Joni and I had the good fortune in the fall 2002 to visit the Maloof Historical Residence, garden and workshop in Alta Loma, CA and to meet with the famous woodworking master. In 2009, at the age of 93, Sam Maloof died and tributes poured in from all over the world. Fine Wood Working published mine Online with the title “Don’t Do What I Do.” This is what I wrote:
“It is with great sadness that the world learned of Sam Maloof’s death. I still remember the first time I met him at a workshop many years ago. During the session, he demonstrated how to shape the arm of his traditional rocking chair using the bandsaw. I’ll never forget his warning: “do not do what I do, it is very dangerous”!
Well that is exactly what inspired me and soon I was in my workshop shunning his admonition and using the bandsaw “like a pencil” to shape my first rocking chair arm a la Maloof. As I worked, I kept repeating “do not do what I do” as I concentrated on the task at hand In the years to come, I purchased every book, article, and video available. Each and every one added to that initial inspiration and when I attended his 50th year retrospective at the Renwick in Washington, D.C., in 2001, I was simply amazed to see before me what he had accomplished.
It was then that I decided that someday I had to visit his historic residence. When, two years later, my wife and I visited Alta Loma, we felt like we were in woodworker’s heaven, a place where Sam will now reside for eternity. After taking the docent-led tour, we moved on to the bookstore because I wanted to purchase a clean copy of “Sam Maloof: Woodworker”—my copy was showing the ravages of time and use. When the attendant asked if I would like Sam to sign it, I didn’t hesitate even though I had never ever collected a single autograph. When asked to provide my address, I also included a short note of appreciation for his inspiration. Then it was time to leave.
As we proceeded to walk up the path toward our car, we heard someone calling my name. As I turned around, Roz Bock, Sam’s business manager, was asking us to come back to meet him in his office. After talking with us, he asked Roz to take us on a tour of his storage sheds as well as his private residence and gardens. I’m sure I must have been hyperventilating. After seeing the entire house, we returned to the office and then Sam took us to his workshop, introduced us to his colleagues, and stood for a picture with me beside a rocking chair he was in the process of completing.
His kindness and graciousness that day is something we will never forget. His signature piece, of course, bears the fingerprint of the finest woodworker to have graced our time. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then every time woodworkers copy the works of Sam Maloof, they pay tribute to this genius of design and craftsmanship. While known for his wonderful works of art, his humility, humanity and willingness to share his knowledge will always stand as part of his living legacy. “
(Fred Schock July 13, 2009)