John P. Collins

I bought many a record from John when he had his shop, called Orpheus, down in U. Village and had many stimulating conversations with him about what I was buying, operas to listen too and other related things. He was a well-educated, thoughtful, thought-provoking stimulating man, one who certainly added to the quality of my life years ago and shaped me into the person I've become today. I have thought of him many times over the years and wished he were still around so I could talk with him....

John was a great influence on my life; in fact, he was my first boss in my first job after graduating from college, and I suppose it was largely due to his example that I became a bookseller. When I visited him in February after not having seen him for many years, it was sad to see the suffering his infirmities were causing him, but inspiring to see that in spite of limitations and pain, that mind and spirit were as acute and enthusiastic as ever before. Hail and farewell, old friend and...