I was very sorry to hear the news yesterday of Velma Bowen's death, even though recent reports had indicated this news would come sooner than later. When she announced in July that she had cancer, it very quickly became clear that the prognosis was not good. Only a few days ago it was announced that she had three weeks left at the most. It turned ( Read more... )

I'm back from my trip, and I'll probably write about it later. In the meantime I'm posting pictures of the memorial plaques that Seattle Vanguardians sponsored for the benches at Loncon 3. Due to a logistical cock-up typical of conventions, especially an enormously complicated one like Loncon, these plaques weren't deployed until Sunday, but it was ( Read more... )

I was by no means a close friend of Lucius Shepard, who died Tuesday night. I got to know him when he lived in Seattle in the '90s. One of my first memories of him was when he, along with his pal, Tony Daniels, got 86ed from Vanguard parties for bad behavior, the details of which I no longer remember. I seem to recall that he was already on the ( Read more... )

Yesterday was the life celebration for my friend, Jay Salmon, who died unexpectedly almost three weeks ago at age 48. It was held at the U District cooperative school that Jay's daughter, Sophia, attended ( Read more... )

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Yesterday after work I went to the Elysian for the memorial for Nap Cantwell. I didn't really know Nap, but I know his father, Dick, whom I first met when he was the brewer at the Big Time, before he went on to co-found the ever-growing Elysian empire with two partners. I met Nap as youngster a couple of times in the early days of the Elysian over ( Read more... )

I feel I should write something about my Aunt Merlyn, who died a week and a half ago at age 86. She was my mom's eldest sibling. I was never very close to her, and I can't even remember staying at her house, as I did with all my other aunts and uncles on my mom's side. Her three boys, my cousins, were all much older than I was, so they were closer ( Read more... )

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Friends of Mark Bourne might appreciate the tribute from DVD Savant that's currently on his front page. I didn't know Mark myself, but I've been deeply moved by the tributes from the many people who loved him. He has left quite an impression on the world.

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