From Murray

My name is Murray Hertz and I doubt that many of John’s family still remember me, but John and I go back to our younger days in Las Vegas in the ‘50s.  John was one year older than me and married to Pat at the time. I remember his daughter, Lorenne who was a child at the time.  He had a small print shop in Las Vegas and he was printing a tiny TV guide for someone who could not pay the printing bill.  John took over the guide in exchange for the past due printing bill and somehow came into contact with me.  He said that if I wanted to take over the guide, he would give it to me, gratis as I would let him be the printer and pay him on a regular basis

I made the deal and the guide was called “TV Log”.  It became successful and we kept our share of the bargain for many years until John decided to leave Las Vegas and move to California.  He continued to print it in California and later in Reno.  He shipped it to me weekly until such time that he decided he no longer wanted to handle it.

John and I spent many hours drinking cheap, but good wine, at his kitchen table in Las Vegas. Together we had a lot of fun trying to solve the problems of the world.  He was one of the brightest and most unusual guys I had ever known.  We always had a great respect for each other.  Later, after I married Diane, she became friends with his then new wife, Allene.  Diane and I would often visit the Lodi’s in both Las Vegas and later in Reno.

I didn’t see much of John after that, but periodically I would hear from him in such places like Reno and Hawaii, etc.  He would show up in Las Vegas once in a while, contact me and we would get together and re-hash the “good ole days” in Las Vegas.  In recent years, I received emails from John bringing me up to date on his thoughts and ideas

Our family’s success with the TV Log, which later became “What’s on in Las Vegas” magazine and eventually grew to be the largest, most successful publication of its kind in the state of Nevada, was directly due to John Lodi’s generous offer to me during those early and difficult times in Las Vegas

For that, Diane, our three daughters and I will always feel indebted to John for helping us get a start on what would eventually become a successful family business.

We will miss him.  There will always be a special place in my heart for John.  He is a permanent part of my fond and loving memories.

MURRAY HERTZ

MANILA, PHILIPPINES