<div>On July 2, we suddenly and unexpectedly lost Johnny Hodges, a remarkable pianist, beloved teacher, generous mentor, devoted husband and father, and dear friend to so many.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Johnny was one of the most extraordinary musicians I have ever known. For decades, he brought joy to millions of people through his unforgettable ragtime, boogie-woogie, blues, and old-time piano performances. Many knew him as the legendary pianist who helped create the sound of Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. But to those who knew him personally, Johnny was so much more. He was kind, encouraging, funny, generous, and always willing to believe in and invest in others.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>One of Johnny’s favorite traditions was inviting young children to sit on his lap at the Disneyland piano. He would guide one of their fingers across the keys as they “played” It’s a Small World, then shake their hand and congratulate them on their first piano lesson and on playing Mickey Mouse’s piano. It was a small gesture that brought enormous joy to countless families.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Johnny entered my life when I was 13 years old. I heard him playing piano at Disneyland and was immediately transfixed. At a time when I was losing interest in the piano and considering quitting, Johnny showed me what the instrument could truly do. He became my teacher and mentor, taught me his unique musical method, encouraged me to perform, and ultimately helped me begin my own professional career as a pianist.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I would not be the musician or the person I am today without Johnny. He took me under his wing, gave me a path, and believed in me before I fully believed in myself.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Johnny continued sharing his gift throughout his life. Even at 82 years old, he was still performing publicly and bringing joy to audiences until the day before he passed away. His fingers never stopped moving, and he never stopped pouring his love of music into everyone willing to listen.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Johnny was also the sole financial provider for his wife and daughter. Both face significant medical challenges that prevent them from working. Although Johnny had previously carried life insurance, that coverage ended when he turned 80, leaving the family without a current policy to help cover these unexpected expenses. His sudden passing has left them not only grieving the loss of a beloved husband and father, but also facing immediate and serious financial hardship.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The family does not currently have the financial resources needed to cover Johnny’s burial and funeral expenses. <strong>I created this GoFundMe to help give Johnny the dignified farewell he deserves and to provide essential financial assistance for his wife and daughter as they navigate this devastating transition.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Contributions will help cover:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>• Johnny’s burial, funeral, and memorial expenses
</div>
<div>• Immediate household and living expenses
</div>
<div>• Medical and essential needs for his wife and daughter
</div>
<div>• Financial assistance for the family during the months ahead
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Any donation, regardless of the amount, will make a meaningful difference</strong>. Please also consider sharing this campaign with anyone whose life was touched by Johnny, his music, his teaching, or his remarkable spirit.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I will also be hosting a live online fundraiser concert in Johnny’s honor on Saturday, July 11, at 12:00 p.m. Central.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://youtube.com/live/4oNfRrsaRKQ?feature=share" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch the concert here</a>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>During the concert, I will celebrate Johnny’s life, perform the music he taught me, share stories about his extraordinary legacy, and invite our musical community to come together for the family he loved so deeply.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Johnny gave the world so much joy. Now we have an opportunity to honor his life by helping care for the people he leaves behind.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you for your generosity, your prayers, and your support.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Johnny, your music will never stop. I will carry your legacy forward with honor and joy.
</div>

Matthew Covington

Torbjørn Dahle

Anonymous

Asger Mikkelsen

Michelle J  G Rojas

Chris Eijlders

Cheryl Moi

Jamie Shaheen

Paul de Graaf

Eric Abrahamson

Help Support the Family of Johnny Hodges

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

be_supporter_comments_enabled_supported_funds

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

currencyCode

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

writePath

Stream Notification

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

Influencer - Prod

US fundraisers and US users

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Help Support the Family of Johnny Hodges

Still $2,719 to go. Help us build momentum.