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Dearest Friends on Stripers Online, For those of you who knew my brother Awesome John, the virtuoso guitar player, entertainer and devoted surf fisherman, you will know what a special man he was. On Friday, June 24, 2016 I lost my beloved brother at the age of 61. He was recently notified by the New York Blues Hall of Fame that he will be given the highest honor of "Legendary Blues Performer and Master Artist". He was going to go to the Cyprus Blues Festival on July 19th for his Induction Ceremony, My brother always told me about Stripers Online and the many friends he made here, how he was inspired to make handmade lures and how he shared photos of his guitar that has pearl inlay of a striped bass on the front of his guitar. My brother was a true gentleman,a loving soul and in love with fishing and the ocean. He was funny as heck and I will miss him dearly because he was my best friend and my sunshine. I remember when he first started teaching me how to fish and cast. We were in Montauk and I was afraid I would hit someone when I was casting so I moved to another part of the surf. He started yelling " You're fishing in unproductive waters!". I now use that expression in my business and personal life as well. I learned a lot about surf casting from my brother but most of all I learned about life. My brother loved you guys. He found great joy in talking to all of you and you brightened up his day. I know my brother would have wanted to say "'thank you for the good conversation, for sharing your knowledge with me, for allowing me to live vicariously through your adventures while I was in Turkey. Keep fishing brothers" ... is what he would have said. My brother will miss you guys but i know God has him surf casting in his ocean with angels in heaven. If anyone wants to ask me anything personal about my brother, do not hesitate to contact me at allygunduz@gmail.com. As a sister who was so lucky to have had a brother who made me love surf fishing, ally