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John Jordan 02/28/1950 - 02/28/2023

David Propst

David Propst

Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
83
Likes
104
Location
Granite Falls, NC
Vicki Jordan just posted the following on Facebook.
The world and the turning world has lost a bright and wise soul.

"If there is anyone who I should have notified individually and I have not thought to, please forgive me, I am numb and have not operated off of any organized list.

John was the fortunate recipient of a life saving liver from donor, Doug Nyquist in 2020. He was put on immunosuppressant drugs to help him and his new liver play nicely together.

The beginning of this year John developed cryptococcosis in his lungs. A fungus that in healthy people would not be an event, but in immunocompromised patients, it can be life threatening.

He gave it the good fight and fought to stay with us, but after days of enduring the harsh anti-fungal treatment, and the severity of the disease, developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. He is leaving this world on the same day he was brought in to it, exactly 73 years later.

He leaves behind a heartbroken family who will stand together in grief. I will miss that man who was my everything. He was my superhero who could fix absolutely anything whether it was a screwed up lawnmower, a plumbing issue, a snake on the porch or a splinter in my finger.

There will be a hole so big in my heart. It will take time, but to honor him, I will become a survivor. My life will never be the same without him. The love of my life.

John Jordan
02/28/1950 - 02/28/2023"
 
RIP John, I'm heartbroken. I spent a glorious weekend in 1998 with 3 other guys taking a class. Vicki and John were gracious hosts, bringing us into their home for meals. 2 great memories; one was the requirement to sign the wall in the shop if you launched something, and the second was him walking around the shop, stopped, and told one of the other guys to lift the handle of the gouge. He wasn't watching anyone, the sound was enough. That weekend cost me a lot of money because I ordered a Oneway 2436 shortly after. John sold Oneway before Stubby. His greatest compliment to me was a natural edge cherry bowl he picked out during a critique session at a regional symposium in St. Louis. He held it up and told everyone "THIS is what a natural edge bowl is supposed to look like". My thoughts are with his family.
 
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One of the absolute highlights of my career came about a year ago, when John complimented a piece of mine on Instagram, and called it "great." When I thanked him, he said there are lots of good pieces out there, but not many great ones.

Gonna take that one with me to my grave.

We've lost a giant. Irreplaceable. Sad for his family, and sad for woodturning.
 
Never had the privilege of meeting John, but have greatly admired his work. RIP, John.
 
Only knew John through the demos I was fortunate to have attended, yet through his easy demeanor, his willingness to answer questions no matter how simple and his smile as he gave so much I felt that he was a friend. God speed John, be at peace.
 
An Icon is lost; his work is immediately recognizable. Listening to him speak was always like music to my ears. This is a tough loss for Woodturning in general. RIP John and my condolences to his loved ones and friends, heaven just became a more interesting place to get into.
 
Steven Forrest said:
One of the absolute highlights of my career came about a year ago, when John complimented a piece of mine on Instagram, and called it "great." When I thanked him, he said there are lots of good pieces out there, but not many great ones.

Gonna take that one with me to my grave.

We've lost a giant. Irreplaceable. Sad for his family, and sad for woodturning.
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I had the same experience, and it lit me up for days. I hope his family has all the care and support they need to get through this hard time. He created and inspired a lot of beauty.
Kalia
 
I’ve never met him in person. I just bought one of his tools and was conversing with him about it a few weeks ago. This community has really highlighted what an amazing person he was and it’s a good reminder to carry on his legacy of kindness and respect and teachings to others
 
I first met John Jordan in August 2021. I sent him an email asking about Robust lathes; he called me back later that day and invited me to come up to his home/shop which is about 20 miles from where I live. John welcomed me (and a couple other woodturners) into his beautiful 200 year old log home, took us on a tour, and showed us a lot of his works and works of others. Then he took us into his shop, showing us where he made his tools and did his turning. I spent an hour and a half with him that day—and I did place an order for an American Beauty! I went back two three more times. John always responded quickly to my emails; he said whenever I needed wood just give him a call (although I never took him up on the offer). He really was a southern gentleman in his hospitality. He and his wife Vicki were always very gracious and and just good people. He will be sorely missed. Memory, eternal, John, memory eternal.
 
I first got to know John about 20 years ago. I spent a week with him at the Anderson Ranch. He was, without question, one of the best teachers I've ever known. Ah, he could be a tad crusty. Not one of us ever had a tool sharp enough. But behind that thin veneer was someone with depth and humanity, someone who understood what it meant to have a real concern for others.

He made tremendous contributions to all of us through his work, through his teaching, and through his presence. I was one small recipient, and from that I know that his impact on others was even greater.

John was one of the good people. He will be missed, and he will be remembered by us all.

May his memory be a blessing.
 
I met John for the first time, when I was a new turner and member of our local woodturning club in Onalaska, WI., maybe 2009 or 2010? at the time, we were meeting in various members shops. John drove from his home to here, was our guest demonstrator, spent 2 days doing a wonderful hollow form classic John Jordan wet wood vase, turning and carving, talking about form and such. He was so generous with his knowledge, not rushed, and laid back. I think he may have said something like, "ya'll are paying lots of money for this demo, so pay attention" when many side conversations may have been happening. We needed that! John made such an impression on me, I purchased a 3 tool hollowing set from him. At the time, thought, maybe I could turn like that someday. I quickly learned, its not gonna happen! But, I try! John's influence got me hooked on turning wood. I have seen John at various AAW conferences, always a real treat to briefly chat.
At the 2023 AAW Vendor's virtual show, which I saw online, Cindy Drozda with her laptop camera visited with John's wife Vicki and Daniel in the booth. A very touching moment. The woodturning world has lost a giant. For sure, John, "life is to short to turn crappy wood". Vicki, I offer my condolences to you and your family. Bob R from Onalaska.
 
I have known John for a long time. I joined the TAW somewhere around 94. John was one of the founding members. I lived 80 miles from him so seldom saw him other than club meetings. When I was the club newsletter editor I would always try to write a short tip on tool usage. John would always keep ne straight when I had something wrong. Anytime I had a question I knew I could call him. He talked me into doing my first demo. I turned a walnut bowl and it must have been excruciating for the advanced turners to watch. John said I did great. I did get to be his assistant at Mark Adam's school once. We had a great time. We both had our motorcycles and pulled up to a restaurant. Some guy asked if it was a motorcycle club. John said it was the old geezers club. He will be missed for sure by many people.
 
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