About Lugnut -- Patrick Malone


Many of us have come to know Patrick Malone (Lugnut) as a friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and kind individual. He is a frequent and enthusiastic contributor to our analog discussion forum. He has initiated only 17 threads, but responded to 559 threads. I would guess that many, if not most, of us can recall a time when Pat replied with helpful advice to a question we posted or helped us track down a rare recording. I have come to love Pat as a friend, and to respect him as a man, and I suspect many of you share those feelings.

Today I write to share difficult news with you. Pat has been diagnosed with an aggressive stomach cancer. It has yet to be determined whether surgery will even be worth it. If surgery is performed, most or all of the stomach will be removed, and Pat would face a difficult and long post-op period in the hospital. The medical course is still uncertain, but will be determined soon. Whatever is decided, it will not be easy or pleasant.

Something may be planned in the future to assist the family. For now, Pat could use some of the friendship he so often and willingly showed us. You can email Pat at: [email protected]. You can also mail cards, letters ... or whatever. You may email me for Pat's mailing address. My email is: [email protected].

I hope to spend a few days with Pat in Idaho or Nebraska (from which he hails) soon. Between this news, my legal work, getting ready for family arriving for the holidays, Audio Intelligent, and trying to make plans to visit Pat, my head is spinning. If you email me and I don't respond, please understand that I am not ignoring you, but rather simply do not have time to reply.

Pat may or may not have time to respond to posts here, to emails, or to cards mailed to him. But he has asked me to convey to each and every one of you that he has cherished your friendship, your comradery, and sharing our common hobby on this great website.

As we prepare for our holiday season celebrations, and look forward to -- as we should -- enjoying this time of year, I ask that you keep Pat and his family in mind ... and softly offer up, in quiet moments in the still of night and early morning, prayers for Pat and his family. God bless.

Warmest regards to all,
Paul Frumkin
paul_frumkin

Showing 5 responses by wbdillon

A Lugnut hand-me-down in my system is a tradition. Pat has been a friend for 45 years. One of the things we have always shared is a love of music. Lugnut’s advice and listening to his system had always been a huge influence upon my system. In the 70’s, he had a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls. As soon as I could scrape the money together, I bought a set of Heresy’s. In the 80’s, he and my wife decided my system need to be upgraded so she bought his Audionics amp, Audio Research pre-amp and Denon tuner. The tuner is still in my system and the pre-amp was just replaced with a hand-me-down Linn Waconda, bought from guess who. The Waconda is part of a general, once every 20 years, upgrade of my system. Audio is a lot more complicated that I thought it was in the 80’s. Pat has patiently explained phono stages, bi-amping, VTA, Anti-cables, Nitty Gritty machines and tube equipment to me. He has tried to explain Paul Frumkin but that hasn’t worked. After several months of three steps forward and two steps backwards, I have ended up with a system modeled after Pat’s. He was over to listen July 2 and it won his seal of approval.

If you stacked up the vinyl that Pat and I have listened to together, it would make a really big stack. We basically enjoy the same type of music and are dedicated Neil Young fans. I have a couple of 200 gram vinyl copies of “Greatest Hits” on backorder for us. I wish Neil would get the %#&*/!*^# things pressed. I visit Pat almost every Wednesday and we listen to music in the Purple Haze room. Pat’s listening rooms have always been tastefully done with antiques, comfortable furniture and rock memorabilia. My listening rooms have been “interesting”. One of the first was in the finished attic of an old house in Lincoln. The walls tilted at the same angle as the roof. You could only stand up straight in the middle of the room. It made for interesting acoustics. Ask Pat about my Getting Out of the Army Party we had there. The next listening room was in the spare bedroom of an even older house. The floor was so punky that my turntable was on a platform hung from the ceiling. Otherwise, it would skip whenever anyone walked into the room. Pat happily tolerated the bohemian atmosphere of these rooms and we enjoyed hours of music together.

We enjoy concerts together. (Live Music is Better Bumper Stickers will be Issued) I would love to list all of the concerts we have been to together, but my memory of the ones from the 70’s is a little hazy. I know there were a lot but the details of who, what, when and where are kind of up to debate. (You Know How Time Fades Away) Luckily, Boise is a fairly decent concert venue so we have had the opportunity to see Neil Young and Bob Dylan in the last few years.

Some of the posts in January were comments on the picture of Pat and Barb. Shventus called Barb a lovely lady. That is an understatement of biblical proportion. She is one of the sweetest people I know. She has fed me, talked to me, listened to me, been a gracious hostess and tolerated me for at least 30 years. I remember a 20-something Barb in a white bikini. I know Pat didn’t marry her just for her looks. But if he had, it would have been a great decision.

Audio is just one of Lugnut’s many talents. He has done some beautiful woodwork. He designed small record racks that hold about 20 albums. Just perfect for the “Now Playing List.” I have one and it is one of my most prized possessions. Simple, effective and attractive. He also has completely repaired and re-upholstered furniture.

Pat is a fine mechanic and has been a hot-rodder most of his life. He morphed a Chevy Nova from a quiet sedan into a fire-breathing dragster. It was street legal, could pop a wheelie at the drag strip but looked stock from 50 feet away. Until he started it. The first time I heard it idle, I looked at the front wheels because I was convinced one of them had to come off the ground every time a cylinder fired. Pat also had a Harley. He didn’t have to do much to it because it was right the first time.

Photography is another of Lugnut’s skills. He seems to have the knack for framing just the right shot. He was a pro real estate photographer for a time. Even before that, his talent with a camera was obvious.

Pat moved to Idaho in October, 1987, after visiting me several times. One of the attractions here is fly fishing. Lugnut has excellent hand-eye coordination so he became a good caster and fly fisher very quickly. Plus, he is just plain lucky. We have had some interesting adventures on the Boise River. Sometimes it was so late when we quit fishing that one of us had to hang over the bow of my drift boat and feel the way to camp. Pat bought his own drift boat and tricked it out. It was effective, attractive and a lot of bang for the buck.

This thread is evidence that you A-goners have enjoyed what I have enjoyed the most about 45 years with Pat---his advice and counsel. The audio advice you have appreciated is just the tip of the iceberg. Whenever I needed help with vehicles, photography, home repair, audio or topics that I can’t even remember, I went to Pat. His advice was always clear and well thought out. If he didn’t know the answer, he said so. Pat’s attitude is what made him a successful salesman. He didn’t sell something he would not own himself, he was technically knowledgeable about what he sold and he never blew smoke at customers. It took most customers about 30 seconds to figure this out and Pat sold lots of stuff. I have never seen Pat blow smoke. I have seen him blow flame a few times, but never smoke.

Idaho was the home of a semi-famous outdoor writer, Elmer Keith. One of his books is titled “Hell, I was There.” Well, I’ve been there when Pat started receiving the messages in this thread and the other things so many of you have generously provided. I can tell you from first hand experience how thankful and appreciative Pat is and what a profound impact you had on Old Lugnut. Vetterone, Mick Maun, Michael, Shawn, Jim, Ron, Tom, Patti and others have been wonderful. I especially want to recognize Paul Frumkin for starting this thread and for his other efforts.

Thank you all. Spin some vinyl for Lugnut!

Gone Fishin’!
Guys, Someone find him a copy of "Unplugged" please! Lugnut was nice enough to not bid against me when I got my copy last week. Bill Dillon
Last night when I arrived at Pat’s house, I noticed that yard lights in the brick planters were on. Those were the ones that our friends from Nebraska/Iowa, Mick Maun and Steve Smith, had rebuilt for Pat this spring. As many times as I have been to Pat’s house, I can’t remember ever seeing those lights shine as brightly.

Pat was barely conscious. I sat next to him and remembered the kid with the duck-tail haircut that I met in fourth grade. A few minutes later, Pat’s eyes fluttered, he spoke my name and reached out to shake my hand. I was so choked up (as now) that I could not reply. We shook hands and he faded away. He didn’t say another word in the hour that I was there. I spoke my last goodbye, left for home and now he is gone.

To all of you who have posted on this forum, who have called and e-mailed Pat, who have sent him equipment and music and who have offered their unconditional love and support, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was there and can tell you that Pat was absolutely overwhelmed and appreciative to his last day. You all have meant the world to him. I know you feel as I do, that Pat has done so much for us that we can never pay him back. Paul, thank you again for being the catalyst of one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.

Pat---Long May You Run.

Goodbye Old Friend.

Bill
Sunday, the 18th,Barb had an open house to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary and to celebrate Pat. It was a great time--good food, good friends and good music. Gracie the pup and Scott the grandson were the highlights of the afternoon. I think Barb is doing well and I know she appreciates all of your support.

Bill