On the passing of local raw foods enthusiast, Andy Hoart

Date:   6/9/2005 5:41:09 PM ( 19 y ago)

This morning I received a phone call from Deradune, a blogger here and friend of mine who lives many many miles away.

She was crying, and told me that Andy Hoart had died recently. Suicide. She did not know many details. She has written a sweet memorial for him in her blog, and it is a living, growing memorial which can be added to, so please go there if you'd like to say something in memory/celebration of Andy's spirit:

http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=67&i=78

I remember meeting Andy at Deradune's little "rowhouse" on Pearl Street back in the 80s and listening to him speak of eating raw corn. Many years later I tried eating an ear of corn raw (organic, of course!) and loved it. I've never been able to sustain a raw foods diet for more than a day or two, but know that it would benefit my health greatly if I could. But this blog narrative is not about me.

All those years ago, there are most of my memories of Andy at Deradune's.

Then, apparently, Andy moved away to California. But he returned to Colorado not too long ago.

Deradune called me a few years ago to tell me that Andy had started a raw foods business called NHU Foods. She sent me a map so I could find it.

She reminded me a few times over the next several days to go there and visit with Andy.

Eventually, I got over there. It was a delightful place. A small store, and a large, meticulously clean back production room. Andy told me enthusiastically about some classes he would be teaching about uncooked, unpasteurized foods ("never say raw" he cautioned me) and encouraged me to attend. I'm not sure if those classes ever materialized, perhaps they did. I keep myself so busy with my 40+ hour per week job and my business, I did not follow up. Not because of lack of interest, his classes actually sounded quite interesting!

He had a desk set up with a computer, in the store, for research.

He gave me samples of many delicious goodies he had available for sale at the store. I liked the carrot nut meal. The celery nut meal was great too. I went out of there my first time with several nut meals to take with me to the semi-toxic processed food wasteland that is my full-time workplace. I also bought a small bottle of his delightful watermelon juice, and later wished I had bought 2 or 3. He encouraged me to pick one free bag of either dried fruit, seeds, or nuts. I think I chose figs. Never experienced figs like those before or since.

I did not get by Andy's store a lot. It was over on the other side of town, and although this town is not really that large, that was my "excuse".

After that first visit to NHU Foods I called Deradune to let her know that Andy was looking ever eternally young, and was full of life and had a great new business with lots of potential. She said she wished she could be here, so she could go to Andy's store whenever she wanted to, and she told me I was very lucky!

Yes, but, she's been so successful at eating mostly raw foods over the years. It's an integral part of her life and her life force (chi). Not so with me. So I only visited Andy's store sporadically (sp?) after that. It was always delightful to go there. He seemed to be getting busier, and sometimes there was an employee working there and Andy was out. Then many months went by and I didn't get by NHU Foods at all.

Then, last autumn, I was so happy to see the NHU Foods sign in front of a famous building designed by the architect Haertling, just a block from a relative's house that I visit often. I walked up the block one afternoon, to say hello again. Andy was there, and explained that a friend had offered him that space, in a more visible and commercially viable section of town, and he still was renting the warehouse with the little store on the East side of town as well.

I left with two bottles of treasured watermelon juice and a celery nut meal. I got by there several more times, but then did not notice his signs anymore, and never got by the warehouse/store to find out what had happened with the new location.

Fast forward to today. News of Andy's passing. Deradune is an expert networker and connected me with Carol, another raw foods enthusiast, who called and told me of two "Rawlucks" coming up within the next week, dedicated to Andy's memory.

Carol was great to talk with, brimming with energy, and new ideas. A kindred soul.

I look forward to attending one of the Andy Hoart memorial rawlucks next week.

Shall we all take a moment to be kind to those around us while we are all here, walking the earth, animated, in our human forms? I think this would be a good idea.



 

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