother. He was my kind of guy despite ever meeting him. I felt him. Cool dude.

Sorry I couldn't make it, but I do remember Blitzo. God bless ya, bro.

Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber

moving thru

Nov 11, 2013 - 07:49pm PT

It's always great to see you Craig and sip the JIB's ! Thanks.

I agree about trying to get around the group to see everyone. It's crazy that people come from all over the US and then we miss connecting .....

Cheers to you Sir Frye :)

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, CA

Nov 11, 2013 - 08:01pm PT

Mimi was there? ah man....I knew I had to go...Fu%k,

Super-pissed off right now, errrrr

MisterE

climber

Nov 11, 2013 - 08:02pm PT

What a great event, and an amazingly calm and beautiful weekend at Joshua Tree. Also, the temperatures were perfect.

This was just a wonderful way to show love and respect to a good friend, a great photographer, and a fellow tribesman.

We honored him with a heart-felt celebration.

Thanks to all.

Edit: I bought two bags of BD White Gold to mix my remains in - Billy will be with us climbing...

Brokedownclimber

Trad climber

Douglas, WY

Nov 11, 2013 - 09:47pm PT

It was great seeing many friends from the Taco Stand, and sadly missed many others who couldn't make it. The drive there pretty well did me in and I didn't last very long; I subsequently missed Vegasclimber & his Missus, as well as Anastasia. This was in reality a family gathering of the tribe. Many heartfelt thanks to Todd and Andrea for graciously providing the Gordon Ranchero one more time so we could all have our farewell to Blitzo.

It was a fantastic blast to hang out with locker, and with Jaybro too. As always was glad to hang with Ron Gomez, Dr.F., Steve, Sonya, Mimi, Russ, Sooze, Ed Hartouni, Cosmic, Jim Bridwell, Largo, and too many others to list here.

My tin of Billy's cremains will be going to City of Rocks for a final repose atop Window Rock next Spring.

Edit! I also forgot to add Mister E, Skip, Lynne, and my partner from 2011 Zip to the list above. My bad! Tucker and Tony Yeary, too.

My trip home took me 14 hours and 45 minutes (I arrived this morning at 0445 hours) to drive 1040 miles. I slept most of today, so...better late here than never.

Another Edit! How could I have left out Harrison, Mo, and Cragman; missed ya' Dean!

Todd Gordon

Trad climber

Joshua Tree, Cal

Nov 11, 2013 - 11:51pm PT

Todd Gordon

Trad climber

Joshua Tree, Cal

Nov 11, 2013 - 11:53pm PT

Jenny and Andrea

Todd Gordon

Trad climber

Joshua Tree, Cal

Nov 11, 2013 - 11:56pm PT

Dave Evans, Rob Stall, Bill Russell......

susan peplow

climber

Joshua Tree, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Nov 12, 2013 - 12:10am PT

Thank you Taco members who attended Billy's Memorial, it was a beautiful night with phenomenal weather. Russ kept telling me how much Blitzo hated that sort of thing but I disagree. I believe Billy would be so humbled by the attention and really touched that so many took the time to say goodbye.

It was like watching a timeline of his life, seeing friends and hearing stories from decades ago. Seeing sister Martha, meeting his ex-wife Charleen (aka Big Red)…….. new and old friends alike joining together.

During his illness he was so touched by the donations and cards that came in. It was much like watching a child at Christmas opening the cards, packages and emails he was so jazzed! Not just when it was donations (I mean really, who doesn't like getting sudden cash especially when it's so needed) but the continuous post cards, phone calls and posts checking up on him. He was a special person, a good friend and you all did a great job of reminding him of such.

There are so many special notes but a few off my head include SteveW who kept sending cards, Nita, Jingy, Cragman, Zip, Neebee, Will, the agent, Locker……..gosh the list just goes on forever. It was not uncommon to go to our mailbox and have 2 or 3 cards sitting there waiting for Blitzo.

So, my friends this Memorial wasn't just to say goodbye to Billy but a gathering of a community, one that I couldn't be prouder to be a part of.

Huge thanks to Todd & Andrea for opening your home yet again. Big hugs to sister Martha & Mort for not only funding the bash but driving down to be a part of it. All the clean up crew, preppers pre & post. People like Ron Gomez, H, Maureen, Lynn, Blueblocker, Sonya, Chelesa………. I don't even know who all as I wasn't there to lend a hand. Terrific crew pulled it off without a hitch.

Grant, Rick, Annie, Chelsea Cashner, Karen Bailey, Stephanie, Locker, Billy Russell, Charleen, Donnie Reid, Alan Bartlett, Denise Brown, Sue Lacey,Wally Barker, & all the LONG time friends; it warms my heart to had seen you there. Billy would be amazed, I can see his goofy smile.

So thank you all again for truly being there during the struggle as well as raising a glass in memory. You'd never know looking at him walking down the street that he was the richest man around. Rich with humor, good nature and deep and forever friendships.

Good-bye Blitzo, you are and will be missed. It has been my honor to call you my friend.

~Susan

dirt claud

Social climber

san diego,ca

Nov 12, 2013 - 09:43am PT

Was great to meet some of the ST crew. Thanks Todd, Susan, and Russ. had a great time. Weather could not have been better.

justthemaid

climber

Jim Henson's Basement

Nov 12, 2013 - 10:20am PT

Nice post Susan. Thanks to you and Russ and the Gordon family for making this weekend happen. The weather was sublime and I can't imagine a better send off for Blitzo.

I had so many amazing conversations with so many amazing people it made my head spin. A weekend for the history books. Great to see everyone.