October 19th, 2026

Dear Friends,

    The birthday month continues though I may have overdone it a bit. On Monday and Tuesday Julie and I traveled around the Finger Lakes going to Seneca Falls and visiting the National Women’s Museum. On Tuesday, we strolled all around the southern end of Seneca Lake exploring the beautiful town of Watkins Glen. Perhaps it was from lifting the scooter in and out of the car several times, but I’ve done something to my shoulder that makes it a little bit difficult to get around. This may curtail my activity this week, but we still have some good plans. My old high school friend Bob Hogan is planning on spending some time here so we’re looking forward to showing him around. It promises to be a beautiful week with sunny skies, crisp temperatures, and cold nights. The leaves are just breathtaking so I’ve included a few pictures in for your enjoyment.

   On a more somber note, we received a message that our good friend, Douglas Unger… artist, musician, and the most talented banjo maker I have ever met, has left the stage. Doug’s "day job" was professor of Art at Kent State University and his paintings are acclaimed worldwide. However, his true love was always the delicate art of engraving mother of pearl in banjos. In that respect he was the greatest that ever lived….in my opinion, even surpassing the work of Iccilio Consalvi…..the master whose work for the A.C. Fairbanks company set the standard 100 years ago. Our relationship goes back over 40 years and he produced the greatest banjo I ever owned, which bears my name. Sadly, I sold it during a tough financial time, but it was always the best banjo I had ever owned. Doug and I were sitting in the living room of our old house on East Avenue in Rochester some 30 years ago. He remarked how beautiful the carvings were in the fireplace. The massive oak column actually had a carved "tree of life" on the face and the cornices of the same column were carved as leaves. He looked at it and turned to me and said I could make a banjo like that! Three months later he showed up at my door with the most exquisite instrument I’ve ever owned. Oh how I wished I had a little more time to tell him how much I loved him. He is an American treasure.

With peace,

John Bernunzio.

High above Keuka Lake 

From the foot of Keuka Lake in the village of Hammondsport

Seneca Harbor at the foot of Seneca Lake is a beautiful little park in the town of Watkins Glen

The charming village of Seneca Falls…. Often consider the inspirational setting for the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, and every winter they have a party to celebrate it.

Wheeling into my 80s