For the 10th anniversary of DU - a memorial for those we have lost

[LynneSin]

Please keep it to those who passed away NOT tombstoned!


I'd like to start with Khephra - he was the 4th DUer I ever met and what a loveable, crazy guy. The guy was dedicated to getting all the top headlines posted here at DU everyday. One of my best memories of Kheph is from the Sept 2003 DU gathering in DC. When I woke up the next morning, he and Ramsey were watching a repeat of the Freeper rally on CSpan. When I walked into the room they both looked at me and did this 'LOSER' funny hand gesture. I had no clue what the hell they were doing until I looked at this TV and saw this crazy freeper about 2 minutes from his head bursting calling everyone a loser.

Post your DU memories of DUers we lost here please!

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Andy Stephenson, defender of democracy

Andy was both an inspiration and a beacon to me. His tragic illness and devastating death still haunts me. He can't be replaced.

[JNelson6563]

10. You summed it up perfectly.

He was such a dear soul.

Julie

[coffeenap]

36. Indeed.

[salin]

37. Peace and appreciation sent to Andy. eom.

[helderheid]

68. I miss Andy.

:cry:

[bobthedrummer]

70. Andy was the first DUer that I spoke to offline, he and the others are missed. n/t

[bettyellen]

96. what a great soul he was, a true sweetheart

I need to dig out that baby pic of him, where he's getting a bath in the kitchen sink.
Andy was nothing short of adorable, and had a pure heart and sweetness that is truely rare to find.

[delightfulstar]

101. Andy was one in a million.

I remember coming on here on that day in July 2005 (under a different alias), and reading that he was gone - there were no words, really. I'm still learning from the example he set, and it was a great one indeed. We lost him much too soon, but his spirit absolutely lives on through DU, and through all of us.

[ReadTomPaine]

128. Yes.

[ClassWarrior]

2. nostamj and "The Question W Revue."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1552150

NGU.

[JNelson6563]

9. I was working on a project with him at the time

and suddenly our conversation ended. I wondered if I had offended him or what? Then his sister got in touch with me. I was crestfallen at the news.

Julie

[salin]

38. He was such a great force...

how fortunate you were to be working on a project with him. No way diminishes the perplexing situation you found yourself in to be resolved in such a tragic way (per the explanation of the non-communication. He is missed greatly, by many.

[ClassWarrior]

66. What a blessing to have had a chance to work with him, Julie. Was it another stage show?

NGU.

[calimary]

114. Oh yeah! Definitely.

I wound up writing "?w" everywhere!

He was so creative - what a loss. Well, they ALL are a terrible loss. We're the poorer without them, but the richer for having known and worked with them. Patriots all.

:patriot:

[auntAgonist]

3. Longhorn

:cry:

Kendra was a really special lady. I miss her a lot.

aA
kesha

[intheflow]

15. I miss Longhorn, too.

Served on the Mod Squad with her a few times. She was always a voice of reason when wrestling with trolls. I miss her soul here on the board.

[Dem2theMax]

58. I think of Kendra just about every day. She was my first DU friendship that went offline.

I'm still finding things that she sent to me that somehow, over time, I had forgotten.
And I keep thinking about a movie I had wanted to recommend to her, because she was madly
in love with Gerard Butler. That movie was on TV again this week. I never got around to
telling her about it, and I will wonder forever if she ever saw it. She would have loved it.

The last time she and I 'talked' on the boards, she gave me one of these :hug:
so I'm giving her one here. :hug:

Geez, now I'm gonna go cry again. She'd hate that. LOL.

[helderheid]

69. Me too.

:cry:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

73. I miss Longhorn too. Thirded.

:hug: Another good Texan gone. She went to M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston for treatment. I reassured her that that is THE place to go for cancer treatment, from anywhere in the country. My sister worked for the Dr. who was the head of the Pathology Dept., Dr. Lukeman, and he was a world authority on lung cancer. She loved her job. Cancer got her unexpectedly, but she got the best of care there.

I'm sure Longhorn got the best of care too.

:cry: :grouphug:

[TK421]

122. I miss her too :(

[druidity33]

4. Sapphire Blue...

there was never a more tireless advocate for the poor and disadvantaged here on DU. A Positive person too, a rare soul.....

:(

[JNelson6563]

8. And she was kind & gentle

The perfect advocate IMO. She was well versed in poverty sans the bitterness of some advocates. We lost a great jewel with her passing but we are all the richer for having had her in our lives, even for a short time.

Julie

[salin]

39. Can't count the times that her posts forced reflection and action.

She is greatly missed.

[calimary]

She was wonderful.

And she always kicked and recommended my threads. I appreciated her feedback so much. So much wisdom! What a dear lady. Miss her especially.

:hug:

[Irishonly]

124. She had a beautiful, gentle soul

:cry:

[GalleryGod]

5. BIRDMAN

We met-up @ a DU gathering sponsored by Ramsey & Lynne @ a bar near UofP in Philly.
didn't know we had attended St. Joe's at the same time.
Within months...he was gone.
O8)

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. oneighty and MrG...

oneighty was a storyteller beyond compare, and went so far as to send me his book. I miss him so much.

and MrG was, and will remain, the single most amazing man to walk the earth. I met him when he was a Libertarian, I lost him when he was a far more active Democrat than I.

[GalleryGod]

7. Yup, MrG was cool.

:loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

109. Thanks for thinking of him.

:loveya:

I'm so afraid he will be forgotten.

[LynneSin]

12. Sending this to you

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

111. Thank you Lynne...

I really need those these days. :hug:

[Art_from_Ark]

99. I got oneighty's book, too

in exchange for sending him pictures of Enoshima, Japan, his favorite place for R&R when he was serving in the Korean War.

[ScreamingMeemie]

112. He was one of a kind.

[TK421]

123. I remember hearing about MrG and feeling so helpless about it

wishing there was something I could do to help you through it...an awful time

[RockaFowler]

11. How about New Yawker??

I really miss her posts in the Lounge. She used to keep track of everyone's milestones. I loved that.

[salin]

46. OMG... I didn't know we had lost her...

she did so much for nurturing a sense of community at DU.

I knew that she had some great health challenges.

I missed her passing, and have wished that her absence was due to her convalescence.

While this may be greatly belated - it is the first that I have known this - feel kicked in the gut. RIP NewYawker - I so greatly appreciated your nurturing of the community spirit that you gave to the community in the early DU years. :cry:

[Gemini Cat]

54. When was this?

I remember her welcoming everyone to DU and her milestone posts.
I liked her.

[Le Taz Hot]

63. I had NO idea that New Yawker passed!

And yes, I remember her birthday wishes in the Lounge.

[myrna minx]

75. When did she pass? I knew she had health issues, but I didn't know she

passed away. :cry:

[Canuckistanian]

89. Ronnie's gone?

I didn't know that. That's so sad.

I think she was the the first to welcome me to DU (as she did with hundreds of others).

And she always kept track of our milestones, sometimes even when we'd forgotten ourselves.

What a lovely woman.

[Old and In the Way]

92. Did not know this.

She really was special on DU...I appreciated her keeping track of the posting milestones for DUers...it was a really nice thing for her to have done. RIP, NewYawker.

[Pithlet]

94. I miss her, too.

DU isn't the same without her.

[Still Blue in PDX]

95. Oh, no!

One year she and my chiropractor were the only people who acknowledged my birthday, and she didn't even know me. She was a bright light on a dark day for me.

I had no idea she passed.

[Raine]

103. I didn't know she was gone

:cry: she always put up a congratulatory post when you had any milestone, it made a person feel so special.

[sakabatou]

106. She's alive as far as I know

She just doesn't post on here.

[calimary]

117. Well, I hope so. Always loved her welcomes to EVERYONE new.

[auntAgonist]

130. That was my understanding too. She had some health

issues but I don't believe she passed away.





aA

[WilliamPitt]

108. .

:(

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

121. When did this happen???

[robdogbucky]

13. TLB

or Tangerine La Bamba, aka LeftyLawyer.

She was the first poster I interacted with and then had a running email conversation with her. She then disappeared for a couple months and we received the news. Being a writer, she gave me valuable information regarding the process of doing it professionally. Having had a career in the law and having gone to law school here in the Bay Area, we found lots to discuss over time. It was valuable to me to gain a friend through simple communication on a message board. Never met her in person but after having read so many of her writings, I feel I knew the best of her.

She may have rubbed some folks wrong sometimes, as she was extra feisty in her beliefs and had a very interesting and productive life. She never gave up the fight.

Had quite the avatars as well.


rdb

[intheflow]

14. When did we lose LeftyLawyer?

Seems like I was just reading posts by her not that long ago. :(

[robdogbucky]

18. I believe it was 18 months ago or longer.

There were numerous threads, with her enemies chiming in on them, saying she was a loose cannon, didn't know anything, etc. She would dig her heels in on a point and not give up. A natural born lawyer.

I think the last few stories she shared here were about Woodstock on its 40th anniversary in 2009 (we disagreed about some of the concert, as she was not a Grateful Dead fan) and her recollections upon the death of Robert McNamara. And finally on the anniversary of JFK's assassination. She then kind of disappeared and a freind posted here that she passed and gave a link to her website.

Annette Appollo was her real name. Published even.


RIP TLB

[Mira]

35. I came here to post a memorial to her, and found that I'm a bit late. We lost

her last December 19th 2009 to suicide.
She was a friend I will never forget, a sustenance to my spirit, and a spirited, learned, thinking contributor to DU.

I miss her all the time.
RIP Annette Apollo

[malaise]

44. Same here

She wrote a lovely post about her childhood friend Bobby's death in the Vietnam war. That was a wonderful post.
We had a lot of fun when the Ensign scandal erupted. And then she was gone.

[Lugnut]

57. I remember that post about Bobby.

OLL/TLB grew up in a little coal town not far from here. When TLB posted her first communion picture it prompted me to look for my own. By the time I located it in one of my old photo albums she was gone. She was a hoot.

[Gemini Cat]

98. That was a great post.

One of those posts that stayed with me.

[ReadTomPaine]

129. .

:hug:

[ReadTomPaine]

127. I still miss ya, Lefty. n/t

[w8liftinglady]

16. Monkeyman was a savior to me when my kid was in Iraq

He was a tireless advocate for homeless vets,and actually started one of the first homeless vet centers in Illinois.

[w8liftinglady]

25. And my tribute to him 7/5/2007

We have lost 100 soldiers this month so far. This makes the third month in a row that the death toll has exceeded 100. In June, there were 299 soldiers wounded, unable to return to duty. In the meantime, we are oblivious to the suffering that our brave troops have to endure silently. There are many instances of soldiers and Marines being discouraged from seeking treatment for the horror they have witnessed. My good friend, Dale Peters, was instrumental in creating mental health resources for military with PTSD. Dale also founded the first shelter for homeless veterans in his state in Illinois. Dale died a few weeks ago. He was a veteran, a hero, and I loved him as my friend. In Dale’s memory, I invite you to consider a small donation to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. You can learn more about them at www.nchv.org . Until we acknowledge the trauma and suffering our troops are enduring through multiple deployments, poor equipment and poor planning, the number of homeless veterans will continue to grow. Help these heroes who need us. They were there for us.

[lonestarnot]

88. Yes the monkeyman!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. playahata1 and AllJunkMail

Playahata1 graduate student who died of cancer just after starting her first teaching job

AllJunkMail was one of the first people we lost. He was an older man, in his eighties, I believe, and it was his grandson who announced his passing.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

19. Great Grandson...still here...

thanks for remembering him!

sP

a couple of threads...

one on his death : http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=24297&forum=DCForumID59&archive=

one in which he was having fun : http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=23224&forum=DCForumID59&archive=yes

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. What a beautiful remembrance.

I signed up right around the same time he did. I can't believe it's been that long. I am so sorry for your loss...

Laura

[ProdigalJunkMail]

30. Thanks; he was a helluva guy!

I still miss him...

sP

[hfojvt]

80. speaking of missing people

is Tahitinut still with us? I know he hasn't posted in quite a while.

[myrna minx]

78. He was a wonderful person.

Thanks for posting his threads. :hug:

[w8liftinglady]

22. another great DUer

[salin]

40. Miss the both. Both had unique voices/perspectives

and added greatly to our discussions.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

48. And you're not dead, but I haven't seen you here for ages!

:hi:

[salin]

62. Hi Lydia!

Still read very early in the am as I start my day - and try a quick read before I hit the hay at night - just don't have much time to post anymore. :hi:

[myrna minx]

79. Both were wonderful Duers.

Thanks for remembering them. :hug:

[Wilms]

20. Kephra n/t

:cry:

[salin]

41. +100+

One of my first DU connects per our on-line exchanges on LBN. He was also one of the first DUers I met at an Indy gathering. Keph, imo, influenced a "generation" (per online definitions of generations) of DU posters.

He is greatly missed.

[closeupready]

83. Yes, very, very much missed, IMO.

:cry:

[Raine]

102. I still miss Kef

I'll never forget him. :-(

[calimary]

118. No kidding.

One of the first I encountered here. When he replied to something I'd posted, I felt as though I'd arrived.

[ThirdEye]

131. I still think about him

Throughout my college years, I probably absorbed more news from Kephra's posts than any other source. His passing was a true tragedy. I still think about him and his contribution to my interest in current events.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

21. Kashka.

Rest in Peace

[salin]

43. Learned greatly belatedly of Kashka's passing.

RIP. Kashka was an exceptionally welcoming/embracing person - created a space to make posters feel welcomed, recognized and appreciated. Done at a time when the size of the community was growing so quickly that it was hard to feel connected to other Duers unless one had been here for a long time. Kashka greatly helped create a sense of community in the lounge... quite a feat!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

52. I miss Khash every day...

He was such a gentle intelligent soul. He loved hearing me read my poetry over the phone to him...

I hope he knows how much we love and miss him...

Ciao, bello...

[bettyellen]

97. A beautiful man. I miss him too.

[JitterbugPerfume]

23. dear sweet oneighty

I talked to him every day , and I miss his wisdom and humor.

[salin]

45. Oneeighty.. another word for wisdom

I miss him, and his wisdom. I always appreciated his comments/perspective.

[Stuart G]

24. K and R nt

[formercia]

26. bamabecky

A sweet Lady.

[Skidmore]

27. All great DUers.

Missing their voices greatly. Thanks for the thread to commemorate them.

[auntAgonist]

28. ginbarn aka ChickMagic

I will always remember her.
RIP Ginny.

aA
kesha

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

49. A wonderful, kind, sweet soul I had the pleasure of knowing.

She introduced me to DU, The Daily Show, and Bill Maher.:hug:

[WolverineDG]

115. Yup, she was special

Met her & Derby several times, at Camp Casey & state Democratic conventions.

dg

[Rhiannon12866]

31. nicknameless

Nancy, dedicated to animals, and who was so diligent keeping us all up to speed during the terrible pet food recall... ;( O8)

[Kurovski]

90. She was an Election reform Forum person.

I remember a Op she started defending paper ballots, and how they were used in Scotland.

Then Scotland switched to electronic voting after her death. :(

But now I hear that Scotland is dumping them and going back to paper ballots. :)

She was very kind to me.

[Rhiannon12866]

100. Thanks for sharing your memories. She was very kind to me, too.

And passionate about anything that she saw as a wrong, whether it was elections or her beloved cats. I think she became more mainstream DU during Katrina, when folks were forced to abandon their pets, and especially during the pet food recall. She always had the latest news about what had been recalled posted, worked incredibly hard to get the information out to the rest of us. We used to PM about animals and I know that she felt guilty after losing her cat at age 21. I ran it by my vet and even he said that 21 was an impressive age for a cat. *sigh* I still miss her, too. :hi: :hug:

[demmiblue]

32. Zodiac(Ironfist)

I always read his posts. A liberal through and through... he always stood up for what was right.

RIP, and thoughts to VenusRising. :grouphug:


Neither knew me as a poster, but I always felt a little better knowing that people like them existed in this world. Still do.

[krispos42]

53. He died?

Man! :-(

[hfojvt]

77. yeah, and he was pretty young too

I guess Khaska died too, although he had left DU a couple of years before, and alarcojon

[VenusRising]

104. Rob (Zodiak) passed January 5, 2010.

He and I were driving back to Columbus from spending Christmas in Texas. He had a heart attack in Joplin, MO. There wasn't anything that could be done. One of the nodes in his heart wouldn't catch a charge.

He was brilliant and the love of my life. I feel so lucky to have had him for the time I did.

Rob after receiving his PhD...

[QC]

116. He was one of the best people on this site. Ever. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

55. +100,000

When I see old posts of his, I get a lump in my throat. RIP and peace to VenusRising.

[VenusRising]

85. Love to you, demmiblue.

Thank you for that.

:hug:

[demmiblue]

119. I am really glad you saw my post.

Sometimes we really don't realize the ripples we send out into the world.

Both of you have sent out some powerful ripples. I hope you find some solace in that.

:hug:

[Raine]

33. JacksonB57

not well known here because he rarely posted though he was a donor and a very special person in my life. Jack ... I miss you everyday and I always will.

[boston bean]

34. MaddieJoan, one of the most witty posters to grace DU.

whenever I see someone with the avatar she used, i'm like NO don't use that avatar. Makes me think of her every single time.

I miss her.

[Big Blue Marble]

59. Yes. MaddieJoan

Me too. I feel the same way about her avatar. I miss her so much. She was for Hillary and I was for Obama during the primary.
Despite all the tension we would keep it light. She was so playful. She really brighten up this place.

[FreeState]

60. I do the same! n/t

[helderheid]

72. I didn't know :( Wow, it's been a while since I've been here

[PBS Poll-435]

105. Absolutely + 1

[TK421]

126. I loved reading her posts and was sad to hear of her passing

[Demonaut]

42. God, so many? I visit daily, rarely post but how'd

these slip by me, OneEighty and Newyawker..I remember when we lost Khephra..seemed like our first loss but so many have have slipped by me
RIP

[NC_Nurse]

47. eggbeater...

Wasn't here for very long, but a sweetheart nevertheless. Amazing grace in the face of a terminal diagnosis.

[myrna minx]

81. eggbeater was a very brave soul. RIP. n/t

[greyl]

50. Moving thread.

This is truly a community with big hearts. :)

[WillyT]

51. Bringing Back Lots Of Memories... Many Tears, Yet Many Smiles...

:grouphug:

:kick: & Rec !!!

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

56. k&r

[Heidi]

61. alarcojon.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2224744&mesg_id=2224744

[Swamp Rat]

84. A lot of familiar DUers on that thread are gone,

as in TSed. :(

[LynneSin]

64. Morning Kick

:kick:

[GalleryGod]

65. Noon time kick!

:kick:

[OhioChick]

67. "Azlady"

:cry:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9646441

[kentuck]

71. jarab...

my brother.

He loved being a moderator on DU.

[helderheid]

74. I'm so sorry for your loss

:hug:

[underseasurveyor]

76. So many wonderful people have been mentioned already.

The two that immediately came to mind first were Khephra and Andy. Miss them both SO much.

But there's another person I really miss around here. I know you said "Not tombstoned' people but I think it a shame to not mention her.

Teena = NSMA
She was a great DUer.

[myrna minx]

82. You are all missed.

:-(

[opihimoimoi]

87. Wherever they may be.....I hope they hear natures bird songs of the SHAMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81jx_cQagT8&feature=related

[CatWoman]

86. Lynne

I hadn't seen your thread and started one like this.

I just got to thinking about the years that have passed, and the wonderful people who passed as well.

thanks for pointing me to this thread, hfojvt.

So many names, so many marvelous souls. :cry:

[Old and In the Way]

91. 5thGenDemocrat

Just found out about his passing tonight on Catwoman's thread...never met him, but I sure wish I could have attended one of his Fundays...

Lots of names I recognize. But I'm sure we've lost a few that never got announced to DU....miss them all.

[Pithlet]

93. I regret that I didn't make it to one of his Fundays.

I always hoped to time a trip home for one of those, but never managed to. I was sad to hear he'd passed :(

[ScreamingMeemie]

107. I have great memories of the Funday we went to with PassingFair and family,

SharonRB and her husband, and MrG and the Grumpy kids. We still talk about it.

[WilliamPitt]

110. Olaf the White

An excellent soul, lost a long, long time ago.

[JanMichael]

120. Loved Olaf....I remember his post

about having to have surgery...then, nothing.
Sad. What a guy.

[Kurovski]

113. And Trouble in Winter, not too long ago. (nt)

[rbnyc]

125. That was an amazing time in DC.

That will always be one of my most cherished memories. I'm so glad we were together.

[Rhiannon12866]

132. Another DUer who we were honored to know here: Elizabeth Edwards...

When she passed recently, we were just recalling her kind and compassionate posts after the 2004 election. A great lady... ;( O8)