I posted on the death of our friend 10 days ago and then removed them at the request of his family. There were people to be notified and they did not want them to learn of it from the blog. I saved the post and comments, as well as my blog partner Gordon's post at the Brain and have reproduced them here.

*****

Goodbye, My Friend …

Today is a sad day in Blogtopia. We have learned, through a detective with the local police, that our dear friend Lurch has passed away. We didn't receive any details, the information is privileged for family members, but the cop was decent enough to give us that much.

I didn't know him that well, mostly through this blog and via email, but my wife and I feel honored we were able to break bread with him when he visited Long Island a year ago.

Lurch had a personality that drew one to him and the time we spent with him seemed far too short. Unfortunately, the trip he planned a few months back fell through and we're saddened another get-together is no longer in the cards.

What I know of his military service would fill a thimble, though I knew he served his nation with honor and distinction as an Army paratrooper during the war in Vietnam. Through his experience and study, he was one of the most knowledgeable people when it came to the workings of the service, strategy and tactics, and some of the best insight when it came to reading between the lines on defense issues. He was an invaluable resource as well as a friend.

Please join me in mourning our friend as well as passing on condolences to his family. I'm grateful for the time he spent with us here in Blogtopia, grateful for his insights, and grateful for the opportunity to have known him. I am proud to call him a brother in arms.

As they say in the Navy: Fair winds and following seas, my friend.

Until we meet again.

*****

A few words in farewell

Lurch came to visit me in 2006. Please go read the post I did about his visit. There's a photo there so you can see what he looked like.

We were in contact ever since. We would chat on the phone occasionally, frequent e-mails, and we commented on each other's blogs. We kidded each other like the blazes.

Lurch was a thoughtful man. He sent me five pounds of his favorite BBQ pork, and a USS Fremont Zippo to replace the one I lost forty years ago. I burned him a CD or two. We exchanged Christmas cards.

Just the simple things friends do. Separated by a continent, we liked each other and tried to stay close nonetheless.

Memories. Good ones.

Lurch and I were just about the same age, in our early 60s. As we get older, the sandbar in the river of life that we're all standing on gets less and less secure. We see more and more of our friends getting washed away at an increasing rate, and we think of our own turn, for it is coming as surely as the sun will rise.

It does not get any easier to see them go.

Lurch was a good one, and I am proud to call him my friend.

Vaya con Dios, Amigo. I'll be seeing you.

*****

Comments:

I only knew Lurch from this blog but I feel a strange sense of loss. For the last several months I've usually started out my day here and then branched out from the blog roll here.

Right now my mind has wandered back to The Spoon River Anthology, "His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him That nature might stand up and say to all the world,This was a man." I would hope that this were true. My prayers are with him.

Respectfully,

James K Brown
Just James | 02.14.08 - 7:19 am | #
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That's what I was afraid of. Goddamn it to hell. RIP, buddy.
merlallen | 02.14.08 - 8:00 am | #
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I actually feel like I lost a friend. And I never met the guy, but whenever I asked a question I always got a reply.
Does anyone know what's up with Joe Fish? He also disappeared
merlallen | 02.14.08 - 8:03 am | #
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I'm also devastated. Lurch came over to my site from time to time, he was always a class act. It's a real loss to lose a talented man who's willing to fight the good fight and discuss important military issues in the blogosphere.
J. | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 8:31 am | #
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Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

I am so sorry to hear that. I am going to very much miss his insightful analysis on this blog, and I am going to miss his visits to my blog.

Da Svedanya, my friend.
The Earth-Bound Misfit | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 8:56 am | #
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I posted at the Brain, but I feel it appropriate to post here as well.

Lurch, thanks for all your good advice, information & friendship over the too-brief time I knew you. I also really appreciated your blog and the high quality of commenters that you had posting here.

Peace.
wkmaier | 02.14.08 - 9:37 am | #
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I was afraid of this. I will miss the man, though we never met, and I will miss the quality blogging. But most of all I will miss the bantering and the intimate feel of this blog and the "28" regulars.

rest in peace sarge...

and many thanks Fixer...
the cyber ruffian | 02.14.08 - 9:48 am | #
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Farewell Soldier. I offer you a small tribute at my place. Until we meet again...

d.
deuddersun | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 10:56 am | #
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Lurch was an amazing writer and a lovely man. I will miss him.

RIP
Siun | 02.14.08 - 11:41 am | #
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Lurch:

RIP my friend. Enjoy your tour in that Great PX In The Sky.

As we used to say back in the day: You're authorized.

You've more than earned it.
fbg46 | 02.14.08 - 1:49 pm | #
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Thanks Fixer for posting such a lovely tribute to Lurch. He would be honored to read it, and to see that he had positively affected his readers. He loved writing for this blog, and all of the interaction he had with his readers. He often spoke to me about how much he enjoyed being able to write about what mattered, and that it opened so many channels of communication for him.

I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with him, and will miss him. He was a good man, and a loyal friend.
katisso | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 2:08 pm | #
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I am sad! More sad than I have ever been over the loss of someone who was, to me a very good friend. I knew Lurch only through the internet and all of the sites that we posted on.. I will miss him and from now on, there will never be another Valentines Day... Only Lurches Day...

Fare thee well shipmate... I honor your help, friendliness and kindness. You were always there with a kind word and guiding help...

My heart is flying at half staff today.

Aloha Ia Oe!!

Maruru Maruru Roa
Maheanuu | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 2:16 pm | #
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sad - see you Lurch, in another world ...
b | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 2:49 pm | #
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Just remembered 2 things I can relate about Lurch, though they may seem minor: he called my office the day after Thanksgiving last year, trying to see if I was in. We were closed, but I still have the voice mail. And my conversation with him about 6-8 weeks ago, during our chat I found out that at one time, he lived only 5 minutes from me! I should clarify, I think he had moved, before we moved in.

A small world, and one made better for his having been with us.
wkmaier | 02.14.08 - 3:36 pm | #
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I am devastated.

Lurch became a friend to us two years ago when he became our first reader, before we knew anything about anything, blog-wise. He offered strong and gracious direction and encouragement. I appreciated his eloquence and candor, and am so glad we actually got to meet, though once was not enough.

He was a restrained confidante, always more humble than his abilities demanded. We were to have met this weekend, so I am especially sad.

He was a mensch.
lisa | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 4:00 pm | #

*****

Please feel free to leave your comments at this post as well.

I spoke to Lurch's stepson Jeff this afternoon and he wanted me to convey how deeply touched he and his brothers were by the outpouring of remembrances and good wishes from around the blogosphere.

He also wanted me to advise that, according to the Medical Examiner, Lurched passed quickly, most likely due to respiratory failure; he suffered from asthma.

If you have any personal messages for Lurch's family, feel free to email me here and I will forward them on.

On their behalf, I thank you again for your thoughts and condolences.

Fixer