George Fels -- heart attack

mr3cushion

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Just spoke to George's son Sam, They knew there would be no chance of recovery for him. George's wishes were not to live under those conditions.

They have in fact, disconnected life support for him a couple of hours ago, He will slip away peacefully through the night on His own terms.

He is truly his own man to the end, you can't imagine how I'll miss another true life long friend.

He can now finally finish that game of 14.1 with his old pal, Jack Gunn!

R.I.P buddy, See ya when I see ya!

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"
 

Ktown

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I am sorry to hear about Mr. Fels. I never met him but I read many of his articles over the years. He is a gifted journalist with a great insight of the game. I hope he somehow recovers, he would definitely be missed.

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk
 

lfigueroa

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There is something cosmically unfair about a writer as good as George Fels being snatched away from this mortal coil without the chance to give us all one last column, share a final story from pool’s golden age, write one more great turn of phrase, play one last rack.

Like most players of my generation, one of the first books I could get my mitts on that actually discussed the intricacies of 14.1, 8ball, 9ball, and 1pocket was his classic tome “Mastering Pool.” Published in 1977 it started with his memorable opening line, well remembered once read, “I’m sorry, but I’ll just bet you’re hitting the balls too hard.”

I had occasionally seen George at the DCC, sometimes sporting a bright red jacket, but never spoken to him until a straight pool tournament up in Chicago at Red Shoes, in early 2012. It was a qualifier for a world tournament and there was one table for matches to be streamed over the internet. George was manning the microphone doing commentary on the game he loved most and some of us got a chance to cycle in and out and co-commentate. If you’re so inclined you can hear George and I “in the booth” here: http://tubebilliards.com/straight-po...ch-karabotsos/ To be honest, his knowledge of the game was inspiring and at the same time a bit intimidating. I last saw him less than a month ago, as he was walking down one of the halls in the Mirage casino in Las Vegas on his way to the Mosconi Cup arena.

“Mr Fels!” I called out, as he was about to shuffle past. “I’m Lou Figueroa. We met in Chicago.”

“Ah yes, Lou. How are you doing?” We shook hands.

“Great, George.”

“How much farther do I have to go to the arena?”

“All the way down the hall, George, and then to the right.” And he was off.

How are you supposed to know when it’s the last time you’ll get to speak to a legend? That you should have spoken to him longer, perhaps made a nuisance of yourself and asked him to meet you for dinner. But I blew it, damnit.

And now, even though I only really knew him through his book and columns, I feel a little hollow today, a little empty. With George’s passing, pool and all of us who are passionate about the game have suffered an irreplaceable loss. So thank you, George, for sharing your love affair with pool with us for so many years, in so many wonderful columns on that back page in every issue of BD.

We’re going to miss you.

Lou Figueroa
 

KindlyOleUncleDave

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Sad is right

Sad is right

And he was one of the best damn commentators I have ever heard.

His wit was like a damascus blade, honed and polished.

Dave
 

Island Drive

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We've been very fortunate to have him within the pool community, he added that much more reason to the moments we went through and will go thru. RIP to family and friends, his articles will live on.
 

Shortstop

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Chisqztown
I Will Miss You George!!...Every time I go to Chris`s...I will look at the back corner table & see you trying to beat the ghost & make that 100 ball run!!!...The whole room knew when you missed & let out that Homer Simpson "Doop"...The game of pool & its characters are your legacy & we all thank you for sharing!

Rest In Peace

Steve Perlow
 

SJDinPHX

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I never got to meet Mr. Fels, but I certainly knew him through his outstanding body of work...About a year or so ago, I had the privilege of exchanging a few PM's with him... I had casually mentioned in a post, how much I admired, and enjoyed his writing... He took the time to PM me, and let me know how much he appreciated it, and how he liked my story telling too...I felt like a grateful amateur, in such company.

From what everyone has said about him, that's just the kind of thoughtful person he was to everybody !...RIP Mr. Fels, and condolences to the family.
 

fred bentivegna

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chicago illinois
This was such a wonderful read for me. During college yrs, he/I/Joey Gold battled in our youth.

Thx George....

Bill, I am going to dig out the column he did on his and my friend, Jack Gunne, who passed at an early age. It brings tears to my eyes every time I read it, and in my mind was the greatest piece of sports writing ever. it is even more apropos now with George's passing.

Beard


This is an excerpt from George's column, "The Gunner." a eulogy to our friend Jack Gunne, a certified pool bug who died prematurely at age 46.

And that's how I found myself in his wife's quiet little Indiana hometown, across the desk from the cemetery's Public Relations Director - surely a title fit to take its place alongside Jumbo Shrimp and Military Intelligence..... I filled the time another way, and returned to Jack's open casket in the chapel. I slipped in what I had the family's permission to: two cubes of chalk, so new they were still shiny on the surface, the jaunty red wrapper of National Tournament Chalk a stark contrast to my gray friend in his beige suit. And, since my life turned out to be based on words, I included a note.

"So long, buddy.
Thanks for the game.
Tale care of these two cubes.
I'll come around when it's my shot,
And we can play forever.
G."


My message to you too, George.

(Here is the link to the entire column, http://www.billiardsdigest.com/showblogentry.php?id=17 You can also view "The Best of George Fels" on that page and get a look at his greatest columns: )
 
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NH Steve

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George Fels, maybe the greatest pool/billiards writer of our time. How many of us always turned first to his column inside the back cover of Billiards Digest every month? Like many others, I didn't know George much beyond his pool writing, yet... he was such a good writer & the pool he wrote about is so much a part of our own lives, that it is easy to feel like we did know him because he sure seemed to know us. Goodnight George and THANK YOU for directing your art and talent our way all these years!!
 

JAM

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Jun 24, 2004
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So sorry to read this news. I have only met George a few times at various pool happenings, but I got to know him on AzBilliards discussion forum through his contributions to various threads and colloquy with me.

I remember one time, I replied to him and called him "Baby Cakes." He said nobody has called him "Baby Cakes" in a long time, and he was absolutely thrilled.

George Fels is a rock in the pool world that will never be washed away. His legacy will live forever through his words of wisdom he shared for many years. RIP to George Fels. May he rest in peace always. My deepest sympathies go out to his friends, loved ones, and family.
 

SamFels

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Dec 31, 2013
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Thank you

Thank you

Hello all. This is Sam Fels, George's youngest son. A friend sent me the link to this thread, and I wanted to take time to thank all of you for your kind and appreciative words. You really have no idea how much it helps to see the way Dad connected with all of you and the way he made a difference in people's lives, no matter how small or large. Knowing Dad if he is reading this he'd pretend to be embarrassed but unable to hide his pride.

Though all of you love Dad as a writer, let me assure you he was twice the father. Though my brother Adam and I are obviously having a tough time at the moment, we find ourselves laughing more than we are crying. Because that's all we ever did with Dad. While you always want more time, neither my brother or I would ever ask for more from the time we did get. And that fills us with happiness more than sadness. And reading this thread only fills me with more. Again, thank you.

If people would like I'll be happy to post whatever arrangements we make here, which should be in the next day or so.
 

NH Steve

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New Hampshire
Hello all. This is Sam Fels, George's youngest son. A friend sent me the link to this thread, and I wanted to take time to thank all of you for your kind and appreciative words. You really have no idea how much it helps to see the way Dad connected with all of you and the way he made a difference in people's lives, no matter how small or large. Knowing Dad if he is reading this he'd pretend to be embarrassed but unable to hide his pride.

Though all of you love Dad as a writer, let me assure you he was twice the father. Though my brother Adam and I are obviously having a tough time at the moment, we find ourselves laughing more than we are crying. Because that's all we ever did with Dad. While you always want more time, neither my brother or I would ever ask for more from the time we did get. And that fills us with happiness more than sadness. And reading this thread only fills me with more. Again, thank you.

If people would like I'll be happy to post whatever arrangements we make here, which should be in the next day or so.
I am very sorry for your loss Sam, which is so much greater than our loss here. Yes, please do post memorial information, because we do have many Chicago area members who have been touched by George.
 

NH Steve

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New Hampshire
Speaking of "Dad", I found this:

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/06/anarchists-brunch-dads-day/

 

JAM

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Jun 24, 2004
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Hello all. This is Sam Fels, George's youngest son. A friend sent me the link to this thread, and I wanted to take time to thank all of you for your kind and appreciative words. You really have no idea how much it helps to see the way Dad connected with all of you and the way he made a difference in people's lives, no matter how small or large. Knowing Dad if he is reading this he'd pretend to be embarrassed but unable to hide his pride.

Though all of you love Dad as a writer, let me assure you he was twice the father. Though my brother Adam and I are obviously having a tough time at the moment, we find ourselves laughing more than we are crying. Because that's all we ever did with Dad. While you always want more time, neither my brother or I would ever ask for more from the time we did get. And that fills us with happiness more than sadness. And reading this thread only fills me with more. Again, thank you.

If people would like I'll be happy to post whatever arrangements we make here, which should be in the next day or so.

Sweet blessings are coming your way, Sam.
 

One Pocket Ghost

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Ghosttown
I'll share a little story of one of my long-time memories re. George and I...

When I started playing pool seriously, at 18-23 yrs. old, George and I played/hung out at the same pool room (and then at other various poolrooms over the next 40 yrs.). George's favorite game by far, as most people know, was straight pool. I was liking/playing 9 ball and banks back then, and just a little straight pool..and George was of course, always telling me I should play more straight pool...anyways, all of that said...

In the mid-60's, when I was about 18-19, (and George was in his mid-late 20's) I played in my very first tournament of any consequence, and George and I drove there together - it was a, STRAIGHT POOL TOURNAMENT - a midwest qualifier for winning an entry to play in the annual U.S. Open Straight Pool/14.1 Championship...not having played much straight pool, I had 0 chance to do anything in the tournament, but George convinced me to play in it anyway, for the experience...

Anyway, the amusing part of the story that I've often thought of over the years, is that..as we're driving to the tournament I tell George that I'm nervous about playing - "I'll probably draw Dallas West and lose 125 -0"..:(..so George goes into his bag and hands me a little blue pill and says, "take this, it will get rid of your 1st tournament nervousness, and you'll feel cool as a cucumber"............it was a valium...

End of story...I didn't do any good in the tournament, but thanks to Dr. George I wasn't nervous..:)..I was as mellow as a bird on the wing, and I had a great time.

Rest in Peace George.....I'll be seeing you down the road..and when we do, I'll play you some straight pool, but we've gotta play some One Pocket too...:)

- Ghost
 
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stedyfred

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Apr 13, 2012
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Through his writings and love for the game George's spirit will live in our minds and hearts forever. My sincere sympathy.
 
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