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My bro passed away today. https://johnlarenceschick.com/photos/0

So many memories. I can't believe I'll never talk to him again.

John

Sorry to hear that John. Least you have the good times to remember.

So sorry for your loss, John.

Peace,

Dave

So sorry to hear about your brother, John.

You have posted things that referenced your brother on this site many times.
Every post made it very clear how deep the bond between you all is and was.
The loss of someone that meaningful is going to be inescapably painful.

May he rest in peace. I hope it is some consolation that you were fortunate enough to share the meaning that you brought to each other's lives.

Marty

John, sorry for your loss, parting ways on earth brings pain and sorrow, but there is coming a tomorrow when sorrow becomes joy unspeakable. For earth is not our home, just a testing ground for eternity, where we will be forever, so you will speak again.

Thanks everyone. It's strange living in a World without my brother in it.

John

Really sorry to hear it John. It is hard accepting the losses that have come on the road to this age. That is the major price tag on a long life and perhaps the cruelest part of it. First grand parents, parents, aunts and uncles, then friends and siblings and spouses and people you dated and loved. I have lost so many friends, including many on this board. I also have friends who have outlived their children and I am only 61. (It is hard to reconcile saying "only" 61, but I "feel" and act different than I recall my parents feeling at this age). But no amount of preparation got me ready for these kind of losses. I hope he had a happy life and I hope there will be some way for you to mitigate and reconcile your pain. You are squarely in my thoughts my friend. You've become the clear and beloved elder statesman here and I appreciate you a great deal.

Take care in this horrible time,

Brian

Thanks for your kind words and wisdom Brian.

Best, John

Sorry for your loss, John...
God bless him!

Thanks!

My Bro's Obit:

The passing of William Robert Schick, III, of Old Town, Maine (formerly of Stroudsburg, PA)
January 12, 1948 – July 28, 2025

Known to many as “Bob”, “Bobby”, Robert, “Dad”, or his favorite, “Relentless”, he was a deep thinker, published author, and a heavy reader of both non-fiction and sci-fi.

A performer, composer and instructor of opera, classical and rock music, he once owned and operated the “Pick with Schick” music store in Stroudsburg, PA, back in the 1970’s, prior to shifting solely to guitar instruction in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. He was known for his ability to connect with students and prepare custom, handwritten lessons (often in cartoon form for his younger students). Many a guitarist in the Pocono area were inspired to continue their love of guitar with the foundation he provided them in lessons.

Making a permanent move to Maine in the late 1990’s, he embarked on organic farming and seed development while simultaneously working at a local health food store. He was light years beyond the mainstream in terms of understanding the impact of genetically modified crops and was an outspoken critic of GMOs.

Predeceased in death by his parents, William Robert Schick, Jr., and Betty Schick, he is survived by brother John Schick and wife Sandy, sister Debbie Johns, son Gabe Schick and wife Erin, along with granddaughters Molly and Anna Schick, son Nate Schick and also several nieces and nephews still living in the Poconos.

A celebration of life may follow in the future, but currently no services other than family gatherings are being planned, as were his wishes.

Just watched the old movie "Love Is a Many Splendid Things". There was a line in the movie that caught me. It was "sadness is so ungrateful". BTW, a great film song.

John

Late to this thread John. Semi retirement and summer vacations from my computer

Don't have a brother I grew up with to lose but loss is definitely on our common life stage agendas. We don't get to choose how we die, but we can choose how to live

Sounds like Bob lived as he wanted and went satisfied with his life and you both embraced music as a way to make your living.

Two brothers' lives well lived. One has to survive and cherish the memories.

I have been touring around then just came back from a 10 day stay at a bucolic pastoral cabin back of a farm on the hillside of a beautiful valley where you see kilometres (many .621371 miles) into the distance
We are there a couple of times a year. Wrote a song there last September for a client who had passed.

Found out the morning we were leaving for the place and in the evening out on that hillside I told it to the first bee I saw that Stu had passed.

The significance of telling it to the bees lies in Celtic lore that has the bees told of significant events like deaths of their bee keepers because of Celtic belief about bees.

In Stu's case he had that background. He was also a successful entrepreneur taking a technology startup that wrote printer drivers for mainframes to providing the means to access data silos and assemble requested documents "as and when and primarily in pdf format. By that time it was a public company that has ultimately found its way into Open Text.

When Stu sold out he bought a farm and after a trial of hops and beer turned his attention non bees and colony collapse disorder, and together with his daughter, a phd, studied the matter and glycophosphates and such.

Now another thing about Stu is that he considered himself an epicurean which to him meant embracing his intellectual curiosity and regularly gathering people around him who fed that and who were actually interested in the same thing...sharing interesting ideas. I am lucky enough to be a regular attendee as was a woman who actually keeps bees on top of a marque hotel in Toronto. So when I first read about it I was able to talk to her and we decided we would tell it to the bees when he passed.

It inspired a wonderful lyric and song that has gotten better and better as I play it and is a wonderful memory of his life.

Thanks For the inspirational story, John.

John

Really sorry to hear this John. I've been fortunate to date but it will come to us all. Take care my friend!

Thanks Brian! Just returned from my bro's memorial dinner. Now it's time to move on.

Best, John

I am curious, perhaps I asked before and forgot. In your long career, did you ever write or cowrite songs with lyrics? Did you cowrite with your brother? And moving on is tough for most, I hope it goes easy for you. If I am the first to go, just know that YOU are one of the primary reasons I have kept this thing going John. You remind me of all the amazing people who have come and gone from here. It really is enough for me, so thank you for that!

Thanks for your kind words, Brian! Yes, my bro & I wrote a couple dozen songs together in the 80's. Most were done on a 4-track cassette recorder. Here's one we did in the studio: http://schicksville.com/Bridge%20the%20Gap.mp3

Lyrics (always my brother's):

Bridge the Gap
by John Lawrence Schick & Robert Schick III

(Not human - it not fair - you human - but not me)

Amidst the trees I
I feel your breeze I, I, I
I hear your voice
Among the cluttered city noises
Can’t escape
The spell you cast on me
But you ran away not knowing
Not knowing I had sensed your way

Bridge the gap oh bridge the gap
I don’t need a lover’s map
To bridge the gap to bridge the gap
I don’t want this one-way trap so
Bridge the gap oh bridge the gap
Build a span so love attracts
To keep this seething love intact must
Bridge the gap we’ll bridge the gap

(Where are you? Might be floating by or beneath the sea
illusive like eternity, eternity)

Tension mounts, I, I, I
I seem to be exploding
Somewhere inside
My mind reminds me I am human
And what are you?
I can’t quite pinpoint you
Where you’re at, you, you
Might be an alien at that

(Repeat Chorus)

(What are you? I don’t care - something beyond love,
Could not compare)


(Not human - it not fair - you human - please love me)

Kind of reminds me of a mix between Talking Heads and Styx. I would love to update it with A.I. which would maintain the vocal intonations and emphasis while bring production to a finished modern level. It would probably be super cool!

Brian

It would be interesting Brian, but I'd rather not be associated with Suno or any of the other AI apps. Besides my brother would turn over in his grave if I used AI on one of our tracks - ha, ha.

Best, John

Well your brother would want you to carry on John

Thanks!

John