Author and host of the hit OUTDOOR CHANNEL show SHOOTING GALLERY spouts off...
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Lou Alessi, Rest in Peace
I have just been informed that my old and very good friend Lou Alessi, the greatest holster-maker in the world, has passed away after a long illness.
I don't have any details; he called me not that long ago to say that he was sick, but hey, he was hanging in. I know he fought to the very end because he was a fighter.
I was truely blessed to have Lou take me under his wing and give me guidance. I am really at a loss for words to explain how I feel right now. He was a true gentleman, great craftsman and a very unselfish mentor.
One of the most unselfish, decent, good-humored people I have known. I knew he'd had a brush with something serious before Christmas, but thought he'd beaten it and was recovering. This humongously bums me out.
It always hurts to lose a friend and I wish the family well to be blessed with strength and peace.
Michael, you've mentioned many people in your podcast and Lou was spoken of highly and frequently. Many of us live guns but have normal jobs and we will never have a chance to meet the wonderful people you bring into our homes via TV and podcasts. You've been blessed. It's probably time to start writing an autobiography focusing on guns and chronicling the wonderful people you've met. Yes, there have been guns for centuries, but the last 30 or so years are the "golden ages" for guns and gun designs and you were at the forefront. We've gone from Curt Gowdy, a great guy on TV to Wednesday night on the range...quite a jump and something that deserves to be chronicled.
Lou was one of the nicest men I've ever met. I spent a few times in his shop on saturday afternoons shooting the shit with him. Words can't describe how I feel...
This is Idamarie Alessi,lou's wife. I want to thank all of you for your heartfelt messages. My husband was as great a man as you all knew him to be. He loved his family and he loved what he did as was evident in the product he produced. Your words of comfort will help our daughter and I get through the very difficult time ahead for us. Thank you for your love and support.
I was very sad to hear today that Lou passed. Over the many years we have spoken and joked. Usually I spoke with Mary lou.
In business it is nice when you like your customer, while it is not mandatory. Alessi holster was more than that it was like sitting around the family table, I never heard a cross word or a complaint. It never seemed like business it was always a pleasure.
There's a feeling I've been becoming more and more familiar with. This feeling...is my enemy. My body has become an orb of sadness. I'm a fragment of who I used to be. Just a shell of what I used to be. Hollow on the inside, but the exterior remains the same. There's just a shadow of the old me left, lurking deep beneath. I have...asphyxiated. Mirroring myself, trying to fathom my existence.
I went to Amherst this past weekend and plan to stop to see Lou and buy a holster. The shop was closed. I did not know he has passed away. I have know Lou since we were kids (8)yrs old. His dad and mine were friends and worked to gether. I remember the day his dad passed away. going to miss lou, It's been about 6 years since I seen him. I live in Rome, ny now. God bless you Lou and now you are with Tony.., will never forget you and miss the times of our talks..... denny
I was truely blessed to have Lou take me under his wing and give me guidance. I am really at a loss for words to explain how I feel right now. He was a true gentleman, great craftsman and a very unselfish mentor.
ReplyDeleteI will really miss him.
God bless you Uncle Lou....
You're right when you write the greatest holster maker in the world. You'd be just as right if you wrote he made the greatest holsters.
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed diminished.
One of the most unselfish, decent, good-humored people I have known. I knew he'd had a brush with something serious before Christmas, but thought he'd beaten it and was recovering. This humongously bums me out.
ReplyDeleteIt always hurts to lose a friend and I wish the family well to be blessed with strength and peace.
ReplyDeleteMichael, you've mentioned many people in your podcast and Lou was spoken of highly and frequently. Many of us live guns but have normal jobs and we will never have a chance to meet the wonderful people you bring into our homes via TV and podcasts. You've been blessed. It's probably time to start writing an autobiography focusing on guns and chronicling the wonderful people you've met. Yes, there have been guns for centuries, but the last 30 or so years are the "golden ages" for guns and gun designs and you were at the forefront. We've gone from Curt Gowdy, a great guy on TV to Wednesday night on the range...quite a jump and something that deserves to be chronicled.
Here's a link to the Buffalo paper's death notice. Full obit should follow soon. Let's fill up the online guest book with our memories!
ReplyDeleteOops, forgot to give you the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.legacy.com/buffalonews/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=124452453
Sorry about the linkless URL. Dunno how to make it work -- if that's even enabled on this site.
ReplyDeleteSo please just copy and paste.
Lou was one of the nicest men I've ever met. I spent a few times in his shop on saturday afternoons shooting the shit with him. Words can't describe how I feel...
ReplyDeleteWow. A legend has passed. Prayers for his family...
ReplyDeleteThis is Idamarie Alessi,lou's wife. I want to thank all of you for your heartfelt messages. My husband was as great a man as you all knew him to be. He loved his family and he loved what he did as was evident in the product he produced. Your words of comfort will help our daughter and I get through the very difficult time ahead for us. Thank you for your love and support.
ReplyDeleteI was very sad to hear today that Lou passed. Over the many years we have spoken and joked. Usually I spoke with Mary lou.
ReplyDeleteIn business it is nice when you like your customer, while it is not mandatory. Alessi holster was more than that it was like sitting around the family table, I never heard a cross word or a complaint. It never seemed like business it was always a pleasure.
I / we will all miss him.
Paul Angelos
There's a feeling I've been becoming more and more familiar with.
ReplyDeleteThis feeling...is my enemy.
My body has become an orb of sadness.
I'm a fragment of who I used to be.
Just a shell of what I used to be.
Hollow on the inside, but the exterior remains the same.
There's just a shadow of the old me left, lurking deep beneath.
I have...asphyxiated.
Mirroring myself, trying to fathom my existence.
The Infininity
I went to Amherst this past weekend and plan to stop to see Lou and buy a holster. The shop was closed. I did not know he has passed away. I have know Lou since we were kids (8)yrs old. His dad and mine were friends and worked to gether. I remember the day his dad passed away. going to miss lou, It's been about 6 years since I seen him. I live in Rome, ny now. God bless you Lou and now you are with Tony.., will never forget you and miss the times of our talks..... denny
ReplyDelete