Those of you who were at Telluride may know that our very good friend and camp mate John Wood had a very severe medical problem while at the festival that required him to be airlifted to St Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction early Sunday morning. Earlier this evening John passed away. I want to thank all those who gave us kind words of support, offers of help, and all the warm hugs. Up until this happening I thought that this was one of my best Telluride’s ever and I think that John would have said the same. He loved all the great music on the main stage as well as doing nightgrass for Yonder, Leftover Salmon and Del’s 75th. And he was still ready for all night campground picks on his banjo. And even if you didn’t know him you had to have heard him yell louder than anyone else could, Fesssstivalllllllllllllllllllll!!! This Tuesday evening at 6 PM we are meeting at Oscar Blues in Lyons to celebrate John’s life at the weekly pick that John loved to be part of, come join us if you can. Other memorials are also being planned for later this year.
R.I.P. John 7/19/1964 - 6/23/2014
Not knowing John closely, but enjoying his music and enthusiasm for the Festivarian experience (“FESTIVAAAAAALL!!!”), I am both sad and warmed by the thought of John’s passing to what comes next for all of us. Hoping his last thoughts were of music and Festival. Being surrounded by beautiful people in one of the most beautiful places doesn’t seem like a bad way to go, but my condolences and healing prayers to those who were close.
LucyJune
This is horrible news… he was a very kind person and one of the very first Town Park folks to reach out to me in friendship many years ago at the Convention Centre for the Yonder kick off.
I guess though this is how I would want to go, my head filled with music and nature. Sad, way too young to go.
We , I mean some of us are getting older and I hope this is not a trend. Lets take good care of each other and ourselves.
Rest in peace John, you will be missed.
RIP John :pirate
A special Rockygrass this year with a hollow spot.
RIP.
This is very sad news … my condolences to John’s family and close friends.
I first met John online via the Phil zone & then in person at firstgrass three years ago … he unquestionably shared a love of music with those around him & will be missed!
Sad news, my condolences to friends and family.
I met John and spent a week in line with him waiting to get onsite at Rockygrass.
A week of relaxing picking and stories, RIP John. :cheers
Very sad news. God speed to Mr Wood and condolences to his family and friends.
:flower
John was a good festivarian friend. I am so sad to hear this news.
I can’t make it to Oskar Blues but I’m sure there will be some sort of memorial at Rockygrass and I will be there with my heart on my sleeve.
God bless you John.
R.I.P.
Johns family is looking for an organization that people can donate to in his name, instead of sending flowers. Does anyone have any ideas?
Grateful Rox
Thanks Jeff. I’ll post this over on his Facebook page, which is where his family asking for ideas.
-~Rox
Well said… 
Tragic, sad news today. Prayers of peace, & love to jjwood’s crew, family, and all involved.
Always admired John’s love of, and willingness to play that banjo with anyone, anywhere, anytime. I will regret missing
TBF-41 even more now, knowing I won’t jam with him again… :flower
John will be forever missed in Town Park. I’m glad I got to spend Thursday night watching one last Salmon show with a terrific human.
Lyons Community Foundation?
From the talk on his Facebook page, people are wanting to see if they can set up a banjo scholarship with Planet Bluegrass, for the academy.
I will certainly keep passing ideas along.
~Rox
I first met John on a sidewalk in Rochester, NY in the early 90s waiting for tickets at an outlet. A group of us were always there and we all became friends. Saw lots of music with him over the years (Grateful Dead, JGB, Phish, Max Creek, !Bob Dylan!, and tons of bluegrass); we both moved to Boston within weeks of each other in 1995; he moved to Colorado in 2003(?) and I continued to see him at Rockygrass and Telluride as I was already a traveler to each.
I recall seeing a Vassar Clements show at the Warehouse in Rochester, NY (93?) attended by maybe 15 people. John was there and belted out the closing Will The Circle Be Unbroken sing-along to show Vassar some love from the sparse crowd. No surprise there.
I picked tunes with him at Rockygrass just months after he started playing banjo. One year later at the same campsite he was completely competent - a nearly impossible feat for any adult picking up banjo that fast.
The TBF that just ended so tragically found me talking often with John and attending the Del 75th Saturday night show with John and my camp crew. As we left the show, John was a little agitated about something (a rare occurrence). In an effort to calm him a bit, I put my arm around him and asked “But John, how did you like the show?” He replied with a smile: “loved it”. It was the last exchange we had.
I know his unbounded Festival Spirit will live on in so many of the people that had the pleasure of enjoying his company. And it will rightly endure and multiply.
Right now I’m pretty sad, but John’s legacy will bring a smile soon - I’m sure of that.
Matt
I’m so sorry Al! My condolences to his friends and family. Reading all of your posts I can see John was a festivarian to the core and will be remembered with a smile by many.
Perhaps he was looking in on the picking party I was just turning away from, but I really think he was having fun roaming Town Park with the ‘Ana-whackers’ in the wee hours of Sunday morning when he happened to fall right next to me. His first concern was his banjo, which I held onto for him; his second concern was that he had dropped his picks. I think he wanted to be ready for the next picking party once all the fuss being made over him was done 
I only knew him for those few minutes that we were waiting for help to arrive, but the idea of a banjo scholarship sounds like an excellent way to remember him and honor his passion for music.
R.I.P. John Wood
- Jennifer
I had a number of very fine moments with John at the festival this year. He was so knowledgeable about music, kind and energetic. I was lucky enough to sit right behind him at Del’s Night Grass show and be able to listen to him scream at the top of his lungs “Del!!!” after every single song. My last sighting of John was watchin him happily scurry off into the woods of Town Park after the Del show for one more night of picking…
One of the great things about Telluride for me is getting to know some really interesting and genuinely nice people who share my deep passion for music. In most of my daily grind circles at home, they’re not so easy to find. John was one of the most memorable such folks and I’ll miss him a great deal.
This really puts a damper on an otherwise incredible weekend. Although I didn’t know the man well, just like anyone who has any amount of experience picking tunes in Colorado, I picked with him a number of times at different jams. He was one of the first at the OB Lyons jam who welcomed me to a smaller more “advanced” circle when I was feeling hesitant to do so because of reservations of my own abilities. He led some jams and recognized me for a number of breaks and made me feel welcome to experiment in those circles. I saw him running around Town Park this weekend and assumed I’d pick with him eventually. When I heard this I couldn’t believe it. RIP good and friendly Colorado Picker. My thoughts and prayers with his friends and family.