The Passing of John Ervolino

sjm

sjm

Older and Wiser
Silver Member
One-pocket legend and great all-around player John Ervolino has passed away.

Would love to hear from those who knew him or played him. I'll lead off by sharing what I know of him and what my experiences were with him.

I first saw Ervolino play at the Golden Q poolroom in Queens, NY, in the late 1960's. He lived in Brooklyn and was known to many as Brooklyn Johnny. His best game was one-pocket, but he was `a superb straight pool player, too. Still, when he was in big action, it was nearly always in one pocket.

He spent a lot of time with his very dear friend Jersey Red at home and on the road.

Johnny moved to Las Vegas in the early 1970's but still made it back to NYC often, and in his later years, when he did, he spent much of his time at the Amsterdam Billiard Club, where I played him a few times. The most memorable thing he did in my presence was running eight and out in three consecutive racks of bank pool.

Johnny was always extremely proud of having been one of few whites welcome in all of Harlem's poolrooms in the 1940's and 1950's. In the rooms of Harlem, he became very close friends with James Evans, and with Evans' protege. Cisero Murphy.

Among the players whose games Johnny influenced was George "Ginky" SanSouci, who I saw today, and who was quite disconsolate about the sad news of Johnny's passing.

Pool lost a colorful character today.
 
sjm said:
One-pocket legend and great all-around player John Ervolino has passed away.

Would love to hear from those who knew him or played him. I'll lead off by sharing what I know of him and what my experiences were with him.

I first saw Ervolino play at the Golden Q poolroom in Queens, NY, in the late 1960's. He lived in Brooklyn and was known to many as Brooklyn Johnny. His best game was one-pocket, but he was `a superb straight pool player, too. Still, when he was in big action, it was nearly always in one pocket.

He spent a lot of time with his very dear friend Jersey Red at home and on the road.

Johnny moved to Las Vegas in the early 1970's but still made it back to NYC often, and in his later years, when he did, he spent much of his time at the Amsterdam Billiard Club, where I played him a few times. The most memorable thing he did in my presence was running eight and out in three consecutive racks of bank pool.

Johnny was always extremely proud of having been one of few whites welcome in all of Harlem's poolrooms in the 1940's and 1950's. In the rooms of Harlem, he became very close friends with James Evans, and with Evans' protege. Cisero Murphy.

Among the players whose games Johnny influenced was George "Ginky" SanSouci, who I saw today, and who was quite disconsolate about the sad news of Johnny's passing.

Pool lost a colorful character today.
Click to expand...

Wow.. may he rest in peace..

He was such a good guy.

Joe
 
sjm said:
One-pocket legend and great all-around player John Ervolino has passed away.

Would love to hear from those who knew him or played him. I'll lead off by sharing what I know of him and what my experiences were with him.

I first saw Ervolino play at the Golden Q poolroom in Queens, NY, in the late 1960's. He lived in Brooklyn and was known to many as Brooklyn Johnny. His best game was one-pocket, but he was `a superb straight pool player, too. Still, when he was in big action, it was nearly always in one pocket.

He spent a lot of time with his very dear friend Jersey Red at home and on the road.

Johnny moved to Las Vegas in the early 1970's but still made it back to NYC often, and in his later years, when he did, he spent much of his time at the Amsterdam Billiard Club, where I played him a few times. The most memorable thing he did in my presence was running eight and out in three consecutive racks of bank pool.

Johnny was always extremely proud of having been one of few whites welcome in all of Harlem's poolrooms in the 1940's and 1950's. In the rooms of Harlem, he became very close friends with James Evans, and with Evans' protege. Cisero Murphy.

Among the players whose games Johnny influenced was George "Ginky" SanSouci, who I saw today, and who was quite disconsolate about the sad news of Johnny's passing.

Pool lost a colorful character today.
Click to expand...


I have to agree. I first met Johnny E years ago. The last time i saw Johnny was at the Golden Q in Queens a couple of years ago at a Joss event, before they sold it. We knocked them around for awhile on the heated billiard table right near where the snack bar used to be. We went over to a table that had pockets and Johnny was showing me some 1 pocket outs that he had made during his heyday. He was and will always be remembered as a most colorful character that added alot of color to his road stories. let me just share 1 that might just seem familiar with some of you that knew him.
it seems that Johnny and a few friends piled into his cadillac and went on the road. It seems, as the story is told, that between the 4 or 5 guys in the car that they only had about 25 bucks between them all. but hey. this was the 60's, and as Johnny would say, that was good enough to get started. So they go on the road at first playing for only a couple of bucks a game and by the time they got to buffalo a couple of weeks later, the bankroll had grown to several thousand and they headed home happy as heck. Just a good story that he used to tell that stuck out in my mind. I hope you all enjoyed it. Rest in peace my friend and go with God's speed. You deserve it.......................................................mike
 
Very sad news. Johnny was a great player who was always willing to help me with my game. Whenever the WPBA was at Amsterdam he would invite me for breakfast at a diner on the corner (even if it was 5 p.m.!!) and I remember he always told the waitress he wanted his bacon "super crispy - I mean burnt!" :) He was quite a character and he will be missed by many. May he rest in peace.
 
Wow. What a loss. Johnny E was not only a great guy to shoot them with, he was great guy to talk with. He had some great stories of old NYC pool. He was always very friendly and helpful to younger players and would go out of his way to make you feel comfortable in his presence. Wherever he is right now, he's probably hittin' 'em pretty damn good.
 
R.I.P. Johnny

I'm sure he'll be missed by many. Most everyone that met him had to like him. With his vast knowledge of the game and his many stories of the "Old days", he could keep a crowd around him listening for long periods of time. Hit em' straight Johnny, peace.
 
What do you say in a situation like this? Were I a moneyed promoter I'd hold a memorial tournament honoring John Ervolino's life and achievements. In the chess world, memorial tournaments paying homage to legendary players are quite common. I'm afraid Ervolino is one of a dying breed. Unfortunately, his husky voice is all I knew of him from his commentary in the Sigel-Zuglan straight pool tape.
 
Man this sucks, God I loved his voice. My condolences to his daughter.

This is why what Steve Booth at onepocket.org is doing, is so so important, trying to preserve as much history and celebrate the players that REALLY make up the game we all love, guys just like Johnny Ervolino.

When we had our tournament last year we paid for a spot in the U.S.OPEN one-pocket and Larry Nevel couldn't take it so I paid him for it and tried to give it away. Mark Griffin called and asked if I would give it to someone that wanted to play but really couldn't afford it against all those young straight shootin champions but he said the guy plays a little decent and if I didn't put him he would just put him in himself. I asked him who and he tells me "I dont know if you know him but he used to play pretty good, his names Johnny Ervolino". I started laughing and didn't hesitate a second and told him "hell ya I know him and he's got the spot and he used to play a little better than pretty good".

Rest in Peace Johnny
 
Johnny knew a great player when he saw one.

I remember his comments after he played straight pool with Mika Immonen in 1999 on a table that was ridiculous-tight at chelsea Billiards in NYC. After Mika barely won, about 150 - 137, Johnny said to me "as great as that kid plays, he hasn't nearly reached his potential yet." Two years later, Immonen became world champion.

And, oh, how he loved Geroge "Ginky" SanSouci. He showed Ginky everything he could and Ginky did something with Johnny that really impressed me. Ginky knew how much it would help his one pocket game to spar with Ervolino, so he made the following game with Johnny in about 1997, knowing that Johnny could surely use a little cash. Every rack, if Ervolino won, Ginky paid him $20, if Ginky won, they broke even for that rack. Ervolino absolutely tortured Ginky that night, and Ginky probably lost about $100, which he paid happily. I remember asking Ginky for that same game....no such luck.
 
sjm said:
Johnny knew a great player when he saw one.
Dandy Reply:
He was a great player, he knew, When I first came out with my draw techniques 10 years ago Byrne said to me, You are throwing that Ervolino crap on me. I said back, he can run 100, you can't run 3, he knows, you don't have a clue. I did not copy him, great players always end up with the same solutions. For some reason our relationship went down hill from that point on. Yes, Johnny knew and I had massive respect for the man and I shall mourn his passing and light a candle. A giant of the game has left us.

"When we see clearly, the great teachings are the same." eighteenth-century Japanese Zen poet Ryokan,

"A single conversation across the table with a wise teacher is worth a month's study of books" - Chinese Proverb


:D
Click to expand...
 
sjm said:
One-pocket legend and great all-around player John Ervolino has passed away.

Would love to hear from those who knew him or played him. I'll lead off by sharing what I know of him and what my experiences were with him.

I first saw Ervolino play at the Golden Q poolroom in Queens, NY, in the late 1960's. He lived in Brooklyn and was known to many as Brooklyn Johnny. His best game was one-pocket, but he was `a superb straight pool player, too. Still, when he was in big action, it was nearly always in one pocket.

He spent a lot of time with his very dear friend Jersey Red at home and on the road.

Johnny moved to Las Vegas in the early 1970's but still made it back to NYC often, and in his later years, when he did, he spent much of his time at the Amsterdam Billiard Club, where I played him a few times. The most memorable thing he did in my presence was running eight and out in three consecutive racks of bank pool.

Johnny was always extremely proud of having been one of few whites welcome in all of Harlem's poolrooms in the 1940's and 1950's. In the rooms of Harlem, he became very close friends with James Evans, and with Evans' protege. Cisero Murphy.

Among the players whose games Johnny influenced was George "Ginky" SanSouci, who I saw today, and who was quite disconsolate about the sad news of Johnny's passing.

Pool lost a colorful character today.
Click to expand...


This is exactly the reason there needs to be a HOF that honors all the great players and the games "REAL" history. People like Johnny can't be forgotten. I mean a brick and morter place you can walk into and experiance the past players and times, not the BCA crap.
 
sjm said:
One-pocket legend and great all-around player John Ervolino has passed away.

Would love to hear from those who knew him or played him. I'll lead off by sharing what I know of him and what my experiences were with him.

I first saw Ervolino play at the Golden Q poolroom in Queens, NY, in the late 1960's. He lived in Brooklyn and was known to many as Brooklyn Johnny. His best game was one-pocket, but he was `a superb straight pool player, too. Still, when he was in big action, it was nearly always in one pocket.

He spent a lot of time with his very dear friend Jersey Red at home and on the road.

Johnny moved to Las Vegas in the early 1970's but still made it back to NYC often, and in his later years, when he did, he spent much of his time at the Amsterdam Billiard Club, where I played him a few times. The most memorable thing he did in my presence was running eight and out in three consecutive racks of bank pool.

Johnny was always extremely proud of having been one of few whites welcome in all of Harlem's poolrooms in the 1940's and 1950's. In the rooms of Harlem, he became very close friends with James Evans, and with Evans' protege. Cisero Murphy.

Among the players whose games Johnny influenced was George "Ginky" SanSouci, who I saw today, and who was quite disconsolate about the sad news of Johnny's passing.

Pool lost a colorful character today.
Click to expand...


Words can't express how saddened I am at this news.
I got to know Johnny very well in the late 90's and
we spent many a night talking over dinner. He spoke
of the old days in NYC and the players who taught
him the game, especially Abe Rosen and James Evans.
He often spoke of playing Cisero Murphy all night
long when they were both 14 or 15 years old and
already each capable of 100 ball runs.
He won the World One Pocket title in the early
70's. He also finished 4th or 5th in the 1966
straight pool championships with several 100+ runs.
The knowledge he had was incredible, I learned so
much about one pocket from him.
He will be greatly missed by me and many who
knew him.
 
I am saddened by the news.I met him for the first time in 1986/87,at Golden Q in Queens,New york and I wanted to play 8 ball for `Fish Heads`.He agreed to play. But he stalled for a while and later cancelled the deal and then played with another guy because more meat was offered by the other guy.Subsequently I ran into him few times in other places. His prefered table in Cue Club in Vegas is either 7 or 8.In last oct I saw him playing in US Open One pocket in Las Vegas.He is a legend.
May his soul rest in place.
Vagabond
 
Bobby said:
Words can't express how saddened I am at this news.
I got to know Johnny very well in the late 90's and
we spent many a night talking over dinner. He spoke
of the old days in NYC and the players who taught
him the game, especially Abe Rosen and James Evans.
He often spoke of playing Cisero Murphy all night
long when they were both 14 or 15 years old and
already each capable of 100 ball runs.
He won the World One Pocket title in the early
70's. He also finished 4th or 5th in the 1966
straight pool championships with several 100+ runs.
The knowledge he had was incredible, I learned so
much about one pocket from him.
He will be greatly missed by me and many who
knew him.
Click to expand...

Sorry to have been the one to break it to you, Bobby. I heard the news up at Amsterdam Billiard Club yesterday afternoon, and the three guys who I'd have most liked to pass it on to immiediately were you, Eric Palmer and Brian Flanagan, as I believe you guys to have been his three closest friends at the club. None of you were around, though. Though I knew Johnny for close to forty years, he was never more than an acquaintance of mine.

I'm sorry you've lost a good friend. I feel quite certain that Johnny will get free table time in the hereafter. Maybe he'll even get to match up with Rags Fitzpatrick up there. Johnny was always in awe of that one pocket legend.
 
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Very sad news indeed, I was introduced to Johnny by a very dear friend named Jim Burke, I'm guessing it was about 12-15 years ago at a tournament at Amsterdam East, where I watched Johnny repeatedly three foul his opponents in 9-Ball, it was something that has stuck in my mind ever since, he made it look so easy.
Another huge loss for the pool community.

Jim
 
Very Sorry to hear this, Johnny Ervolino made Johnston City memories for me.

What a great ambassador Johnny Ervolino was for our game. I have very fond memories of him playing and just being Johnny in Johnston City. For me, he kind of represented the East Coast at the tournament. Always a pleasure to watch and listen to. May He Rack 'Em Up, Way Up!

TY & GL
 
I always liked and respected Johnny, as a longtime friend and peer. We understood each other although we could not have had more contrasting backgrounds. His knowledge of the game was perhaps unequaled. This I would sometimes find out the hard way when he was my opponent. I never witnessed better straight pool patterns than his.
He didn’t have the easiest of lives but he coped. It’s been an honor to have known him well. We’ll all miss you, my friend.
 
Only a couple of weeks ago, I related to this group on a thread I don't remember, being asked by Johnny to play some 14.1 during the BCA's. Although I had to leave for my match, I thought the day would soon come when I had that opportunity again. I am deeply saddened by his passing. I will miss the "Velvet Fog" of pool.
 
the bottom line to johnny's passing, like all road players he passed on dead broke. just a head full of stories. and all these pros keep, the tradition alive and well. winning big money, and then drop it off to bad habits. or making bad games. nothing ever changes with pool. wake up pool players.
 
NO, YOU WAKE UP & BELLY UP & OR SHUT UP!

Nomoney said:
the bottom line to johnny's passing, like all road players he passed on dead broke. just a head full of stories. and all these pros keep, the tradition alive and well. winning big money, and then drop it off to bad habits. or making bad games. nothing ever changes with pool. wake up pool players.
Click to expand...
You say Johnny's is passing with just a head full of stories. What do you intend to pass with?
I could mention quite a few old road players who have been sucessfull in life & business, me included. I would like a chance to talk to you "Face To Face" but I know your type of scum never surfaces.
Your not worth any more of my time so just keep on being a sucker as I'm sure you have been for quite some time now. It's a bitch when you get used to loosing, ain't it?
 
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