Timothy Luntzel

1972 - 2017

Timothy Bruce Luntzel

November 1, 1972 - August 27, 2017

Timothy Bruce Luntzel, a deeply beloved and admired young man who was a gifted musician and a friend to many, died peacefully from complications of ALS, at the age of 44 on August 27, 2017, surrounded by his mother Elizabeth Neumann (nee Juvet, and then Luntzel), her husband Peter G. Neumann, and Tim's brother Mark Luntzel, in Palo Alto CA.

Tim was born on November 1, 1972 in Redwood City CA. He had numerous musical colleagues beginning with his Peninsula School band Shock, the Menlo-Atherton High School Jazz Band, and his fellow students at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, all of whom remained close to him. After playing electric and double bass in Boston for several years, he and his band moved to New York City and became the Brooklyn Boogaloo Blowout. Tim toured the U.S., Europe, India, the Far East, and South America, and played with Bright Eyes, Jim Campilongo, Rosanne Cash, Rachelle Garniez, Jessie Harris, Norah Jones, Lee Ranaldo, Jenny Scheinman, Leah Siegel, Loudon Wainwright III, and many others. Tim played on two Grammy award-winning albums and one gold record.

A celebration of the release of his latest recording (The Boog at Sunny's, recorded at Sunny's in Red Hook, Brooklyn, on January 28, 2016) had long been planned for September 8, 2017 at Sunny's. That evening also became an outpouring of love for Tim -- an homage to him, his life, and his music. A second gathering followed five days later, with his band and others recreating his music. His friends expressed many thoughts on Facebook about his life and his music, including such terms as fearless, imaginative, awesome, dynamic, open-hearted, intelligent, creative, empathetic, and funny, also citing his kindness, vivacity, integrity, commitment, loyalty, and laughter. Similar accolades also referred to his love for cooking. Tim greatly enriched the lives of many people with his music and his humanity, and elevated their spirits. He will always be remembered by his family and friends.