Update on RustedSister

As some of you may know, one Neil Young's dearest, devoted fans -- Joann RustedSister -- recently suffered a personal tragedy.

Last month, Joann experienced a horrific tragedy in which her husband of 23 years, Tito, perished in a fire.

People have known "Rusted Sister" Joann through friendship for many years and know of her generosity, warmth, and selflessness. She's the kind of person with whom you can pick up no matter where you are in your life and she always takes you in. Some people even watched her boys grow up online and remember her as a very devoted and caring mother.

Even though she is strong and smart and taking care of things as best as she can, some of us are aware how the past few years have taken a toll on her and family financially. Losing her husband to this terrible tragedy also means losing the majority of their income. It appears that the family business that Tito managed had suffered irreversible financial consequences leaving Joann and boys in dire straights. She needs our help!

To show her our support, a family fund has been setup by several of her closest friends -- Neil Young fans from around the world. Even if you don't have much, the smallest donation will add up. If this is not possible, then please keep her and the boys in your thought and prayers as they face their grief and try to rebuild their lives.

Sympathies and donations can be mailed to:

Pichardo Family Fund
1820 Perth Amboy
Whiting, NJ 08759

We also hope that whatever we can send will raise her spirit and give her the strength, courage, and support she has shown so many others all these years.

Feel free to drop her line at rustedsister@comcast And thanks for showing your care and sharing your prayers for her and her family.

We recently received an update letting us know that Joann and her family are bravely moving through their grief over their tragic loss and appreciated the sympathies and condolences that people shared with them.

Lastly, we've run into Joann a number of times over the years at Neil concerts. Once, we were seated a few rows apart during a show with everybody sitting while Neil rocked out. Then we stood up and Joann started dancing around and before we knew it everyone in the place was up on their feet. That's Joann for you.

But, one of our fondest memories was at the 2004 Greendale tour's 3 night stand at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. We were up front in the pit with Joann and after the show she was handing out these "Free Jed Green" cards to everyone around us! A lot of folks just looked at the cards with a puzzled look on their face. ;) It was her little campaign to help get Jed released from jail, which was kinda funny given his circumstances. A very Joann type type of memory that we'll always cherish.

We're sure folks have many more stories of meeting up with Joann on the road with Neil.

In Sympathy for the Pichardo Family,
Thrasher & Thrashette

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