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I used to work with Buddy Rubbish when he hosted a stand-up comedy show
in Northampton, Massachusetts. His death was sudden. I hadn't spoking to
him in years and I regret it all now. After you read this, go call an
old friend and catch up.

-Amanda

Louis G. Roscher(1952 - 2008)

Published: Saturday, April 19, 2008

''Life does not cease to be funny when people die just as it does not
cease to be serious when people laugh'' -- George Bernard Shaw

Lou Roscher -- known by the stage name ''Buddy Rubbish'' throughout the
known world (and some parts of New Jersey) -- radio disc jockey, comedy
impresario, and stage performer, died (or use your own euphemism) from
complications after emergency heart surgery on Friday, April 11. He was
56 (roughly 8 dog years). Since Buddy had perfect timing, he must have
known something we don't know. A vast circle of friends, fans and irate
creditors are mourning his passing. In retrospect, he would likely be
extremely annoyed at not having written his own obituary.

Born and raised on Long Island, Buddy took a circuitous path to his
final home in Turners Falls. A natural raconteur, he peddled frozen
shrimp on the side of the road, tended bar from Florida to New
Hampshire, organized shows, worked at several radio stations, and
performed wherever and whenever he could, occasionally leaving common
sense by the wayside. Through the decades he hosted comedy and musical
events, put on benefits (his generosity is well known), cobbled together
video presentations, wrote for a number of publications, played chess
with opponents in local clubs and online around the world, and was one
of the stalwarts of the Northampton Arts Council's Transperformance
series, appearing as everyone from Yogi Berra to Joan Baez.

Though, oddly, never as Madonna.

Buddy (then in the guise of Lou) came to the Pioneer Valley in the late
1970s via the Renaissance Community. Soon after, he and his partner,
Virginia Simpson, opened The Separate Entrance, a local watering hole,
in South Deerfield. After being mentored in comedy by the mild mannered
Ed Vadas, he started The Comedy Crunch, which provided a springboard for
many standup comics and musicians. After leaving the Hot-L, The Comedy
Crunch moved to the Iron Horse, where it provided the Pioneer Valley
with many more years of uproarious and often embarrassing open mic comedy.

In 1984, the comedy/music duo of Buddy Rubbish and Bobby Darling (area
musician Joe Lada) began broadcasting the Oldies Show on WRSI, then in
Greenfield. Their program was a three-ring circus of entertainment,
being unable to fit a fourth ring into the studio due to physical
constraints.

Well-versed in popular and esoteric music of the 1950s and 60s, they
presented an eclectic mix of well-known and obscure songs, accompanied
by pre-recorded and live comedy bits. The centerpiece of the show was
the second-floor Drive-Up Window on the alley dubbed ''Memory Lane''
(the name actually written by Buddy's attorney, Sandy Staub). Requests
were taken from honking motorists in the alley, and prizes (records,
candy, ''genuine Mohawk Dum-dum Arrowheads'' a/k/a, rocks, along with
other odd paraphernalia) were lowered down to his grateful and
often-inebriated fans. The show ran for many years until Buddy took over
the morning show on the station. He later worked on WRNX, WGAM, and WPVQ.

After his illustrious radio career, he returned to bartending in many
valley bars and restaurants. While never likely to win the ''employee of
the month'' award (see Red Sox below), he was a master behind the bar;
making new acquaintances, entertaining patrons, and always ready to
dispense a ''generous pour'' when friends stopped by.

It is almost 20 years since Buddy scored an invitation to travel with
one-time Yankees manager Stump Merrill and a slew of American
ballplayers to teach baseball to the Russians. There is conjecture that
this trip led to the ultimate breakup of the Soviet Union.

Buddy went to Woodstock, got there late, and left after one act.

Often overlooked and forgotten (for obvious reasons to those who heard
them), Buddy was lead singer for the (thankfully) ephemeral Buddy
Rubbish and the Deertones.

Buddy was an important contributor to the seminal cartoon-and-humor
magazine Scat, based in Northampton. He hoped to take Scat to a national
audience, but his overtures were rebuffed. He later learned that they
were never buffed in the first place.

Though raised on the Mets, Buddy became as passionate a Red Sox fan as
any Boston Townie. Let it be known that he never let work interfere with
his love for the game. He was also an ever-enthusiastic fan of the New
England Patriots, describing himself as ''numb'' after the recent Super
Bowl loss.

Buddy was an avid herbalist.

One of Buddy's enduring hopes was that his birthday, January 23, 1952,
would become a national holiday, or at least a recognizable occasion,
like National Petulance Day. He ultimately conceded that at his death he
would be satisfied to have all city buses draped in black bunting.

Although Buddy was a talented improvisor, song and comedy writer, and
spontaneous wit, his greatest creations were his beloved children:
Jackson Louis (8) and Lily Eloise Roscher (6). We would be remiss here
to not include his co-producer, Ellen DeBruyn, without whom the
production would have been unmanageable.

Buddy¹s parents and sister predeceased him, as did his famous sketch
character Billy the Bat.

In lieu of memorial services, raucous celebrations of Buddy's life will
be held on May 18 at the Northampton Unitarian Church and the
Northampton Center For The Arts.

Donations may be made to Buddy's Kids at any of the 18 PeoplesBank
branches in the Valley.