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Author Topic: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.  (Read 36811 times)

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Offline Admin

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Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« on: July 23, 2013, 09:33:52 PM »
Jack Bragg passed away on July 19, 2013 after a protracted battle with cancer. Jack was among the very first members of RWD having joined this site immediately after formation. Many of you recall Jack for his impassioned and doggedly persistent position on many issues, some quite controversial. I welcome you to remember Jack in this Tribute thread that will eventually be moved to a more suitable forum and 'stickied.' It should not need to be stated, but knowing that there are those who hold grudges even after one's passing, I will make it abundantly clear that I will not tolerate ANY disparagement in this topic. I do not mean to sugarcoat anything, but the time has passed to 'air your beef' with Jack.

I'll open with the story of how I first came to know Jack. It was on a forum over at our sister site, Planet-Love when they still hosted an 'Eastern European' forum. Jack shared the story of one of his trips to Crimea and his visits to the caves where the rebels hid out during the Crimean War. His knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian history was remarkable and his passion and love for the people of the region was constantly on display. While on the surface Jack's business focused on the women of the FSU, he has more than his share of men in Ukraine and Russia who have worked with Jack and think very highly of him. He truly did love the people of the region.

Some short time later I met Jack in Dallas for the first time. I was on a business trip and we met for lunch at the hotel I was staying. He came armed with several very VERY large photo albums of his trips to Russia and Ukraine. He was an accomplished photographer and not only of the controversial street photos he often proudly displayed here at RWD. In fact, the magnificent photo of Moscow that adorns our Home Page was one that Jack took.

Jack was my friend. He was not always an easy friend to have, but I never for a moment doubted him and his loyalty. I will miss him greatly.

- Dan

Offline Vinnvinny

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2013, 10:13:43 PM »
RIP  :(

Offline viking

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2013, 10:18:02 PM »
I never met Jack but had many conversations with him when I was in need of advice,,back in the day when i needed advice. He was honest and forthright. His heart was in the right place. May he rest in peace.
Tom Hanks in Castaway: You never know what the tide may bring in.
Viking: But you still need to walk along the beach to find it.

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2013, 12:30:19 AM »
I am very sad.
I invited him few months ago to come to my marriage party. This party happened the 19th july exactly.
Of course it was not possible for him to answer positively.


He was a guy very passionate by FSU.

"Je glissais through the paper wall, an angel in the hand, s taboy. I lay on the floor, surgi des chants de Maldoror, je mix l'intégrale de mes nuits de crystal, i belong to the festival.

Offline Chelseaboy

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2013, 12:45:12 AM »
Sorry to hear this news.
 
After the debacle of my last trip to Ukraine ,i intended to go on one of Jacks tours next time i went there.I'm sure i would have learnt a lot about Ukraine and the women from him,might even have hit it off with a girl at one of his socials.
RIP
Just saying it like it is.

Offline Anotherkiwi

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2013, 04:11:03 AM »
So sad to hear this.  It was always interesting to read Jack's opinions (not least when he was bickering with Eduard  :P ) and, as Dan says, he was an excellent photographer.  He was the sort of person that most discussion groups would give their right arm to have as a member, simply because of the depth of his knowledge of his specialist subject.  Of course I didn't agree with everything that he wrote - I doubt that anyone did.  On balance, however, I think the world will be a poorer place for his passing.
 
R.I.P.  :thumbsdown:

Offline Turboguy

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2013, 05:32:31 AM »
I will post a little more later but was very sad to hear about Jack.  I always felt Jack was the kind of guy people liked a lot or disliked a lot because he did have a strong personality and had no hesitation is saying what he felt and fighting for what he believed.  He was the kind of person that would help anyone in need even if there was nothing to gain.  When someone was in the FSU and posted they were in trouble, you could always refer them to Jack and he would come to the rescue.  Jack was only 59 but I do think he lived more in those short years than most who live to an old age.  I will miss Jack and I am sure there are many who feel the same. 

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2013, 07:05:12 AM »
Don't know about Jack from from the message boards but I did run into him several times in airports and restaurants in Ukraine by accident when I lived there.  He was one of the few foreign men I met in Ukraine that could blend in with the locals and really cared about his business.  You see a lot of foreign men worried about what they make and could care less about being a good person in the community.

Offline Hammer2722

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2013, 07:07:24 AM »
I will definitely miss those great photo posts of his....R.I.P. Jack
every ship can be a minesweeper at least once...

Offline GQBlues

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2013, 07:07:47 AM »
May you rest in peace, Jack! Condolences to all the beloved....

It was nary 5 months ago when I last heard from Jack. I haven't seen him post for a while and all of the sudden I received a PM from him. Jack and I have had a lot of fun on the board, and even his first and only PM to me started by saying how much he likes disagreeing with me on most everything...LOL

Little did I know, he apparently was following a particular, fairly controversial thread. So he took the time to stop by to say 'hello', reiterated how much he likes disagreeing with me - BUT - on that particular thread, he said he's happy letting me know he agrees with everything I was saying.

I'm glad there was an occasion that afforded us an opportunity to see eye-to-eye and exchanged a chuckle and pleasantries.

R.I.P.
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Offline Larry1

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2013, 07:22:21 AM »
I didn't know Jack, but I like his FSU photos.  It's nice to open RWD and see some of them across the top of the page.  Mrs. Santa Claus in Kiev always puts me in the Christmas spirit, even in July.

Offline tfcrew

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2013, 07:27:23 AM »
Wow Dan, this is really a jolt.
Wondering about Jack for awhile now.
We used to talk on the phone often.

Karl
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~Think about the intelligence of the average person and then realize that half of the people are even more stupid than that~

Offline ML

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2013, 07:42:22 AM »
I knew of Jack before even Planet Love, corresponded with him on business matters unrelated to FSUW way back when, and both agreed and disagreed with him longer than anyone on this board, including Dan.  But, I never met him face to face.  He probably would have punched me out!!

He was a true wealth of information about FSUW and the entire process; and, as others have already mentioned, he was generous in passing on much information free of cost.  Much of the info I have posted in the thread "Pursuing FSUW 101" was put together from various parts of Jack's preaching over the years.

Jack was one of the most stubborn men I have ever encountered, but it seems to have served him well overall.  I wondered what had happened to him in the past few months.  Now, I already miss him.
A beautiful woman is pleasant to look at, but it is easier to live with a pleasant acting one.

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2013, 07:47:02 AM »
I never met Jack, yet  from his posts and photos, he left a vivid impression. 
 
Jack clearly was a strong man, physically and mentally.  Yet, he had his soft side, such as his generosity noted above and his artistry in photos.   
 
Jack took pride in his introductions of AM with RW.   Many of his clients married RW.   Just in his area of Texas,  the number was large enough to form an annual picnic that he hosted. 
 
He started in the old days when "one week wonders" were prevalent.  Yet, he changed with the times,.  For example, I understand he modified his tours away from the pretentious, lustful, if not deceitful model associated with the likes of AFA.  Instead,  he  structured tours to facilitate genuine meetings between sincere men and women. 
 
My encounters with him at RWD were few.  Yet, he was always fair, even in disagreement. 

Offline Muzh

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2013, 08:18:54 AM »
DAMN!!!
 
I guess I'll never have that beer with him. That's one of two Texans that I locked horns with and still respected them, a lot.

First  "encounter" was back in 1999 on the RW-L. At the beginning he came across as a hustler, however, the more I "talked" to the man, the more I would understand his position and the less disagreements we had to a point that once in a while he would be the one asking ME if I had any misgivings about what he said.

I can honestly say I will miss him as much as Neeley.

RIP Jack
« Last Edit: July 24, 2013, 09:42:07 AM by Admin »
To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead. Thomas Paine - The American Crisis 1776-1783

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2013, 09:48:13 AM »
For those who asked, I have been in regular contact with Jack over these many months. He and I would often talk of his illness and his plans for recovery and resumption of his FSU activities. Jack was a natural optimist, and he remained so till nearly the end. As he grew weaker and the cancer more grave, I was in contact with those close to him in Texas.

- Dan

Offline The Natural

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2013, 09:51:50 AM »
I didn't know Jack Bragg or talk to him ever, only read some of his postings on this site. But it's always sad when someone passes on way before their time. May he rest in Peace and may God look kindly on his soul.

Offline tfcrew

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2013, 11:44:31 AM »
~There is no one more blind than those who refuse to see and none more deaf as those who will not listen~
~Think about the intelligence of the average person and then realize that half of the people are even more stupid than that~

Offline Voyager36

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2013, 12:15:51 PM »

Jack took pride in his introductions of AM with RW.   Many of his clients married RW.   Just in his area of Texas,  the number was large enough to form an annual picnic that he hosted. 
Sorry to hear about Jack's passing.
I wonder if the folks in Dallas will still have the picnic as a tribute to him?

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That’s sad
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2013, 01:37:44 PM »
Just for the record, we had never been friends and I disliked him a lot. Yet now that bickering does not seem important and I feel sorry for him. He was not that old to die…
Igor Kalinin
Ukraine Guide Interpreter

Offline CaptB

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #20 on: July 24, 2013, 02:45:15 PM »
Dan, thank you for the insight into your personal relationship with Jack. Jack's opinions were not always popular....but his knowledge in many areas of this boards primary subject matter was very apparent. The truth is....you can be on this forum for many years and not really know true character of its members. Some of the members of this board (and the old RWG) I have met in person......and some have become good friends. Their generosity and friendship has been truly appreciated. In truth.......some of the "crustiest" most opinionated "geezers" on the board (rabble rousers) i would get a chuckle from. "Chuckle" ........ because I believed in their opinion......but too many (members) focussed on the delivery....not true meaning of what they were saying. There are too many members of these forums who try, and try, and try for success......but don't (can't, won't)  grasp the concept that they eventually must accept that it is time to take a different "tack". Some of the most helpful members to me over the years were not always the most patient or gentle with some members hear....but there were often times "hidden gems" buried in those rants (advice :-). Hearing of Jack's death.....makes me appreciate....all the more....those folks who I have been fortunate....to call my friend.


R.I.P Jack


Capt B   
"A Yooper in Moscovia"

Offline Anotherkiwi

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #21 on: July 24, 2013, 06:00:12 PM »
Obituary...

http://www.tributes.com/show/Jack-Walter-Bragg-96159267

I'm sure that Jack would have a real chuckle about how the numbers of Certificates on the left-hand side don't match up!
 
 

Offline mendeleyev

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #22 on: July 24, 2013, 06:47:27 PM »
I am so sorry to hear of his passing.

He meant a lot to the forums and his solid knowledge of the FSU will be missed. May God comfort his family and grant him memory eternal.
The Mendeleyev Journal. http://mendeleyevjournal.com Member: Congress of Russian Journalists; ЖУРНАЛИСТЫ.RU (Journalist-Russia); ЖУРНАЛИСТЫ.UA (Journalist-Ukraine); ЖУРНАЛИСТЫ.KZ (Journalist-Kazakhstan); ПОРТАЛ ЖУРНАЛИСТОВ (Portal of RU-UA Journalists); Просто Журналисты ("Just Journalists").

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #23 on: July 24, 2013, 09:25:26 PM »
I'm very saddened to hear of Jack's passing. Very early on in my search Jack gave me some words of encouragement when some of the crustier guys on this forum were busting my bawls. Jack had a strong belief in what did and there are many that are better men as a result. Jack didn't hesitate to get in a grill when he thought someone needed to. He also not once, hesitated to help someone in need and there were many.

Rest peacefully Jack

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Re: Tribute to Jack Bragg - R.I.P.
« Reply #24 on: July 24, 2013, 11:19:39 PM »
I never actually got around to meeting Jack, but in addition to many robust debates across several forums over a few years, I did have the pleasure of speaking with him on the phone at length (thanks to some peace making by Dan), and found him to be a funny bloke who was every bit as frank and forthright as his online persona suggested.

59 is too young to go.

RIP.

 

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