1 month ago
7
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Friends and household of John Shafer accidental his passing was heartbreaking, but his bequest successful Fresno is that of a loving, generous, creator idiosyncratic who made radical consciousness similar helium was their biggest instrumentality each clip they spoke with him.
Lifelong friends and erstwhile bandmates Steven Carter and Dean MacDonald accidental they some admired Shafer and were heartbroken to perceive of his death.
"I conscionable loved him, and it was similar losing a brother," Carter said.
"I'd seen him the time earlier astatine the hospital," MacDonald said. "I'm conscionable truthful blessed I had those past fewer minutes with him to speech a small bit."
Carter and MacDonald accidental their relationship with Shafer spanned respective decades and antithetic bands. The 2 recounted galore nights they laughed unneurotic and performed successful venues passim Fresno.
"I shed much of laughter," Carter said. "He conscionable did immoderate brainsick stuff."
MacDonald said helium could besides retrieve rehearsing astatine Whities, Shafer's household shop.
Whities has been a staple successful Fresno since 1943. Shafer's parents took implicit the concern successful the '60s, and Shafer's girl Lindsay Coleman says she grew up successful the store with her dad.
"Cooper [Shafer's grandson] had the accidental of being a favored store kid - and my dada and I were favored store kids," Coleman said. "Doing our homework successful the bureau and climbing connected the canine nutrient successful the warehouse, being a favored store kid was ace cool."
Coleman and Cooper Russell accidental her father's passionateness for euphony translated to his enactment astatine the favored store and his emotion and attraction for his family.
"He was similar the strongest feline I ever knew, and helium cried a lot. He got passionate capable astir things that helium would cry," Russell said.
John Shafer’s bequest lives connected successful the euphony helium loved, the concern helium helped build, and the lives helium touched — some quality and carnal alike.
