Dennis Kruithof died early on the morning of October 7th – six days short of his 60th birthday. His unexpected passing has left his family and friends in shock, and the community has lost an amazing person – a man who played incredible guitar but without much fanfare played an important role in carrying the tradition along.

Like most of us, Dennis developed an early love for music that stayed with him throughout his life. At a very moving funeral service (standing room only!), his family and friends celebrated his life and his passion for music. Through the mix of tears and smiles in the room, I was reminded by how music – folk music – is so much more than words and notes. It is a community, one that Dennis helped to build.

Many of you who are reading this might not have known Dennis, but his life and spirit has reminded me of the impact that one person can have on a community. Dennis helped nurture the folk scene in Bergen County and touched many lives.

For those of you who have attended Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club concerts during the past decade, you will probably remember Dennis as the sound person at many of our shows. If you arrived early enough to the show – several hours before the show, you would have watched Dennis unload hundreds of pounds of equipment from his truck (which he previously spent hours loading into the truck!). You would have watched Dennis set up the sound board, monitors, instrument stands, what appeared to be miles of cables, microphones and whatever the artist would need to perform. You would have admired Dennis as he interacted with the artist and worked through the faults of the acoustics in our old Paramus venue. During the concert, you will remember Dennis as he mixed the sound. He did more than just mixing – he was a cheerleader for the music and everyone who keeps the music alive. I will always remember him, and thank him, for shouting out reminders that I forgot when I was emceeing. He was a great prompter! If you stuck around after the show, you would have watched Dennis dismantle the setup and then load that equipment into the truck for the return home. I’m sure that by the end of such a long day, the equipment seemed to weigh much more.

That was the Dennis that people attending a concert might have seen. For those of us connected with the club, you saw a man that was our president for about a year, a long time board member, and an enthusiastic cheerleader for the existence of the club.

Through my radio work and love of folk music, I’ve had the pleasure of hanging around the Hurdy Gurdy since the early 80’s, but it has only been the past few years that I’ve been involved in the operations of the club. Once I became closely involved with the Hurdy Gurdy, I would arrive earlier on the night of a concert and I had the opportunity to watch Dennis at work. I learned a great deal from him. When I saw Dennis working, I was watching one of the great champions of this music. He did this back-breaking work out of a love for the music AND a love for the community that supports it. As far as I’m concerned, he never received enough thanks and recognition for everything that he gave – but I don’t think he was looking for that. I believe he received rewards when he saw an audience enjoying the concerts.

His enthusiasm for musicians was a joy to behold. I would arrive and he would ask me if I brought WFDU’s recording unit as he knew we had a good show in store. He would be found chatting with the musicians discussing music. He would recommend artists that he came across. He loved music.

Sure, a club requires a number of committed people in order to function and to sustain it. In order to be successful, the club needs at least one person like Dennis who help serve as cheerleader and set an example for the rest of us. Anyone who spent time with Dennis could not help but receive some of the passion that Dennis expressed.

With his wife Laura Munzer, they recorded a wonderful CD as the duo “Heartwood”. They were scheduled to open for Ronny Cox next spring at the Hurdy Gurdy. It breaks my heart to think that audiences will not have the pleasure of listening to his guitar work.

When the club needed him, he was there. He served as the president about 10 years ago and continued on as a board member – all in addition to his work with our sound. Dennis worked hard to support our move to Fair Lawn. I know how much he enjoyed our first show and how he was looking forward to our future at the Fair Lawn Community Center. I still cannot believe that we will not see his smiling face and share in his presence at our shows.

I also admire Dennis because he told the truth. He was not one to mince words, and he told you what was on his mind. You may not always have agreed with him, but you certainly respected him – and loved him for it. He also respected you when you dealt in kind. I remember speaking with one person who received what some people might have construed as harsh criticism from Dennis. Rather than be offended, she told me that she admired the passion that drove him to speak his mind. Anyone can do a job, but when you bring passion to your work and deliver it with such honesty, you make a good impression – and you make change and inspire others. This was a gift that Dennis was blessed with.

The Hurdy Gurdy normally presents concerts on the first Saturday of the month. During the spring, as I was booking the artists, I had noted that the first Saturday of October fell on a Columbus Day weekend. The artist that I was considering, Emily Smith, was only available on October 13th. With those two issues, I asked the board if it would be okay to have our October show on the second Saturday October 13th. Laura had mentioned that October 13th was going to be Dennis’s 60th birthday and his family was planning a party – but after thinking about it, the family decided they would celebrate the event a week early. This change would prove to have provided the last opportunity for Dennis to spend time with a gathering of his family and friends.

On Saturday October 6th, Dennis was given a wonderful party that was attended by his loving family and friends. There was music, of course. Laura told us that when they arrived home early on Sunday morning, Dennis remarked that it was the best party he ever had and it was the best day of his life. Tragically, he suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after uttering those words.

If you wrote it into a script, a director would say it was too cliché – but this is reality. Dennis left us after spending a day with those who knew him best and loved him deeply. While it was way too soon to lose such a man, there is comfort in knowing that he left with happiness and joy for life.

I also take comfort in the fact that his spirit will remain with us. He will continue to serve as an inspiration and push us forward as we work hard at the Hurdy Gurdy to perpetuate this music.

I also hope the life of Dennis Kruithof will inspire others to live with a passion and to give back to the community. Working with a club like the Hurdy Gurdy is one way to do it. Dennis also was involved with Hackensack Riverkeeper, an environmental group that is doing wonders to preserve a natural treasure in our backyards. I hope that those of you who read this note, no matter where you live, will take a moment to remember Dennis – even if you never had the honor of meeting him. Learn from his example, as those of who knew him have done. Give something back, have no regrets, and live every day to the fullest. If there is a coffeehouse or folk club near you, give them a call and ask how you can help. It may be something as simple as handing out a flyer, but your work will inspire others and you will be part of continuing a community – just as Dennis did in his lifetime.

To read more about Dennis and to share your condolences and perhaps share a memory of Dennis, please click here to visit a website that has been set up.

Dennis, thank you for the pleasure of your company. I will always remember you fondly.