Tragic Loss to the American Pipe Smoking Community

[1OldGI]

I recently learned that a good friend of mine, Bob Runowski had passed away. If you're American and a fan of Cornell and Diehl Pipe Tobaccos (I happen to be both) you'll recognize Bob's name. For many years he blended for Cornell and Diehl. He was a huge advocate of a pipe tobacco genre known to many as Codger Burley. Bob's blends were essentially built around re-creating those classic American tobaccos of the pipesmoking hay day of the 40's and 50's. The term Codger Burley is in fact a term I myself coined. These were the tobaccos that the old codgers of my youth smoked seemingly nonstop (Prince Albert, Half and Half, Edgeworth Ready Rubbed, Five Brothers, etc.) Bob was indeed responsible for numerous fantastic Cornell and Diehl blends including my all time favorite, Old Joe Krantz (which was named after his maternal grandfather.)

Aside from being a fellow pipe and tobacco enthusiast, Bob and I were very good friends. I spoke to him on the phone often and we discussed everything from Pipes to politics, tobacco to classic literature and music. I called him this evening because it had been a while and his wife told me he had passed away. Rest in piece my good friend, I'm sure you're in heaven even as we speak with a bottomless pipe full of Edgeworth Ready Rubbed.

[jhenry]

1OldGI,

So sorry to hear about the passing of your friend and fellow pipe tobacco enthusiast, Bob Runowski.

I'm sure that he will be sorely missed.

[JimmyHAD]

I didn't know him but I believe I've read his name before. Probably in reference to his association with C&D. Condolences for the loss of your friend from an old Half & Half smoker.

[aircoder]

I found out about local Philly pipe meeting, I lit a bowl of Billy bud in his memory

[lz6]

Sorry for the loss of your friend 1OldGI, may Bob rest in eternal peace.

[1OldGI]

I found out about local Philly pipe meeting, I lit a bowl of Billy bud in his memory

Well played! Billy Budd is another favorite. Thick codgerish, cigary goodness and all the vitamin N a growing boy needs. His wife said that lots of his "pipe buddies" had called to inquire about Bob including many of the guys in his local club in Philly. I had no idea he had died and when I asked to speak to Bob, her voice cracked a little when she told me he had passed away. That was kind of awkward and I felt like kind of a tool but as far as I knew he was still living.