HORBA sad news

[DAREDEVIL]

RIP.....so sorry to hear

[Magicfloat]

RIP,John.I have heard that the sequel to Searace is finished and just needs a publisher. Maybe some one with the funds can come forward and get it published. Would be a fitting tribute to one of the icons of our sport.

[BRD]

When was John with PBM ?

RIP

[fobes]

Sorry to hear this, Rest in Peace.

[NNRT]

Great loss and a great writer!
Powerboat mag was never the same without him!
RIP.
pp and fam.

agreed !!!

[Sean Stinson]

When was John with PBM ?

RIP

Back in the 80's 90's era.......

[THUNDERBOLT]

May I on behalf of members of the Classic Offshore Powerboat Owners Club
here in the UK offer our sincere condolances to the family at this sad time.

Mike James
COPOC

[T2x]

I knew him well...... Not only was he Don's publicist but he also did publicity work for me at Shadow and Conquest. The funny thing was that he might promote someone's product while attacking their customers' lifestyle or racing technique at the same time. He was truly ornery by nature in a totally unique way. His health had slipped in the past few years, but the fire still burned deeply.

His death marks another turning of the page............

John may you finally find peace and smooth seas........

T2x

[Hauling Trash]

God Speed John

[Bertram38]

RIP
B38

[DaveP]

He was truly ornery by nature in a totally unique way. His health had slipped in the past few years, but the fire still burned deeply.

Agreed............thats what made him so unique.

[BRD]

Back in the 80's 90's era.......

A bit before my time ... I haven't been able to say that much lately .

[Brownie]

I knew John for more than 50 years. Cantankerous sonofa*****. In the 50's, John was a cub reporter for the Miami News. Dick Bertram, the original publicity monster, invited John to ride in the Miami-Nassau race, in a 30' Chris Craft Sea Skiff, along with the legendary Sam Griffith. John showed up for the "cruise" in a blue suede sport jacket. After they "stuffed" the boat a few times, all of the blue dye in the jacket migrated to John's upper torso, and he was totally bright blue from his wrists to his navel. Lasted about two weeks. John was physically tough, witty, ballsy, honest, and a stalwart friend.

[Top Banana]

Just to give you an idea of who John really was, here is the last story I have from his life.

I spoke with him by phone just a few days before his passing and I asked him where he had been as I had tried reaching him over the weekend and couldn't get through.

His answer...."I was in jail!"

What????

Yes, he said, it seems that one of my dogs kept breaking out of the yard and running away. In the town he lived in, Inverness, Florida, they have a very strict dog ordinance and John had recieved three "tickets" for his dogs bad behaviour. Three tickets that he somehow had forgotten to pay. (John suffered with a mild case of Alzheimers)

One night he hears a loud knock on the door and he opens it, to find three of Inverness's finest police officers there to "bring him in". John tells them as only John could do... what they could do with the tickets and the judge and any other authority figures in the county.

79 years old and giving them a ration of sh** like you would not believe. So, they arrested him and put him in jail over the weekend until Monday, when they had a hearing and he was ordered to pay the fines and an additional fine for the disturbance he caused.

John had four dogs and loved them deeply and would go to any length to protect them. He felt as strongly about many other things too, one of which was offshore racing. We were very blessed to have someone who could write the history of such a great sport in such a detailed way.

May his soul finally rest in peace.

[ChiefApache]

RIP John.

I was able to read his book.

[Scotty B]

RIP John, I am honored to have known him

[Copeland's Phenomenon]

Our thoughts & prayers go out to the family.

[GJL]

I am deeply saddened to hear of Johns passing. I had the privilege of knowing John as a friend for over 40 years. He was truly one of a kind and his work as a journalist and historian of offshore racing has not and may never be equaled.

He well be missed, rest in peace my friend.

George Linder

[Padraig]

Godspeed, John.

I always enjoyed his articles while he was at PBM and his book, Searace resides on an end table in my living room.

He will be missed,

[Tantrum]

Thought and prayers to his family and friends.
RIP John