Bud Hope, R.I.P.

In the early 1990’s, when I edited and published “Walking the Dog,” the official newsletter of the FOSSILS homebrewing and beer appreciation club, a member of the Louisville-based LAGERS club approached me and asked if he could write an article for the annual “Travel Dog” issue.

It was Bud Hope, and he wanted to share with all of us his memories of numerous beers enjoyed during a youth spent in Germany as an Army brat. It was an entertaining account of local fests, lager beers, splendid celebrations and the occasional pork knuckle, and although he never wrote anything else for me, I look back on his sole effort with considerable fondness, as it seemed to exempify the author's zest for life.

Last week, Bud died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 48. While not a beer geek in the contemporary sense, Bud was a longtime, charter member of the Louisville beer community, putting his money, his time and his energy into the LAGERS club and later into several incarnations of the BBC brewery and taproom in downtown Louisville, maintaining an upbeat, positive disposition when business wasn’t as good as it might have been.

Bud was a rock, and he’ll be missed by one and all. He was a person who I always looked forward to seeing even if we were never more than casual friends. There was something about his sense of humor, the big smile, and his delivery; I couldn’t put my finger on it, and just appreciated his unique perspective on life.

Here are the sad details, as transmitted by several people over the last two days.

HOPE , BUDDY " BUD," JR., 48, of Taylorsville, KY, passed away at his home. He was a manager at UPS. He was a member of Triangle Fraternity. He was preceded in death by his parents Donald and JoAnne Wyse. He is survived by his wife, Debra Hope, a sister, Margie Wyse; a brother, John Wyse; and a niece Megan Wyse; and by many more family members and friends. His funeral services will be on 10 a.m. Thursday at the W. G. Hardy- Valley Chapel, 10907 Dixie Hwy, with burial in Bethany Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m., Tuesday and 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

If you knew Bud, please note that following the visitation on Wednesday, his many friends will be convening at the BBC Taproom on the corner of Clay and Main in downtown Louisville. There’ll be beer; you’re asked to bring food, and help pay tribute to a good man who left us far too soon.