It is with great sadness that we note the death of John Bailey Lloyd on July 23, 2003.

John was as much a part of Down The Shore Publishing as salt is of the sea.

He was the first writer we published, in 1986. His first book, Eighteen Miles of History on Long Beach Island, was also our first book. In a sense, we grew up together on Long Beach Island — our little publishing house, and John’s reputation and authority as a shore historian.

We are proud to have published his two beautiful hardcover books, a wonderful short story, his intelligent biographical introductions to two historical books, and three documentary videos based on his work. At the time of his death, he was organizing historical images for his third Long Beach Island history, scheduled to be published later this year.

And he was most excited — thrilled, in fact — about plans to publish his historical novel, set in Beach Haven a century ago. Our sorrow is deeper because this creative work is unfinished.

And, yet, John’s life continues — in his published work, in the lives (and the writing) of others he has influenced, in the knowledge about shore history he has imparted, in the kindness and humor he has shared, in the historical sensibility he has given all of us. His greatest legacy may be the sense of place we now share. A sense of place: It is an enormous and powerful understanding that transcends time and lives.

Words alone can not express how much we will miss our dear friend and colleague. Our deepest condolences are with his wife, Jeanette, and son, David.