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On behalf of the New York City Chapter of NCGR, I
sadly report the news of Julian Armistead's death. Our community has lost another one of our
great lights this year.
Julian served
on our Board for nearly 20 years, primarily in the role of Vice President. Thanks to his expertise from his "day job" in
contract negotiations for Y & R Advertising, he brought a terrific business
acumen to the chapter, helping us to be more professional, well-functioning and
responsible. Many of his ideas gave
shape to NCGR, locally and nationally, as we know it, and those ideas are still
in practice today.
One of his
major contributions was on the original education committee to create the
certification program. He was also the
first astrologer to achieve double certification in consulting and
research.
His research
project was his proudest professional accomplishment, a monograph on the
rectified chart of the United States, painstakingly researched astrologically
and historically. He concluded the US
was actually "born" on July 2, 1776.
This chart is proudly published in Nicholas Campion's "Book of World
Horoscopes" and the monograph is in the NCGR-NY Library.
(click
for larger image)
Julian was
ever-the-avid student of astrology, dating back to the days of the Astrological
Guild in New York, and studying with the likes of Al Morrison and Charles
Jayne.
Although he
was a man of great culture and sophistication, he could just as easily don a
clown's nose, do silly antics and enjoy quick witticisms. He also possessed a passion and kindness for
dogs, spending some years as a breeder.
Most of all,
however, I think Julian will be remembered in partnership with his beloved,
Joanna Shannon, another legendary name in the NCGR canons.
Together and
individually, they were great astrologers, teachers, leaders in the community
and role models from the apartment they called the "love nest." If there is, indeed, a time and place where
souls are reunited, then I'm sure these two are joined together
again.
Julian "cared
for his own" and had a deep concern for the youth in the astrology
community. So, in his honor, his estate
will make a donation to the NCGR's Lucy Titunik Fund and the Young Astrologers'
Organization.
Being a great
lover of the juniper berry, as he liked to call his gin, I lift my cup to
Julian's life and say, "Cheers, old friend --.and thanks!"
John
Marchesella
TRIBUTES:
Julian was a major force in NY-NCGR for decades, and was also a brilliant and sophisticated astrological thinker. With his wonderful wife, Joanna Shannon (see her memorial), they brought warmth and vitality to the astrology community of
NYC. This sad event feels like the end of an era.
Donna Cunningham
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I met Julian in the 1980s when he was a customer
in my cheese store around the corner from his apartment. I knew he was
an astrologer and he interpreted a horoscope for me twice. He also was
quite aware of astrologies limitations or, rather when it was unneeded.
I asked him to draw up a horoscope for my 11 year old daughter.
He asked my why and I could not give a good answer. "Well," he
asked, "what do you think her future is?" I said, as I often do, that 'The
world is waiting to see what she will choose." "In that case,"
he quipped, "she doesn't need one." My strongest memories of him are of his wit, sharp and ready, and his humanity. Fortunately, I was the recipient of
his thoughts on death and actually called him, before receiving his thoughts,
about his time on earth. We had lunch and chatted and chewed while
discussing the end or not end. While I had this last time with him,
I am still saddened that he died and that I did not hear about the memorial
which I would have attended. Thanks for posting this obit for those
of us who find out about his death well after his passing.
Richard Kahn
BIRTH:
August 10, 1926, at 1:32 A.M. E.D.T. in New York City.
DEATH:
February 20, 2008, around 8:00 p.m.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? This memorial is interactive, and we welcome
your memories and tributes, which we will add to the page. If there are any additional
contributions we should mention or any inaccuracies
in the memorial, please bring them to our attention. We would also love
to have photos to bring back vivid memories. (Photos will be scanned and returned.) To suggest names, share memories, create tributes, or volunteer,
send us an e-mail.
CREDITS: Written by John
Marchesella and created by Liz Houle, using a graphics set created
by Word of Mouth Web Design.
Pictures
from John Marchesella.
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