Mary Kenniston
Verified Member
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2011
- Messages
- 84
This is what I wrote tonight to honor the passing of my friend early this morning...
The year was 1980. It was a gorgeous day in southern California but we were on the hunt for action. We walked into Bellflower Billiards & the place was empty. No houseman – nobody. We turned around to leave…and then we heard the click of the balls.
Following the sound, we found a private room. We stuck our heads in the door & heard, “NOBODY’S BARRED!!!”
Startled, I saw a man grinning at NY Blackie & me as he stretched out on Big Bertha – the 6x12 snooker table.
“How’ve you been, Blackie? C’mon! Get in here! Liability – five a point! Who’s your friend? She can play too!” he laughed. “Nobody’s barred!!!”
And, that was how I first met the man we are mourning tonight.
Growing up in southern California, “Gentleman John” Henderson started playing snooker in his early teens. It wasn’t long before he discovered the action scene – the pool action scene.
It was a great time to be a pool player. There was action everywhere you went. John came up with & became friends with all the young guns of the day – Ronnie Allen, Johnny Ervolino, Richie Florence, NY Blackie, Larry Lisciotti, Billy Incardona, Wade Crane, Jimmy Reid & Denny Searcy to name a few along with all the Mexican champions of the day. Keith McCready & Cole Dickson were teenagers & still on the improve…
Over his many years in the game, he matched up & played them all - betting his own. Champion or amateur – he was always trying to make a game.
In one of our many conversations, he told me he had been playing the best one pocket of his life for the last several years & was very proud of the fact that he took the title in 2015 at the inaugural Super Seniors One Pocket Championship - Super Seniors being over 70! It was a very tough field filled with killers like Buddy Hall, Billy Incardona, Frank Almanza, Jeff Sparks, & James Christopher. John was thrilled when he was given the Lifetime Pool In Action award in 2021.
As many of you might know, for the last several years, he faced the toughest opponent of his life as he battled cancer & had spinal surgery leaving him unable to walk. He went after it with the same game he always played – one of formidable determination. He hit that rehab hard & told me he couldn’t wait to get back to his lady, his dog & the pool room – although not necessarily in that order!!!
He was in that rehab facility for seven long months but every time we talked, he made me howl with laughter as he told me stories about the other patients, stories about pool players – he never lost his positive attitude & sense of humor.
After a while at home & chomping at the bit to get back in action, John was finally strong enough to return to the pool room where he spent a good portion of his last days hanging out, matching up & doing commentary for the various streams.
Then, a couple weeks ago, tragedy struck again as he returned to the hospital with a torn aorta. Told it was inoperable with a 10% chance to live, he amazed everyone again as he walked out of the hospital to go home. However, a few days later he was dealt the final blow as he suffered a mini-stroke & finally passed away in hospice care. He was 83.
I remember John told me in our last phone call that he wasn’t afraid of death as he had had a long, full life. He spent his last days surrounded by his family & friends.
So, let’s celebrate our friend, John. He spent a lifetime showing us how the game should be played – with class, determination & success. I know I’m not the only one who will miss his hilarious one-liners, his big booming voice & his optimism.
Please join me in sending my condolences to his lady, Suzanne, his sons. Stephen & Dennis, & all who loved him.
RIP, my friend – I’ll sure miss you...
The year was 1980. It was a gorgeous day in southern California but we were on the hunt for action. We walked into Bellflower Billiards & the place was empty. No houseman – nobody. We turned around to leave…and then we heard the click of the balls.
Following the sound, we found a private room. We stuck our heads in the door & heard, “NOBODY’S BARRED!!!”
Startled, I saw a man grinning at NY Blackie & me as he stretched out on Big Bertha – the 6x12 snooker table.
“How’ve you been, Blackie? C’mon! Get in here! Liability – five a point! Who’s your friend? She can play too!” he laughed. “Nobody’s barred!!!”
And, that was how I first met the man we are mourning tonight.
Growing up in southern California, “Gentleman John” Henderson started playing snooker in his early teens. It wasn’t long before he discovered the action scene – the pool action scene.
It was a great time to be a pool player. There was action everywhere you went. John came up with & became friends with all the young guns of the day – Ronnie Allen, Johnny Ervolino, Richie Florence, NY Blackie, Larry Lisciotti, Billy Incardona, Wade Crane, Jimmy Reid & Denny Searcy to name a few along with all the Mexican champions of the day. Keith McCready & Cole Dickson were teenagers & still on the improve…
Over his many years in the game, he matched up & played them all - betting his own. Champion or amateur – he was always trying to make a game.
In one of our many conversations, he told me he had been playing the best one pocket of his life for the last several years & was very proud of the fact that he took the title in 2015 at the inaugural Super Seniors One Pocket Championship - Super Seniors being over 70! It was a very tough field filled with killers like Buddy Hall, Billy Incardona, Frank Almanza, Jeff Sparks, & James Christopher. John was thrilled when he was given the Lifetime Pool In Action award in 2021.
As many of you might know, for the last several years, he faced the toughest opponent of his life as he battled cancer & had spinal surgery leaving him unable to walk. He went after it with the same game he always played – one of formidable determination. He hit that rehab hard & told me he couldn’t wait to get back to his lady, his dog & the pool room – although not necessarily in that order!!!
He was in that rehab facility for seven long months but every time we talked, he made me howl with laughter as he told me stories about the other patients, stories about pool players – he never lost his positive attitude & sense of humor.
After a while at home & chomping at the bit to get back in action, John was finally strong enough to return to the pool room where he spent a good portion of his last days hanging out, matching up & doing commentary for the various streams.
Then, a couple weeks ago, tragedy struck again as he returned to the hospital with a torn aorta. Told it was inoperable with a 10% chance to live, he amazed everyone again as he walked out of the hospital to go home. However, a few days later he was dealt the final blow as he suffered a mini-stroke & finally passed away in hospice care. He was 83.
I remember John told me in our last phone call that he wasn’t afraid of death as he had had a long, full life. He spent his last days surrounded by his family & friends.
So, let’s celebrate our friend, John. He spent a lifetime showing us how the game should be played – with class, determination & success. I know I’m not the only one who will miss his hilarious one-liners, his big booming voice & his optimism.
Please join me in sending my condolences to his lady, Suzanne, his sons. Stephen & Dennis, & all who loved him.
RIP, my friend – I’ll sure miss you...
for you post but
