Broken Pipes: Dura Semjaniv, Sweden, RIP

[poggenpohl]

Broken Pipe: Dura Semjaniv, Sweden, RIP

I am very sad to report that another very good pipemaker and good
friend has just passed away. Dura Semjaniv lost his fight with
pneumonia after a couple of months. Dura, with a Slavic family
background was a young soccer star growing up in southern Sweden and I
recall him telling me that he owned and
ran the Larsen smokeshop in Malmo (not connected to the W. O. Larsen
store in Copenhagen), Sweden near Denmark for many of his adult
years.

This is where he eventually learned about quality handmade pipes such
Jess Chonowitsch, which he in turn started selling. As a pipe shop
owner he had to learn how to repair pipes. Then through a friendship
with the great Swedish pipemaker, Arne Ljung, Dura gotinterested in
making pipes. When Arne died Dura bought or inherited most of Arne's
pipemaking equipment and tools. Arne had become one of the most
desired makers for the Japanese and
also influenced the great Bo Nordh.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dura through our good friend, Per
Billhall, the prominent internet pipe dealer. I fondly remember the
good times spent with him at the Chicago International Pipe Shows and
other shows in Europe, at several meetings at Bo Nordh's house and
then when I made a special trip to his home and family in Lund,
Sweden, right after he had built a new
workshop where he was preparing to finally quit his job of many years
coaching school Soccer so he could make pipes full time. Dura made
very good pipes and said he always tried to make them as good as
Jess', which were his favorites.

I have the fortune of owning and smoking a number of Dura's pipes, but
even more rewarding is to have known him as a good friend.

Rex Poggenpohl, Jan. 23, 2008

[GRC Pipes]

a bowl in his memory. may his soul rest in peace.
d
www.grcpipes.com

"poggenpohl" <pogge...@mac.com> wrote in message
news:712fa58c-6802-4c16...@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...

[Sagiter]

Sad to hear, I shared a dinner table with Dura a couple years ago in
Chicago.

Neil

--
Neil Flancbaum
Craftsman
Home of the Ultimate Pipe Bag
http://www.smokinholsters.com

"poggenpohl" <pogge...@mac.com> wrote in message
news:712fa58c-6802-4c16...@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...

[Dave Sahagian]

Hi Rex
Sorry to hear this sad news
Tell all the boy's I said hey
Brother David

"poggenpohl" <pogge...@mac.com> wrote in message
news:712fa58c-6802-4c16...@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...

[mingk...@aol.com]

Very sad. He was a fine pipe maker and a very nice man.

Art

[buck12ga]

Thank you, Rex. May he rest in peace.

Buck

[Nicolas]

Sad news.

We can see Dura here:

http://www.aab-taxfreepipes.com/group.asp?group=1842&vat=true&lang=bb

Nicolas

[Ed Duncan]

***********************
Didn't know of the man, but some fine lookin' pipes off the site.
Adding my thanx, Rex....& a bowl of something in a Soren freehand
sitter in Dura's honor.

Ed Duncan, Batavia, NY
pipe since '62, brain addled/mindless forever

[Ken Dixon]

poggenpohl wrote:
> Broken Pipe: Dura Semjaniv, Sweden, RIP
>
> I am very sad to report that another very good pipemaker and good
> friend has just passed away. Dura Semjaniv lost his fight with
> pneumonia after a couple of months.

My condolences on the loss of your friend.

Ken in Miami

[pipephil]

He carved one of the most elegant pipe in the leg-pipe survey :
http://www.pipephil.com/article-5420628.html

I'm sad

[mint...@gmail.com]

Well this is awful news, another kind and talented individual moved
on. He'll be remembered-- thanks for the post Rex!

Kind regards,

Ian