From Newsgroup: rec.music.filk

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/08/08/ozzie-osband-the-father-of-brevards-321-countdown-area-code-dies-in-titusville-florida/70548478007/

I just came across this news article from last year saying that Ozzie
passed away last year, on August 6, 2023, at age 72. It says he died in
his sleep but doesn't say anything more about the medical cause.

I knew him from NYUSFS in the 1980s or thereabouts. Then I moved to
California and heard indirectly that Ozzie had moved to Florida, but I
lost track of him. His name came up in a discussion yesterday and I
tried a web search to look for his contact info. Unfortunately I found
the above-linked obit instead. Apparently in Florida, he lived in
Titusville (home of the Cape Canaveral space center) and became a
regular personality and commentator at the Cape, doing other space stuff
as well.

His claim to fame in the obit is that in 1998, he proposed that
Titusville split off from the 407 (Orlando) area code to a new 321 area
code. I don't know whether the split was due anyway, but his genius
suggestion of 321 as the new area code for the home of rocket countdowns
was embraced by officials and the change took place in November 1999.
He managed to get the phone number 3-2-1 LIFTOFF for his personal cell
phone. I didn't know the 321 area code story til seeing it in the obit.

I seem to remember that his Slan-shack apartment in NYC before he moved
also had an interesting phone number, but it can't have been indelibly memorable, since I no longer remember what it was.

Here is a filksong of his that I do remember, to the tune of "Hush,
Little Baby" aka the Mockingbird song:

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Daddy's gonna buy you a Thunderbird.

But if that isn't your kind of car,
Daddy's gonna buy you a Jag-u-ar.

If that Jaguar offends,
Daddy's gonna buy you a Mercedes-Benz.

And if that Mercedes isn't your choice,
Daddy's gonna buy you a new Rolls-Royce.

If you don't like the Rolls, then we'd better have a talk...
'Cause after that, baby, you can damn well walk!

He also wrote "Whatever Became of Tom Lehrer", which was published in
the second edition NESFA hymnal, my copy of which is long gone. This
was the topic of this discussion that got me looking for him.

Does anyone here have the lyrics to that song? Thanks.

RIP Ozzie, you are missed.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.filk

On 5/22/24 7:46 PM, Paul Rubin wrote:

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/08/08/ozzie-osband-the-father-of-brevards-321-countdown-area-code-dies-in-titusville-florida/70548478007/

I just came across this news article from last year saying that Ozzie
passed away last year, on August 6, 2023, at age 72. It says he died in
his sleep but doesn't say anything more about the medical cause.

Good to see there's still some life in this newsgroup, even if it's an obituary.

Here is a filksong of his that I do remember, to the tune of "Hush,
Little Baby" aka the Mockingbird song:

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Daddy's gonna buy you a Thunderbird.

But if that isn't your kind of car,
Daddy's gonna buy you a Jag-u-ar.

That works only with some regional pronunciations. Around my area,
"Jaguar" is always pronounced "jag-wahr." I've also heard "jag-wire."

He also wrote "Whatever Became of Tom Lehrer", which was published in
the second edition NESFA hymnal, my copy of which is long gone. This
was the topic of this discussion that got me looking for him.

Does anyone here have the lyrics to that song? Thanks.

While I doubt anyone would complain, I think we have a policy here of
not posting copyrighted material without permission. If you're
interested, I could dig out my NESFA Hymnal and email you the lyrics.
Let me know.
--
Gary McGath http://www.mcgath.com

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.filk

Gary McGath <garym@mcgath.com> writes:

Around my area, "Jaguar" is always pronounced "jag-wahr." I've also
heard "jag-wire."

Right, I added the hyphens to indicate the diction used in the song.
It's light verse so it should be ok to do stuff like that. ;)

If you're interested, I could dig out my NESFA Hymnal and email you
the lyrics. Let me know.

Thanks, I'd appreciate that. I think you have my address, but otherwise
I can send it to you. A phone snapshot of the page is fine, no need to transcribe the lyrics.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.filk

On 5/23/24 6:56 PM, Paul Rubin wrote:

Gary McGath <garym@mcgath.com> writes:

Around my area, "Jaguar" is always pronounced "jag-wahr." I've also
heard "jag-wire."

Right, I added the hyphens to indicate the diction used in the song.
It's light verse so it should be ok to do stuff like that. ;)

If you're interested, I could dig out my NESFA Hymnal and email you
the lyrics. Let me know.

Thanks, I'd appreciate that. I think you have my address, but otherwise
I can send it to you. A phone snapshot of the page is fine, no need to transcribe the lyrics.

Sent, hopefully to the right address. If you don't receive anything,
drop me a note from your preferred address.
--
Gary McGath http://www.mcgath.com

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.filk

Gary McGath <garym@mcgath.com> writes:

Sent, hopefully to the right address. If you don't receive anything,
drop me a note from your preferred address.

Received, thanks! The request came up because of this:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/22/my-songs-spread-like-herpes-why-did-satirical-genius-tom-lehrer-swap-worldwide-fame-for-obscurity
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.filk

In article <875xv5z9zb.fsf@nightsong.com>,
Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> wrote: >https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/08/08/ozzie-osband-the-father-of-brevards-321-countdown-area-code-dies-in-titusville-florida/70548478007/

I just came across this news article from last year saying that Ozzie
passed away last year, on August 6, 2023, at age 72. It says he died in
his sleep but doesn't say anything more about the medical cause.

I knew him from NYUSFS in the 1980s or thereabouts.

I encountered him briefly back at one of the early West
Coast Computer Faires, when he was known as Cheshire
Catayst in phone phreaking circles.
--
Mike Van Pelt | "I don't advise it unless you're nuts."
mvp at calweb.com | -- Ray Wilkinson, after riding out Hurricane
KE6BVH | Ike on Surfside Beach in Galveston
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.filk

Mike Van Pelt <usenet@mikevanpelt.com> writes:

I encountered him briefly back at one of the early West Coast Computer Faires, when he was known as Cheshire Catayst in phone phreaking
circles.

Yes, he also published some telecom-related articles under the (not
secret) pseudonym "Richard Cheshire".
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2