Regulars of the Texas Lonestar Bar in Washington Square gathered to attend funeral services for George Pipas who died in Bangkok last week. George was a fixture in Bangkok expat circles; part of the fabric. At age 84 years old he came to the bar every day for lunch and held court. George had been on Normandy Beach on D-Day; and he’d been to many other places afterwards. He was a genuine character, someone who looked after his friends, and had lived long enough to see major changes in the world. He knew back in December that he had a death sentence. He just got on with his life and never asked for sympathy.
At 9.00 a.m., Catholic funeral services were held at the Church of the Holy Redeemer on Soi Ruam Rudee, and following those services the body was moved to a Buddhist wat for cremation. The local V.FW. Club sent representatives who performed a service for George at the wat.
As a recording of Taps played at the Wat, one could but hear George’s voice, in that throaty gurgle of emotion shouting, “Will someone change that goddamn music.”
The Risk of Infidelity Index was co-dedicated to George who was both a friend and an inspiration for the Calvino series.
Commenti