This photo of John and me was taken at his house during a summer party years ago. Man were we young! He added humour to all our lives.

My friend John Iacobucci has died at the age of 70.  John had heart problems for the past few years and his heart finally gave out. He died in hospital in Kimberley Friday night.

John and I go back to the days we worked together at CKLG AM-FM. He was one of the funniest men I have ever known. Some of my friends will remember those backroom celebrations at Puccini’s restaurant on Main in the halcyon days of radio in our town. John was indeed our resident Don Rickles with the most infectious laugh on the planet. I worked again with John when he was sales manager at CKWX. He left CKWX to work at CKNW up to the time he took early retirement. At that time he was Vice-President, Sales at the outlet.

Shortly after retiring he and his wife Anita moved to Kimberley for its wonderful skiing facilities. They had previously owned property at Whistler, both being excellent skiiers. Their children and ours were friends when they were little kids. One summer we stayed together in a cabin on Saltspring Island. John and I had to get back to work at the radio station and the wives and kids would follow a few days later. Well the rains came and the two ladies had to get the car out of some pretty muddy backroads but they made it. When we called over there prior to their exit Anita answered the phone “Camp Robinucci”. It is something that has stuck with us all our lives.

Carole and I send our respects to Anita, Denise, Michael and Michelle and the grandchildren. Also our thoughts go out to John’s brothers Danny and Frank and his sister Teresa. It is a sad day to lose such a special friend.

Red, I too was saddened to hear about the passing of John Iacobucci. As you stated in your column, he was a tremendous guy. I will never forget our hockey bets and especially the time that I lost an Oiler bet to him and decided (due to his height) to staple 20 one dollar bills to the ceiling in his office.

John, ever the joker, left them up there for over a year – he simply wouldn’t touch the bills – and of course every visitor got to hear the story of the bet.

We had so much fun together in that building – and I truly feel overwhelmed at his loss.

Marty Forbes
President
Radiowise Inc.

Another loss: the passing of actor Winston Rekert at the age of 63. Rekert also starred in the acclaimed series Adderly which ran on CBS between 1986 and 1989. His hit series Neon Rider ran from 1990 to 1995. Winston was born and raised in Vancouver. Last year he received the Sam Payne Lifetime Achievment Award from the Union of B.C. Performers to recognize his outstanding body of work. He starred in many movies and TV series, including Cold Squad, Stargate SG-1, and Battlestar Galactica. His movie roles also included a role in the movie Agnes of God. He had a fabulous sense of humor. He will be missed.

Thank you Red, for your kind words about Winston. I was privileged to spend his last days with him and his wife, his step daughter and our grown sons at his home. It was a very peaceful passing. Hugs, Pat Rekert