11/30/2025
Sadly this is a post about two former Johnny D'ers who have passed recently. I am not timely in this post but wanted to be sure to speak of my gratitude for each of their contributions to that which was the best of Johnny D's. Chronologically at the club lending his talents was Pat Curley (seen below in a classic kitchen shot with CJ Chenier, Ronniie Earl and and early version of CJ's Red Hot Louisiana band). We are talking late 80's or very early 90's. Pat was not only a sound engineer that made every band feel properly taken care of and sound they way they wanted. He was also side by side with the great Flo Murdock (who outlasted him in that underground office and later was side by side with Dana Westover) in the very early days as we were trying to find our footing as a eclectic music room. Flo (RIP) really loved working with Pat and the picture below is actually from her fb. Together they were a great part of the great music that graced our stage. Pat met his then Tuft's grad wife Evelyn at Johnny D's and I am happy to know the magic of those walls were part of their story. I give it to Tuft's students Evelyn and Marla back in those days when the post Country Western Johnny D's was only in its recent past, and Davis still had remnants of the 'Slumerville' in its perception (Winter Hill Gang still a thing back then too). Hats off to Pat for being part of the early team and good timing for Evelyn as they had a long marriage and two children (not all romances in JD's lasted lol).
Phil Savage, the handsome wholesome looking Mainer, and one of, if not, the, favorite floor manager was bestowed by the universe in the early 2000's. TBH I do not know the story of how or why Phil came to JD's and if anyone does I would love to know. Phil's charm and work ethic kept the floor running smoothly, whether you were the staff working under his supervision, or the staff working alongside him in the kitchen or bar, or gulp even Tina, you were his fan. When I wrote something on Phil's obit page I mentioned the twinkle in his eye, and then only to scroll down and see others mention that twinkle too. Phil was also a prankster so when he and Sean got together, they loved pulling pranks on Tina. Somewhere in my closet of pictures I have a whole booklet of photos with them 'mockumenting' Tina's unrelenting suspicion that our (constantly needing to be re-ordered) JD pens where actually ending up in the toilets, then clogging the old plumbing. Can't say for sure she liked that prank but she had a great sense of humor so I am sure she laughed. It was a gift to have had Phil with us and he even got his sisters Jill and Jana to be part of the D's for a bit. The Savage family are salt of the earth New Englanders. Thank you for service lol. Every person who believed in Johnny D's vibe truly contributed to its progress and our success could not have been achieved without.
Now I hope it is a long time before I have to write about the passing of anyone under 90. and thank you for reading if you got this far. https://obituaries.bangordailynews.com/obituary/philip-savage-jr-1093291758
