"Broken Pipe"; Clarence Mickles, Pipemaker R.I.P.
Poggenpohl
hospital after complications from a massive heart attack on Thursday mid
morning. I don't think he was yet 65 years old. Clarence was affectionately
called the "Mechanic" or "Magician" by friends as a result of the Pipes &
Tobacco Magazine article about him some time back which popularized his
background as an auto mechanic, and his legendary wizzardry at fixing
impossible pipe repairs, as well as the hand work skill he was capable of in
creating a wide variety of custom and truly "hand made" pipes. Those of us
Chicago pipe fans who were fortunate enough to visit Clarence weekly at his
garage/workshop or accompany him on numerous road trips to Pipe Shows around
the country have many stories about his skill, absent mindedness and
creativity. He often appeared quiet and simplistic, but was a friend to many
collectors, dealers and other pipemakers; and after several marriages and many
tough personal years he became the model Family man. He started making pipes
part time over 30 years ago. Since leaving auto mechanics behind about 5 years
ago to make pipemaking his full time work, pipes and family have been his life.
He was truly "one of a kind" and will be sorely missed by his family and his
numerous pipe friends. Our deepest sympathies go out to them.
Memorial and burial services will be held during the day, Monday. For your
information, condolances from friends can be sent to the family C/O: Mrs.
Clarence Mickles, 321 Oswego, Park Forest, IL 60466.
Jeff Folloder
> Memorial and burial services will be held during the day, Monday. For your
> information, condolances from friends can be sent to the family C/O: Mrs.
> Clarence Mickles, 321 Oswego, Park Forest, IL 60466.
Rex,
Is there a preferred charity for contributions? Clarence is gonna be really
missed. He was always the first person I wanted to see when I got to the Chicago
show.
--
Jeff Folloder
"My god... It's full of stars!"
-Dave Bowman, 2001 A Space Odyssey
Henry Smallwood
Mr. Mickles or smoked one of his pipes, but even a newcomer like me knows
how much both he and his work are respected. I'm glad Clarence Mickles was
doing what he loved right up to the end. May we all be so fortunate. My
condolences to his family and his many, many friends in the pipesmoking
community.
Mark Tinsky
I am greatly saddend to have heard that Clarence passed away
yesterday. Besides being a hell of a nice guy , he was an excellent
pipe maker, certainly one of the best in the US. He was innovative and
his techinical skills were unsurpassed. Clarence took the Hawkbill
shape and went beyond anything anyone s done before. His 120 shape
was beautiful and his hand carved finish will go unmatched. A great
craftsman who expanded the boundaries of pipe making his work will be
missed by all lovers of pipe shape and form. Shows wont be the same
without that quiet, almost shy but very warm man.
To all his close friends in the Chicago Pipe Club and his family my
best wishes in this very sad time.
MT
Calabashed
NY (and Chicago) show consistently e.g. and was one of the highlights to see
there. It is always especially sad when we lose someone like Clarence before
"their time". Rich
Bonaquisti
be
missed by all lovers of pipe shape and form. Shows wont be the same
without that quiet, almost shy but very warm man.<<
I am so saddened by the news of Clarence's passing...
I've known Clarence for many years, and always looked forward to seeing him at
the shows, and seeing what new finish or style of pipe he would come up with
next...
Clarence was an innovator, had a style all his own, and "invented" more new
finishes than anyone I've met... all done by hand.
His "handblasts" were fanatastic, and how he made a carved pipe look
sandblasted, I'll never know.
He was a great pipemaker, as talented as he was generous, and a gentle and warm
man. Our fraternity and our hobby will be much poorer for the loss, the shows
just won't be the same without him...
My most sincere condolences to the Mickels family and to all those lucky enough
to have Clarence as a friend.
Paul Bonaquisti
Bonaquisti Pipes
www.bonaquisti.com
DSK11
to be a kind and easy person to talk to. He was also a wizard at pipe repairs,
fixing two of my pipes when others had said nothing could be done.
Sincere condolences to the Mickles family.
David Kresowaty
Stephen Mikell
hawkbill) that I had received two weeks before. I had been putting off
calling him to tell him how much I liked it because I had been busy. Sure am
glad I did it when I did. The last think he said to me was to remember that
a pipe was to be enjoyed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and I
will smoke the hawkbill in his honor.
Steve Mikell
--
Once in a while
You get shown the light
In the strangest of places
If you look for it right
Robert Hunter
"Poggenpohl" <pogge...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010811084220...@mb-fo.aol.com...
Coolness
collect many. I have a collection of nearly 20. They smoke wonderfully
from the first bowl, and are a delight to handle. Big beautiful shapes,
incredible to look at. You know such care in carving said something about
the man who drafted and carved them.
S. Leyton
"Henry Smallwood" <hsm...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:txad7.11169$V43.8...@e3500-atl1.usenetserver.com...
BKTONEY
find this...devestated isn't too strong a word. Clarence was always one of
the first one's I went looing for at shows just to say hello and see what
marvelous new shapes he had come up with since the last time I had seen him.
I know many join me in feeling there will be a huge gap at future shows that
wil never be filled. My heart felt wishes and prayers go out to the family
and many, many friends.
Keith T
Mingkahuna
of Clarence Mickles.
For me Clarence Mickles was as much a part of pipe shows as the smell of
latakia and the sound of the click of a lighter.
Buzz
Nance623
thanks for all the kind words from everyone out there, it really helped us to
get through a rough time, we will all miss the kind, quiet and sincere person
that he was.. I am back home in Louisiana (I am from a previous marriage) and I
would truly like to print every email out there about my dad, it really is a
healing tool to hear so much from so many. Thanks again and God bless you all.
SignOfGrace76
granddaughter.When I was about three years old I saw my grandfather for the
first time. Due to distance and family I was not able to see my grandfather
again. About four years ago I took it upon myself after my 20th birthday to
call him.At that time the only grandchild he saw was a year old, and still
after twenty years my grandma Kathy answered the phone exclaimed, "It's your
grandaughter on the phone!" , and without another word picked up the phone and
said "Hi Tory it is so good to hear from you". That was one of the best moments
of my life. A man who had no contact with me for twenty years except for the
music boxes he sent me knew exactly who I was. I was able to fly up there that
following January. I was finally able to meet the man you all talk so
wonderfully about.Let me tell you he was.I want to send my story of this
beautiful man out to all of you and express my deepest regrets about not being
able to be there with my family. I love you all.
Poggenpohl
Clarence's pipes at the Columbus Show next weekend. Please stop by to view them
and take a moment with us to remember him.
On behalf of the family, thanks for all of your kind thoughts and remembrances.
Rex Poggenpohl
VP Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club