The Wheezer Society

Time Capsule

It seems that dealing with the death of a close friend makes you somewhat nostalgic. I've been reviewing some of artwork produced by neil, Steve and myself back in the No-Jive Comix days (pretty much anything pre-1985). He's a sample from sitting in Mr Richard's psychology class back at Hilhi in 1973.
I will find some more stuff from Neil to share.

Neil Sterett 1955 - 2009

As Jay mentioned so eloquently as few days ago, Wheezer Society member, frequent contributor and good friend Neil Sterett passed away last Monday. The Wheezers were lucky enough to have know Neil since we were around 16 years old. Almost 40 years.

Besides all the other things we have in common, everyone could agree that could make us laugh. And I don't mean chuckle. I mean Neil could get us laughing so hard where we'd run out of breath and start choking and wheezing (hence, The Wheezer Society). Whether it was a comment on his latest run in with a Best Buy employee, or the non-PC joke about the latest disaster, Neil's unique observations and view of the world could have anyone of us in wheezing in an instant.



Around Thanksgiving a few years back, Jay wrote, "After reading some of your recent mail, let me say belatedly, that I have always bragged over the years about my acquaintance with you Gentlemen, whether it be about Steve's artistic abilities, Kneel's art and acid humor, Scott acting and drawing, Mike's acting/directing, Tom's driving (!), Byers' photography, Phillips' humor, et-al...it has been nothing but a pleasure knowing you all."

Neil quickly responded, "That is very well said Jay. I hope all of you will have a fun Thanksgiving and that your white meat gets along with your dark meat this year. It would be great to all get together prior to Christmas. Again Jay, a very fine way to put in to words what we all feel about our hideously talented crew of assassins." Only could Neil could bring us back to earth from Jay's caring sentiments.

Over the next few months, as the impact of losing Neil becomes more real, all of us will be sharing our thoughts, remembrances, photos, videos and illustrations. Because our friendships have endured all these years (as Neil called it a "rubber band of brothers") in sharing, we remain a group. Even though Neil can't be here in body, he's definitely here in spirit.

Family Circle Jerk - Mommy, Look!

For more FCJ fun, visit the Family Circle Jerk website

We're Short One Wheezer Today posted by Jay Amicarella

The world is a Wheezer short today for the first time. Neil, maybe the most beloved of all the Wheezers, and definitely the funniest, is gone, and the surviving members of The Society are grieving, collectively and individually.  I remember a time when I thought anyone in their fifties was ancient.  Now, to lose a friend in this age bracket is to lose a friend way too early.  It is a burnout rather than a fade away.  I'm not ready for a world without Neil Sterett in it, and to say we are diminished is an understatement.    He was truly the Wheeze in the Wheezer Society.

My emotions have been crazily rollercoasting since I got the news, and I've been alternating crying over our loss, and wheezing over different memories of Neil that have been popping, unbidden, into my head.  I remember meeting Neil for the first time my Junior year of high school.  Scott Leverenz brought us together by bringing Neil and his current girlfriend to a party at my house in Hillsboro, Oregon.  That first meeting was inauspicious, as Neil and his girlfriend spent most of the party locked in one of our bathrooms, making out in the tub.  I didn't find out how funny he was until later, at school, when he began holding court at our lunch table, where he never failed to have us wheezing and choking all through the lunch period.  It was here that I heard for the first time his standard line "I've got another one for ya," whereupon he would launch into another comic tirade that would have us all falling out of our chairs laughing. 
His humor was generous and involving.  In our twenties, he would treat guests at my parties to elevator rides:  Neil would gather four or five at a time, stuff them into my front closet, shut the door, and for the next five to ten minutes regale them as a twisted elevator operator at a bizarre, psycho-delic department store. 

Dammit, Neil!  How the hell are we going to have parties or Wheezer get-togethers without you?  You were our drug of choice...it was like 'the real party' couldn't begin until you got there. "Where's Sterett?" was the most  often spoken line by all of us the night of a meeting of the Wheezers.  And it was like the party until you got there was just small talk, a preamble to the real festivities.  And, like a good narcotic, you never once disappointed.  You knew your role was Jester to the King(s), and you Never had an off-night.  Ah, God, I'll miss you...

He was loyal to friends and family.  He was the first guy I knew who actually had a good relationship with an older brother, in his case, Phil, another one of the funniest people I've ever met.  Phil, old friend, Neil always looked up to and admired you, not just for your wit and wisdom, but because you are one of the planet's few genuinely kind people.  God Bless You during this time of loss...

We all knew Neil battled his own personal demons when he wasn't making us wheeze,but, except for a few feeble efforts when we were able to help him ward them off, we seemed powerless to really effect a cure.  He would be broken, and we would be putting on band-aids.  We even joked, including Neil himself, about how he would be the first of us to go, but, oh Neil, not like this, like this... 

NBC Has Cloned Jay Leno

Our good Wheezer friend and high school classmate, Bryce Zabel has written and produced a comedy short featuring "Junior" Leno - a younger cloned Jay (played by Jonathan Zabel) This is a real wheezer! And yes, that's Don Most from Happy Days as "The Doc"

Best Lines From Favorite Movies- "We Were Soldiers"

Mel Gibson: "I wonder what Custer said to his men when he realized he'd led them into a massacre?"
Sam Neill: "CUSTER WAS A PUSSY!  ...You ain't..."

Old Sarge knows best in 2002's "We Were Soldiers," based on true events from the beginnings of the U.S involvement in Viet Nam.

Happy Labor Day

Happy Birthday Sergio Aragones!

(cartoon by Sergio)