TRIBUTES TO JOHN McCORMICK:
A sampling of tributes to John McCormick from the October, 1981, issue of Mercury Hour:
Moby Dick, Honolulu, Hawaii, wrote:
"I was devastated by the shock of John McCormick's death. His last letter in Mercury Hour, on magic and crystal balls, was such a poetic comeuppance to Hand and me and Nolle and the Recent Advances team, it could serve as his epitaph. As I have shown by quoting him so often, John contributed greatly to my understanding the lock that tradition has on astrological thinking.
"I will always appreciate his taking up the cudgel to challenge me on the Horoscope of Jesus when everyone else was ignoring it. He was just getting his sea legs, clarifying his philosophy. I awaited so eagerly his next leaps of insight. I feel cheated, as when JFK died too soon. Auwe!"
Frank Spelic, Glenshaw, PA, wrote:
"I received the newest issues of the MH today and was stunned to hear about John. There are some people that you meet that you never think will exit this stage. John was a person like that.
"I only met John once. It was about seven years ago in New York City. I was the young upstart guy new to the planets and yet he tolerated me and listened to my views. He accorded all those respect whom he felt were deserving of it. His humorous view of us all will be sorely missed. It's the humorist that makes us all keep our feet on the ground, and John was the man to do that. Sure, he went off on tangents now and then, but creative people always do.
"John lived a full and rich life. His writings made many of us laugh and, even more important, made many of us stop and think. He challenged us all to think and use common sense. He developed all those many talents he had because he was alive inside where it's most important. We all never accomplish what we dream of but I think John knew the way to stop the dreams and start the reality. I only hope that many of your readers understand the aim of John's humor now. We all tend to take this a little too seriously at times. Oh, he ruffled some feathers now and then, but we all need them ruffled from time to time.
"And, despite the fact that he was respected as an astrologer, he could sit down with anyone and have a few beers. He was always the guy you were glad to have as a friend. He could make you laugh and he could also make you feel like an ass, just usually when you needed one or the other.
"If there is a heaven I can see John up there chasing after angels with an apple. "Hey, take a bite, St. Michael!" "You don't believe in those old fables, do you? Hey, listen to old St. Hamfatto here. Say, where can a good guy get a small nip around here?" "Hey, what's your sign, St. Pete? Fixed-T, huh..."
June Marson, Port Townsend, WA:
"The news about John McCormick was such a shock. I didn't know him, except through his writing, but I loved him. He was always the highlight of Mercury Hour for me. I understood what he said and tended to agree with him. He recognized pettiness and insanity. He at least made an effort, many times, to force people to use a little logic. A perceptive man. Our loss."
LYNNE ROSE of Phoenix, AZ, writing in Mercury Hour:
"When I heard that John Mc had died because of an accident, I was depressed and did a lot of deep thinking and praying for those so close to him. How strange, that I learned to adore a man I knew only through MH. Your words concerning his death, Edie, did help me very much. I am thankful now that he did pass on, and not live with such injuries. Still my thoughts and prayers are with you, as we all have felt the loss. Ol' John is probably laughing at us silly, emotional folks, mourning him, as he is probably having one great time up there, and wondering why we all don't know that."
Examples of John's Humor
Back to John's Page
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Memorials A-K
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? This memorial is interactive, and we welcome your memories and tributes, which we will add to the pagein the order recieved. (They may be edited for grammar, length, and suitability.). 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: The photo is from Kathy Kreshock. Biographical information for this memorial came from AstroDatabank and Mercury Hour. The background came from an elegant collection at Classical Themes. The wizard came from Noetic Art. The animation came from IBAND. The mailbox came from Hee Yung.