Official Luthiers Forum!

It is with a great deal of sadness that I post the passing of Alan de Jonge on this forum. The fourth child of Sergei de Jonge was killed in an accident up north while tree planting.

A wonderful guitar builder in his own right, Alan helped tutor and guide me in my own building. He inspired me. Turned me on to the beauty of Ziricote.

He will be sadly missed.

Here was the last picture I took of him for the Fretboard Journal.

How sad.

Thanks Warren for letting us know...

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

This is just horrible news...
My thoughts go out to Sergei and his whole family.
Terrible terrible thing...

I wonder if he's the young man that I met at the last Newport show. What a talented family. His passing is a loss to our whole community.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

That is absolutely heartbreaking. My prayers go out to the family.

I know I met him at least a couple times while serge was still in Oshawa Ont .. he was very talented. Sergei showed me a guitar he was working on when he was 12, and the mitres were absolutely perfect, and then later on I saw him french polishing .. the kid had it.

My heart goes out to Sergei and Devora on what must be a devastating loss. Our prayers are with him.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

That's so sad - when a young life and talent is snuffed out. I never met any of the De Jonge family but have read lots about them and have thought of them as a unique creative force and energy. A sad and devastating loss.

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

That is really sad! Parents are not supposed to outlive their children.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Wow!!!
just when his life was starting!!!!
His family must be devistated!!!!!!

Don I think he was in Newport & Montreal with that Snakewood guitar(in pic) and another brother.

May he & his family find some peace !

Mike

_________________
Mike Collins

As my oldest heads off to first year university this week, I often think about how easily accidents can happen, and how I would react if his life ended early. Its a fear that every parent shares.

I've been very impressed by what I've learned about this family. I, too, am very saddened by this news.

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Oh my... This is just really sad news.
Having met him just recently while spending the month of July with Sergei and family taking a course, I'm quite shocked and deeply saddened by this news. They are a close family and are surely going through a very tough time right now. My thoughts are with them...

Chad

Oh..so thankful to see that someone has posted this...I just PM'd Lance about this
This comes as completely devasting, heatbreaking and earthshattering news

_________________
Colleen, wife to Mark Kett and longterm lurker to the OLF
http://www.pearlinlays.com

Thank you, Warren, for letting us know.

I think anyone who has spent time with the de Jonge family, as I had the privilege of doing a couple years ago, must be feeling the same terrible shock and sadness that I am right now. Words just can't express it. They are a truly special and wonderful family, exemplifying much that I aspire to in my life and in my own family (and I'm talking about much more than guitar making talents). My time with them had a very big impact on my life. Alan was anything but shy and reserved; he was a very strong personality, so it was easy to feel I had gotten to know him pretty well in the month I spent with the de Jonges. Though I haven't seen him since then, his presence is still fresh and much felt in my heart and mind, and I feel this loss heavily. I can hardly imagine how devastated Sergei, Devora, and all of his siblings must be feeling right now. My heart goes out to them.

Alan was extremely bright, funny, adventurous, courageous, talented, mischievous, full of fire and spirit and lust for life. He was very inspiring to be around. He was a young man I admired very much. No doubt he was much loved and admired by countless friends and others with whom he crossed paths. I'm sure this awful news is crushing to many many hearts.

I count my blessings that everyone in my family, and most especially my two daughters, are alive and well. I'm reminded to show them how much I love them, today and every day, as I know the de Jonges did and do for Alan and the rest of their children.

_________________
Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

thank you for sharing such beautiful words Todd.

Services will be on monday morning up in PQ.

_________________
Colleen, wife to Mark Kett and longterm lurker to the OLF
http://www.pearlinlays.com

Thank you Warren G for letting us know.

The De Jonge family is well respected by all who know them.

They will miss their son and endure much sorrow.

We join with you Warren and others in the sad realization of their loss.

May the peace that passes understanding come to them and all who knew Alan.

_________________
http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I too have been deeply saddened by the death of Alan. I had the pleasure of meeting and learning from this young man during the month of July, 2000. I have continued to build guitars following the methods of Sergei and often think back on my experiences during that month. I learned so much from Sergei and his family, building my guitar along with Alan, Rubin and Joshia. I have since started my own family, and again, have often reflected upon the wonderful sense of family and the environment the de Jonge’s created for their children. I cannot imagine how this has impacted their family. My thoughts are with them during this difficult time.

My wife and I were both very sad to hear this news.
We had the pleasure of being "next table neighbors" to the de Jonge's at the Miami festival and we were both very impressed with them as fine people and luthiers.
-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

The service will be held on Sunday August 31 @ 4:PM @ the de Jonge family home in Chelsea Quebec Canada. The address is available on the de Jonge guitars website.

http://dejongeguitars.com

Please extend the invitation and the news to your community.

Mark Kett

_________________
Colleen, wife to Mark Kett and longterm lurker to the OLF
http://www.pearlinlays.com

This is so deeply sad. I am just beginning my luthier's journey and as such am(was?) going up to start class with Sergei in October. This is so so saddening. I have spoken to Devora on the phone and she was such a sweet warm woman, it is so shocking.

All mine and my family's feelings go out to them. It's so horrible to lose a member of the clan. Especially on so so young.

Terrible way to make a first post here.

Brian

Thank you for your post
Just reminds me how precious life is.
My prayers go out to the De Jonge family.

Terence
www.guitarbench.com

I had a two word conversation with Alan at Healdsburg in '07. I said "Bubinga?" and he brightened and said "yes." Those who saw the guitar will understand.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.