I just found out that Sarge, who had owned World Wide Sax, passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, Feb. 9. He had been fighting brain cancer for over 3 years.
The news came to me in an email from Chadd Berry, Sarge’s close friend and former apprentice. Chadd had bought WWS from Sarge in 2011—information that they had shared with their regular customers shortly after the deal became official.
According to Chadd:
…We are healing here and celebrated with him in the most glorious send-off I’ve ever seen. There were loads of tears and laughter with his MANY friends and family near. We thank the saxophone community for the outpouring of support. He was an amazing man full of joy and love. It has become ever so apparent this week as more and more people come forward with the love that the world had for his talents in music, sax repair and extremely cordial business practices. He was a dear dear Friend to me and I am doing well but overcome with emotion at this loss.
I know he would love you to “Go. …and enjoy [his] music!” It’s free, at http://www.stevestransky.com/
The shop, Worldwide Sax, is owned by me (chadd) as he allowed me to carry on his legacy. I helped him run the shop all of 2010 after he had the brain seizure that reveled the tumor growth. In 2011 the paperwork was official; and the shop continued with sarge working as much as he wanted. I liked to say it as: “It’s still the same shop, Sarge just gets to do whatever he wants to now without time pressures.”
Sarge has restored a few of my vintage babies, and I have a couple of others that are still in need of restoration. I almost bought one of his personal, vintage JK Tonekings from him last spring, but then I found one locally instead.
The world lost a very gentle and kind soul with the passing of Sarge. Although I didn’t see him regularly, or speak to him often, I had a great fondness for him.
Besides respecting his knowledge and abilities, I also very much appreciated Sarge for who he was as a person. He was indeed a very compassionate and kind man.
I will always treasure the horn I have from him, and the way he set it up to work well for my neurological deficits. My Zephyr has always been a special horn, and means a lot to me. Now I have even a greater fondness for that particular sax.
Linked at the WF.
Nice guy. Great websites. One of the few I felt comfortable sending saxophone newbies to to get a good deal and not get ripped off.
Amazing man on so many levels. Sarge was one of the good guys.
after going to the site i was amazed to find we almost crossed paths a coulple of times and thank you for the article and wish we had met to all his family and friends may i say his life has touched us all.thank you helen