The Northeast COMBAT family has suffered a terrible and unimaginable loss with the death June 20 of John Supranovich. We have lost the personal leadership style Supranovich gave us. We have lost the infectious spirit, the sense of humor and concern for the “little guy” he instilled in all of us. We have lost the wit, irreverence and humor that made working with him such great fun. Each of us remembers our own personal relationship with John. In the COMBAT family his compassion was legendary.

He instilled in us a commitment to fair play. A commitment to a balanced playing field, where consumer and retailer could meet to rationally and objectively resolve differences. He taught us that one person could make a difference.

What we haven’t lost is that dedication to fair play, that commitment to a balanced playing field and the energy to take action against the many fraudulent companies who try every day to find one more way of getting us to part with our hard-earned money.

COMBAT has the distinction of being the oldest “grassroots” consumer organization in the nation. Thirty-three years ago we first successfully mediated consumer-business disputes. Our first public educational effort was “Wheels Deals and Lemon Peels.” We taught consumers how to purchase that new or used car. We knew the local merchants by their first names and consumer complaints were resolved through a very direct and simple mediation process. We received grants from the Consumer Product Safety Commission on nationally recognized safety programs such as Promote Power Tool Safety and Baby Safety and the Wellness campaign.

Today’s consumer, more than ever, needs to be savvy and diligent in the marketplace. Gone are the mom and pop stores, the handshake deals, the “kick the tires” type of purchase. Today’s store manager may be an unknown face or name on eBay or behind a Web site. We are bombarded with infomercials, online shopping, shopping networks, telephone solicitations and endless credit card offers. We are targets for consumer fraud at every turn of the road. Mediation of a consumer complaint is no longer a simple process of open dialogue. We are dealing with electronic unknowns, e-mail addresses, drop boxes, dot-coms, and international markets.

COMBAT hasn’t remained tied to a dream with no hope for the future. We have diligently worked to develop our own consumer information Web site, and our volunteer caseworkers are handling more and more online complaints. We have adapted to the times and are battling the issues brought to our door using every remedy available. Our success is due to the fact that we deliver what we say we will deliver. It is that simple.

Behind the volunteer contingent at COMBAT are the board of directors. This body of committed business individuals engage in fund-raising activities, program development, governance, and policy making. Each board member brings his opinions and ideas that further the cause of promoting consumer awareness and education.

Our doors are open to you for consumer issues, product education and safety, and volunteer opportunities such as case mediators, clerical support, and board leadership.

COMBAT, founded 33 years ago by John Supranovich, will live on through the many volunteers and membership support. We will honor his memory every day by providing consumer education and consumer-business mediation. We will attack with all our strength unfair practices against Maine consumers. John’s dream of an organization dedicated to helping consumers is alive and well, a lasting legacy to a great man.

Ed Steltzer is president of the board of directors of Northeast Combat. Northeast Combat and the Bangor Daily News plan to continue the weekly Consumer Forum column, which was written by Supranovich.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded, nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership $25, business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.