Local Pool Legend celebrated by friends and family

RIO RANCHO — A celebration of life service was held for local pool legend Linn Visage Nov. 9 at Slate Street Bar and Grill in Rio Rancho. Visage’s family and friends referred to the event as a “Fun”-eral.

“He would love the fact that all of us — so many old friends — that’s the hardest part for me today is seeing 30-year-old friends that I haven’t seen in 25 years .. .and knowing that he was the connection,” an emotional Jason Vailancourt, who was a lifelong friend of Visage, said. “He was one of my heroes; I really looked up to this little 5- foot guy, and he just was strong.”

Visage — a staple of Slate Street — was known to help many pool players with their game and to share some laughs along the way.

“That’s how most of us knew him. One way or another we crossed his path in pool, and he had an impact. He was just that type of guy,” Vailancourt said.

Visage passed away early in the month, and many people gathered at his favorite pool hall to pay tribute.

“Today we are here to remember a pillar of the pool community. His name was Linn Visage, he was 55 years old and everybody here is a better pool player because Linn was part of the community and irreplaceable,” longtime friend Curtis Henderson said.

According to Henderson, Visage worked at Slate Street 25 years ago, and after he moved away, he would still make the drive to play pool at Slate Street.

“Short and stature but impossibly tall in personality and heart, and we’re really going to miss him,” Henderson said.

Everyone spoke about Visage’s short height but that his personality and confidence made him the tallest guy in every room.

“If you knew Linn, he was small in stature but was 7 feet, 10 inches. He would walk in a room, and everyone would know he was there. He was always very good-natured,” longtime friend Brett Christiansen said.

Christiansen recalled that Visage’s mother told him that the doctors did not expect him to have such a long life.

“His mother told me when he was born, they told her that ‘he might have a couple weeks to live,’ and 55 years later ... he played his hand as strong as anyone I know,” Christiansen said.

People in attendance played pool, ate food, told stories about Visage, and paid tribute on the memorial table that was filled with photos of Visage.

“One of my best friends for the last 32 years ... one of the guys that you can count on to make good decisions and to lead, and we are all going to miss that a lot,” Vaillancourt said.