Cindy Bracker Sturm on thu 27 sep 07
I have gotten calls from several people asking me about Dolan Tools, =20
wanting a definite, absolute answer about what is going on with =20
them. I promised I would post my findings to clayart. So I have =20
been doing a lot of research. Honestly, I haven't had much time to =20
keep up with my clayart, so I checked the archives to see if there =20
have been any postings in the last couple of months. I did see a =20
post from Patty Kaliher, but I thought it bore repeating, because =20
often messages are missed. So, here's the absolute word:
Dolan Tools are gone.
Here's the whole story:
Bob and Maureen moved to Hawaii, leaving children "Young Bob" & Susan =20=
in charge. My understanding is that Young Bob did the metal work =20
(like his father had) and Susan did the gluing and paperwork, but I'm =20=
not totally clear about that exactly. The last tools I received from =20=
them were in mid-May. I got about 1/3 of three different orders I =20
had in with them. I faxed them a thank you note and asked about eta =20
on the rest and never heard back. (My belief is that Bob and Maureen =20=
moved there knowing that Bob's health was failing and that Hawaii was =20=
where he wished to spend his last days. BUT THAT IS JUST A GUESS. I =20=
don't know that part for fact.)
I finally started calling Chambers of Commerce, City Tax departments, =20=
etc. and ultimately, looked up their street address and found the =20
phone number of a neighbor of theirs, (actually turned out to be a =20
former neighbor) who was nice enough to give me the phone number for =20
the property manager. I called them and found out that they were no =20
longer occupying the suite on McClintock where they had been for years.
I just found out today that Young Bob is too emotional about his =20
father's death to do the metal work, nor is he able to show Susan how =20=
to do it right now. Having lost my own father 14 years ago, I fully =20
understand the need of a child to protect the memory and reputation =20
of a parent. I believe that Young Bob is concerned about the quality =20=
of the product, and much like his parents, is unwilling to compromise =20=
the quality in any way. Perhaps after he has had time to grieve, he =20
will be able to return to making tools of the caliber of his parents =20
before him, or will be able to show Susan how. I hope for the return =20=
of Dolan Tools someday, but more importantly, I pray for the Dolan =20
Family in this time of sadness and loss.
Sincerely,
Cindy
Cindy Bracker Sturm
Bracker's Good Earth Clays, Inc.
Celebrating 25 years of helping potters!
888-822-1982 =95 http://www.brackers.com
Clay Ain't Dirt!
Since June 28th, 1982
Veena Raghavan on thu 27 sep 07
Hi Cindy,
Thank you for informing all of us about the Dolan situation. How terrible for
the family. I am sure that I am not alone in saying that my heart goes out to
them. Of course, Dolan Tools, which were such an institution and such a part
of a potter's tool kit here in the U.S. will be sorely missed by many of us.
But, as you say, it is the family that matters, and the tools are secondary. I
hope the children will heal after their terrible loss. So sad. But, at least
Bob senior did get to spend his last days in Hawaii. I do not know the family
at all, but I hope that anyone who does will pass on our sympathy to Maureen
Dolan and their children.
Thanks again.
Veena
In a message dated 9/27/2007 6:58:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
claygirl@BRACKERS.COM writes:
>
> I just found out today that Young Bob is too emotional about his
> father's death to do the metal work, nor is he able to show Susan how
> to do it right now. Having lost my own father 14 years ago, I fully
> understand the need of a child to protect the memory and reputation
> of a parent. I believe that Young Bob is concerned about the quality
> of the product, and much like his parents, is unwilling to compromise
> the quality in any way. Perhaps after he has had time to grieve, he
> will be able to return to making tools of the caliber of his parents
> before him, or will be able to show Susan how. I hope for the return
> of Dolan Tools someday, but more importantly, I pray for the Dolan
> Family in this time of sadness and loss.
VeenaRaghavan@cs.com
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