Al Stiefel of RMAF Has Passed Away


Hello All,

As I am sure that some of you have as well, I just received an email stating that Al Stiefel, the force behind the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest has passed away. I just spoke with him yesterday morning.

I am including below the text of the email that I received. If you can, please make a donation to one of Al's charities in his name, and please be sure to honor the request to leave the family alone for the next couple of weeks.

Al's contributions to high end audio are evident to anyone who has attended the show in Denver. It is always a blow when someone in the hobby like this is lost.

Jim Pendleton
Osage Audio Products, LLC

We at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest mourn the sudden loss of co-founder Al Stiefel. A dynamic presence in the industry, Al passed away on January 27, 2009.

In honor of Al's passion for music and audio technology, the 2009 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest will go on as scheduled under the direction of Al's wife, Marjorie Baumert, with guidance from an advisory board, the Colorado Audio Society, and friends. To ensure the stability of this popular and growing event, the hotel, shipper and staff remain the same as in past years.

We understand that Al and Marjorie have touched many lives, but request that expressions of sympathy exclude telephone calls. Office operations will resume in mid-February.

For those many friends in the Colorado area, a memorial open house will be held at the family home from 2-4pm on Saturday, January 31st. There will be no service, but rather this gathering will be a celebration of Al's life.

Memorial gifts in honor of Al Stiefel may be made to:

Swallow Hill Music Association
71 East Yale Avenue
Denver, CO 80210

OR

Center for Hearing & Speech & Language
4280 Hale Parkway
Denver, CO 80220
jependleton
This is very sad news and Al will be missed by all. I first met Al via Audiogon. I bought the Vibraplane he listed when he first ordered the Walket TT. He found that I lived only a few miles away from him and he offered to help me get it to my house and set up. He was the first person to let me know about the Colorado Audio Society through which I have had the opportunity to make many audio friends. My heart goes out to Marjorie and the rest of the family during this difficult time.
I only had the pleasure of chatting briefly with Al at last year's RMAF. The news makes me think of all of the people from around the country I've met at RMAF and the friendships I've made. In fact when I fly clear across the country next month, I'm getting together with a "RMAF buddy". I'm certain my experience is shared by thousands of other audiophiles. I've heard Mike Lavigne observe that "one of the great things about this hobby is you have friends all over the country." The RMAF is certainly the embodiment of that idea and a great legacy to our community.
I too just learned of this great loss to the audio community. Al and Marjorie have transformed RMAF into a bright spot on the Audio Show calendar and this is no small feat.

I know Al and Marjorie only through my association with RMAF and our exhibiting there since day one. Al always had a smile and a good word for me and his passion for Audio and this event were always obvious. Without the passion, dedication and hard work of Al and Marjorie, this great event for the audio community would not exist.

This is obviously sudden and my heart and prayers are with Marjorie and family.

This next RMAF will not be the same without him, and I encourage everyone to take time to tell Marjorie how much her contribution is appreciated and to help the entire RMAF team out.

Sincerely,

Dan Wright
ModWright Instruments Inc.
I am so shocked by the news, Al seemed so energetic at THE Show in Las Vegas, as he went around trying to sell rooms for the RMAF, while we were still trying to make it through the current show. He laughed and said what better time to sell rooms for the next show. I send my best to Marjorie sending my prayers and thoughts during this sad time.