John Nunes
From BayTeam
About member John Nunes (pronounced noons) (Jan 12, 1931 - February 15, 2010).
- Joined: Jan-2008
BeeGee (Cocker Spaniel, ? ) - unspecified
Lacee (English Springer Spaniel, 05/03/06 ) - first trial on 5/3/07!
Contents |
Obituary and memorial service
- Video: Retrospective slide show of John, made by Toni Duralski, is available here on YouTube.
- Donations may be made to either:
- The American Heart Association , Stanislaus County Division, 1212 W Robinhood Drive, Ste 5-D, Stockton, CA 95207
- Turlock Animal Shelter, 900 North Palm, Turlock, CA 95380 209-656-3140
- Cards to his mother Emily Nunes 701 North 3rd Street Patterson CA 95363
- Viewing at the Hillview Memorial Chapel just before the Rosary, Hillview Funeral Chapel, 450 W. Los Palmas Ave, Patterson between 5 and 6 pm; pretty sure the flowers go there and then follow the caravan around. Hillview Funeral Chapel., 450 W Los Plamas Ave., Patterson.
- Friday, 2/19/10 - Rosary at 8pm, Sacred Heart Church
- Saturday, 2/20/10 - Funeral Mass: 10 am at Sacred Heart Church, Interment to follow, 529 I Street, Patterson, CA 95363
- Slide show/photos: Toni Duralski is working on putting together a slide show about John and his life, so she'd love to have any photos that you might have of john or closely related subjects ASAP. She says: "We are trying to gather pictures of John for a power point. If you have any pictures of John whether its doing agility or just hanging out with friends please send them to me as soon as possible. Pictures can be sent to Tduralski@aol.com. I can also scan pictures if you have some. I live in Turlock so if theres a way to get them routed this way? I will make sure you get them back. If you can forward this to bay team and anyone else you can think of I would appreciate it."
Clean Run Appreciation Ad (Mar-08)
Nunes Agility Field, Turlock
Miscellaneous notes
Thoughts, comments, tributes
Bay Team members can add photos or additional comments here--just log in, click [edit] next to this heading, and add your comment like others have.
Or members and nonmembers can also send email with text or photos and we'll post it for you.
From Ellen Finch
A tremendous loss to northern california agility.
I have just heard that John Nunes passed away this afternoon. This is a stunning conclusion to what was supposed to be routine knee surgery.
John found, developed, and maintained Nunes Agility Field in Turlock--where VAST and NAF hold many trials--almost single-handedly, but his warmth and generosity made many around him eager to help. He was also amazingly creative with his hands, developing innovative and creative additions to agility equipment and gear for hosting trials. I never saw him without a smile on his face, even after a fall last year damaged his hip and he tooled around the agility trial in an electric cart while he healed. He was a gentle, soft-spoken, generous man.
My heart is so heavy, I cannot begin to know what his family and his close friends in VAST are feeling. They are a tightly knit group there, and this must be a horrible blow.
Here's a photo of VAST/NAFers Donna, John, and Mary at the Bay Team party/awards night.
From Donna Sprouse
John passed away today about 1 pm. It was very peaceful with his family and priest there. I am sure he is now watching over us. Well, he always did that anyway. They are trying to plan for a rosary on Friday and funeral on Saturday. When I know more after their meeting tomorrow afternoon, then I can post times and places. I am sure it will be in the newspaper, too.
Posted on the NAF web site
It is with deep sorrow that we tell you of the death of our beloved friend John. Arrangements are pending and we will post them here. We will miss his cheerful smile, his good humored chiding and his zest for life. He was one of a kind.
We love you John.
Carlene, Donna, Mary
From Jean
This is very sad news. I will never forgot John. He treated newcomers like old friends and was truly interested in everyone. He was one in a million and will be greatly missed!
Jean & Chaps
From Donna, Feb 21
For those of you in Northern California who do not know. John Nunes passed away Monday February 15. He went into the hospital for a knee replacement and later his heart failed. He was 79 years old and we all got to celebrate his birthday with him in January. John was a loving son, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and wonderful friend to all that knew him. He loved his dogs, PeeDee (over the rainbow bridge) BeeGee and Lacee. He loved agility so much so that he started his own agility facility, Nunes Agility Field in 2000. It started as a practice area for PeeDee and grew into classes. He built all the equipment with help from his workers that worked in his Nunes Manufacturing in Patterson, California, where they made mowers for tractors used on golf courses. Eventually he arranged with neighbors and renting one building to move the VAST (he was one of the founders) trials to his Nunes Agility Field from the Stanislaus Fairgrounds. He and his friends (which I am honored to be one) started their own NAF trials which changes from two trial a years to six at his field and weekly classes along with flyball and obedience. Last year PowerPaws camp was at this facility and was a wonderful success. For 2007 the Bay Team awarded him the Caninetarin Award to recognize John Nunes for his lasting contribution to the dog agility community by so generously and tirelessly supporting its participants with facilities, encouragement, innovation, and friendship.
He was a tireless worker and was always making new equipment and fixing up the field and no one knew more about grass than he did. One of his first businesses were Nunes Turfgrass and Westurf. He also had two fields one in Hilmar and one in Tehachpi where he grew flowers (Lilacs mostly) for the San Francisco and Los Angeles flower markets. We were able to run the dogs on a wonderful grass surface for every trial,class, seminar or even BBQs.
But beyond all this he was a wonderful and true friend. I will miss him so very much along with everyone he touched. He did not know a stranger nor a dog he didn't want to pet.
He was laid to rest yesterday (Saturday) with the bagpipes playing and all his family and friends there, and BeeGee and Lacee too.
Watch over us friend to make sure we honor your friendship and the path you set for us to follow…………..
Donna Sprouse and Quas
USDAA tribute
USDAA has posted a tribute on their web site.
