Andy Juhl (middle, with Dave H. and Chris H.)

Andy was diagnosed with brain cancer in March 2009 and the disease was not only untreatable but spread quickly.  Our fellow shot collector and dear friend, Andy, passed away on Wednesday, July 7. 

This page is a small tribute to him.  Many of us have traded with Andy as well as met him at Hard Rock Cafe events.  He was a terrific person - always friendly and so much fun to hang around. He never needed much encouragement to share a drink and a laugh.  He was greatly missed at the past shot glass event in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and as news of his illness was shared, we gave several toasts to him and told stories of our meetings with him.  Below are a few words from some collectors as well as photos of Andy.  If you would like to add a photo or a tribute, please email:  webmaster@hrcshots.com and it will be added to this page.  This page is in progress of updates, so please check back over the coming weeks.

Cheers Andy!  You will be missed.

George S.:

As we journey through life, we meet many people. Some are just in passing, maybe a quick "hello" and "nice to meet you." And you never see them again. Others you meet, strike up a conversation, and find out you hit it off right away. You just know that you have made a real friend. Andy Juhl was one of those for me. We connected right away. We had long conversations about a variety of things and found we thought alike. We looked forward to seeing each other at Shot events or pin events. He invited me to stay at his condo in FL many times. He was always ready to pick me up shots at the FL cafes. Always willing to help others. That's Andy. When there were hurricanes near his home, I always checked in with him to see how he was doing. One time he joked that all was fine except for the 21 inches of rain in the street! That was Andy, making a joke out of a bad situation. I was shocked to find out that he was ill. I thought it odd that he hadn't replied to my calls or emails. I was looking forward to seeing him at this year's Shot event and having some beers with him. We did have a few toasts in his honor but it was not the same without him.

Rest in Peace, my good friend. We all miss you.

JoAnn F.:

For those that know me, I am a woman of very few words, so it has taken me this long to say anything about Andy. I am still very heartbroken over
losing this dear friend. I could not get over the fact that he was so ill.  And before you know it he is gone, so quickly. I was relieved that he
didn't have to suffer long but I guess I was hoping for a miracle of some sort.

I first met Andy in person at Dick Pruden's pre-party in Mason in 2006. Andy was one of the people that Dick had invited to spend the night
in his home, along with my husband, Larry and I. We had hit it off right away. Andy made such an impression on both Larry and I. I thought, "What a
great guy!"

He always went out of his way to make sure you got a shot glass if he was going to be at an event or HR location. We kept in touch regularly.
"I will miss you, Andy! You have made such an impact on me in the short time I have known you. I cannot believe you are gone but you won't be
forgotten. We will meet up again someday." 

"A toast to you in your honor!!!"
 

Lois M.:

I first met Andy in January 200? at a Pin event.  He came that night, talked to you, got what he needed, then left.  Then he was back again the next day.  He would say, "Did you see so and so last night?  I didn't get to see them."

That's Andy, wanting to make sure he got to see anyone he emailed, traded or had a brief encounter with.

Andy collected way more than me, but when we were at the HRC Hollywood FL January 2008, he sold me one the extra shot glass he bought at the HRH. I was bummed that after my 5 hr driving trip they were out of the black tattoo glasses. I didn't know during my "whining", he had bought them out - the few they had. Without hesitation, he asked me to walk to his car with him and he pulled out a glass for me, and sold to me at sticker value. He had said, "I didn't know I bought one you needed - here you go".

That was Andy - always asking if I needed any glasses and asking what I had to trade. You see, he asked what I needed before mentioning what he was looking for.

Last November Andy came up to my house the day before the Jaguars/Green Bay Football game.  I believe we were up to 1 am, knowing we had to get some sleep and get up to pack for tailgating at 8 am. We talked shots, people, football, Florida, Gators, New Orleans, Chicago, etc. I was thrilled he was there for the Jags and not the Packers. We had a great time tailgating - waiting for his son to show up from Atlanta.  It was fun seeing a collector outside of the Hard Rock world. Normally I only see you all when we are doing shot stuff - nothing else.  Reminds me that all our friendships started with collecting, but it doesn't just have to be about collecting. Andy reminded me of that.

God speed, Andy!  We'll continue talking shots someday.

Chris H.:

Andy was a true friend, I met him first at the shot event in 2005, nice guy!  I told him I'll travel to Florida a month later, he invited me to be his guest. Said so, done so. Andy and Suzie gave me a warm welcome at their home, and I have so many good memories, like visiting HRCs in Orlando and Tampa, the Ron Jon surf shop in Cocoa Beach, swimming in the pool with their dog Roxy, or enjoying my first airboat ride in the swamps, to be followed by a fried alligator meal. We've got up early morning to see the sunset at the beach and the launch of the Mars Reconaissance Orbiter at Cape Canaveral. We share the same kind of humor and always had a lot to laugh.

Of course we kept on trading shot glasses the following years... It was great to meet again in 2007: he came down to Miami and we took the thriller racing boat to get a seaside view of the city. 2008 was special:  we've met again at the New Orleans / Biloxi shot event. We hung out at Bourbon St. in the evening, smoked a cigar and enjoyed being with friends. Rain couldn't stop us from watching Huey Lewis in concert. Oh yeah, Biloxi was fun too. And now... it makes me so sad knowing that this was the last time to have met him in person. A great friend's gone. Miss you Andy!

Denise B.:

I first met Andy at the Herndon Pre-Party (Floyd's place) before the DC and Baltimore shot events.  We were chatty right away as he confessed that he'd come to check out the group but had a back up plan to bail if we were "crazy" by leaving to visit with his daughter.  I had done a similar strategy in Toronto when I first attended a shot event - had friends to visit if the group turned out to be "nutters".   So we shared a laugh and hung out a lot over the course of the weekend.  I knew that he had deemed us worthy of his time when his daughter, Laura, swung by to pick him up and he made her stay for the rest of the night and even come out to Baltimore. 

From that point on I kept in touch with Andy and we did a lot of trading over the years.  We met up again in Indianapolis and Louisville and then again in New Orleans and Biloxi, where he also brought his wife Suzi.  In New Orleans we spent time at the aquarium and Bourbon street (of course).  In Biloxi, we lost money on the slots together (or at least Andy watched Suzi and I lose every other pull).  I had a lot of fun that event and am so glad I got to spend time with him.

I know that Andy always laughed about his house in Florida with all the hurricanes.  When tough weather would make the news I'd always email to find out if him and his family were ok.  Often the reply came days later with some sort of joke about candle lit dinners or beach front property (any year now!).   His vacation home always seemed to take a beating.  Yet, he always found humor in it.

He was a family man, very proud of his children.  He bragged about his grandson after seeing him for the first time at Christmas in 2007 (he was just a few months old).  He told stories of being the pitcrew for his son - he often ended emails with off to the races!!  When we went to New Orleans he talked about his hero, his fire fighting son.  He really was just so full of life, surrounded by a great family.

Like everyone that learned of Andy's diagnosis, I was very saddened and shocked by the news.  Everything happened so fast and all I can say now is that I'll miss him.  He was a good friend and a very happy and caring person.  Salue Andy!

Julie B.:

Andy Juhl - not just another shot collector but someone I called a dear friend.  I first met Andy in person at Floyd's Pre-Party and it didn't take long for Andy to fit right in with everyone.  Andy had such a warm and giving personality and there is nothing he wouldn't do for his friends.  Andy's son is a firefighter and since he knew of my obsession with firemen he took it upon himself to send me some firefighter related stuff.   One of the things that touched me the most was a cup that he sent me from Firehouse Subs.  They did a heroes cup campaign and Andy's son was one of the heroes nominated after his heroic actions and he was one of the heroes that got his own cup.  Andy was so proud of him and told me over and over what a hero his son was.  Andy, my friend, you are also a hero.  You fought this demon until the bitter end and now you are resting peacefully in heaven, in the arms of the angels.  I'm so glad I had the pleasure of seeing Andy one last time and finally getting to meet his beloved Suzie in New Orleans last July.  You are such a wonderful family and please know that you and your family will forever be a part of our Hard Rock family.

Andy, my friend, may you rest in peace - you will forever be in our hearts.

Obituary:

Andrew Juhl, Jr. - Melbourne - Andrew Juhl, Jr., 62, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Andy was born and raised in the Southside of Chicago and moved to Melbourne in 1980. He was a former owner of Juhl Realty and a wholesale printer. He was a loving, caring, devoted, honest man who cherished his family and eight grandchildren. He left behind his wife, Susan Perry-Juhl; daughter, Laura (Brian) Ramsey; son, Andrew R. (Rae) Juhl; son, Kevin (Tia) Reck; daughter, Kristine Anderson Reck; eight grandchildren and sister, Doris Haugan. A sincere thank you to all Vitas Hospice staff that cared for Andy. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 17, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Brownlie-Maxwell Chapel, 1010 E. Palmetto Ave. Melbourne, FL 32901. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund, 4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd, Ste 250, Melbourne, FL 32934. www.brownliemaxwell.com. 

Pictures are from various shot events dating from 2005 - 2008.