ONOFFON

[sgs4u]

Imagine what it must be like for your father & mother, to be able to meld with each other's souls again. My wife's father died a month ago. She put together an awesome video tribute to her father. It really helped ease my wife's pain, and kept her in touch with her feelings, instead of trying to hide them or sweep them under the carpet. Sue cried a little bit every day for 3 weeks while working on that video. It really helped her get past the toughest part of losing her Dad. And then the video got played at his service, and it helped everyone else. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cSDca0SlYoVon, your Mom will always be with you. You already know how much your Dad is still here. and I love you too, my brother.steveMay 15, 2008, 6:04am, onoffon wrote:My mother, Barbara Jean Babasin, passed away at 4 AM this morning, six days short of my father's passing 20 years ago. She would have turned 79 on May 25th...No more suffering - she's at peace now...Thanks again for all your support...

[Casey H]

Sorry to hear, Von.My deepest sympathy and my thoughts are with you and your family.Casey

[hummingbird]

Von, I am really sorry to hear about your loss. hugsVikki

[linziellen]

Sorry for your loss Von. Take time to reflect and remember. Thinking of you. Lindsey

[kg]

I'm so sorry to hear that, Von. Words don't always help; be comforted in knowing that Mom and Dad are together again.Kelly (& Jon)

[aubreyz]

Von,My sincere sympathy. Thank you so much for sharing how special your Mom and Dad were, and the love that eternally unites them. I'm going to embrace the love of my life a little tighter today with a fresh reminder to cherish each moment.Aub

[tedsingingfox]

Von, my friend.Knowing how deeply they loved each other (AND you) is the greatest comfort there is. What a blessing that you got to be a part of that love for lo these many years.The tears I'm shedding right now are for you and the rest of your family, as you begin to deal with missing her, but they're also in honor of the love they shared...SO extremely rare and precious in this insanity we call modern life.My prayers are with you and yours.Much love, my brother.Ted

[ragani]

May 15, 2008, 6:04am, onoffon wrote:My mother, Barbara Jean Babasin, passed away at 4 AM this morning, six days short of my father's passing 20 years ago. She would have turned 79 on May 25th...No more suffering - she's at peace now...Thanks again for all your support...You have my deepest and sincere condolences, Von. I can't imagine a more beautiful piece for this love story. You and your family clearly have such an incredible heartfelt connection with each other. What a beautiful life to live! May you always feel her blessings with you... May love and peace be with you always...Raags

[onoffon]

Hey everyone -The amazing love and support you've all shown me here is absolutely overwhelming. I am truly touched... deeply...I wanted to tell you a little more about the love my mother and father shared. As you know, it's easy to love someone when things are going great. Like I said, when they met, dad was at the peak of his career. He owned a huge home in the Hollywood Hills that sat close to the Hollywood sign. Louis Armstrong sang to my mother on their honeymoon and she hung out with jazz aristocracy in their early times together.But, it didn't stay that way. When his Nocturne Record label hit the skids, my father was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1956. He sold his big home and bought a very modest two bedroom house in Pacoima, a small suburb in the San Fernando Valley. That's where I grew up.At the same time of the bankruptcy, jazz was evolving past the casual listening audience. The small combos that displayed such remarkable instrumental virtuosity were alienating the masses. Those that danced in ballrooms to big band jazz were growing older and passe. And then, the advent of rock 'n roll all but sounded the death knell of my father's career. It drove jazz off the popular charts and into the underground, where it still is today. There was still plenty of studio work through the 60's and into the early 70's, but they became fewer and farther between as time moved on.Now, a superficial love would never have withstood that. It's difficult to love an artist and even moreso when times are tough. But, this didn't dissuade my mother. Her love was total and complete and unconditional. She stuck with him through thick and thin and engrained that love and devotion into her children.Thanks again for all the compassion you all have shown me...

[onoffon]

Today is the 20th anniversary of Harry Babasin's passing. What a flood of emotions!I spent yesterday afternoon listening to Jimmy Wyble perform at a little tea room in Pasadena. It really was wonderful. He had a few friends join him. One was a western guitarist named Jerry Case. Of all things, he happened to have a CD (homemade) in his car of a live performance, recorded in 1978, with Jimmy and my father playing in Studio City with a band they called the Love Brothers. Other players were Bill Hood, Jack Coan, David Wheat, Newcomb Rath, and Roy Harte. What a treat! A one-of-a-kind recording and he freely handed it to me to take home and burn some copies for myself and Jimmy. Not only that but Jerry's wife, Deanna, is the president of the Arts Council at Cal State Northridge, where my father completed his Master's degree when it was called San Fernando Valley State College. He taught the jazz band at the university for two years in '61 and '62. She was fascinated by Harry's story and wants to put me in touch with the jazz studies department at CSUN. They are ground breaking for a new, state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center that will open in 2010. I thought it would be an excellent home for the Jazz In Hollywood Museum... who knows.... I also got to meet Dr. William Thomson, the retired Dean of Music at USC who knew and revered my father from their alma mater, North Texas State University. He was very excited to meet Jimmy Wyble also. He wants to help me make this film in any way he can.My network of supporters keeps growing larger and more prestigious every day...What an amazing life mission I am on...