RIP…John Laughlin, IUPAT…union activist to the core…political field marshal and excellent writer…you will be missed.
http://massbuildingtrades.org/big-loss-our-labor-movement
John’s wake will be held:
Monday, October 27
Solimine Funeral Home
426 Broadway (Rt. 129)
Lynn, MA 01904
4-8 PM
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 28 at:
Carson Place
Boston Teachers Union Hall
180 Mt. Vernon Street
Dorchester, MA 02125
Doors open at noon; the service begins at 12:30PM.
Please share widely!
So sorry to hear this. Didn’t always agree, but always a fan. A class act.
To family and friends. A strong voice for his beliefs. Sorry to hear this.
Would it be appropriate to break anonymity (at least to me) and link an obituary?
I’m sure he would not mind.
Any details available? Honestly I didn’t know who he was in person.
I was wondering why he hadn’t been around lately. We always agreed more than we disagreed, and where we disagreed we did so respectively. I grew up in North Cambridge, son of two union members, but always felt removed from their fight. As a snot nosed freshmen at U Chicago-I engaged in my fair share of union bashing.Arguing with my folks and many people here. Striker always gently chided me and was one of the many influences in reminding me of my roots and how critical they can be . He was a proud and consistent voice for working men and women, particularly the trades which are voices too often underrepresented on progressive blogs such as these. He was always patient with critics and I am sure won over many to his side on these blogs, out on the campaign trail as a canvasser, and was probably formidable at the table with management.
I always imagined he’d be a great guy to share a beer and swap some stories with. I wish his family the best and will keep him and them in my prayers tonight. Absolutely terrible news, but his was a fight worth fighting and he fought it with grace.
I think anonymity was broken ling ago. I “knew” who Striker57 was by what he was writing. FWIW I do recall searching and he linked to his real life persona many years ago. I did share a drink with him on occasion. The last time I saw him to talk to was a Martha Coakely’s HQ. He was such a fan of hers. Such sad news.
We will certainly miss him here. BMG needs voices like his and his passing leaves a real void.
My condolences to his family & those who were lucky enough to know him in ‘real life’.
This is terrible news. He will be sorely missed in this community. Condolences to his friends and family.
From a brief video where John fires up the troops for canvassing in NH during the 2008 Presidential campaign. A voice that will be sorely missed.
I knew him in person and respected Striker57 but never knew it was John’s handle.
In fact I thought Striker57 was a woman–
which says something about John.
I digress briefly here. I recall John/Stiker57 saying something here on BMG before I made the connection. I remember thinking, the way he is addressing me, he “knows” me. It was clear to me that it was not just someone who knew me through my posts. I recall thinking about it, concluding that it was John and then finding something he wrote that linked to his union e-mail address. The same thing has happened with others. It surprises me, but there is just something different about how people interact, even on a blog, when they actually know each other.
Very bright guy, and a good progressive. Sorry to hear he’s passed.
…I regret not having the pleasure of meeting you John.
I definitely will miss Striker’s voice as well. Deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Rest in peace, brother.
I always attended to what he wrote here.
Condolences to family and friends.
and though we never met in person we came to know and respect each other by debating the issues here on BMG as proud unionists. I will miss him and offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Let us all pledge ourselves to elect a strong, pro-union, Democratic ticket on November 4 in John’s memory.
I think STRIKER 57 would approve, don’t you ?
Fred Rich LaRiccia