Patrick Reed: 1979-2009

[giza]

Furp at Dorsai Thing 31

Furp eyes one his many drink mixes.

I'm sure folks have heard the news by now, but Furp (evil_dwagon on LJ) passed away in an auto accident last night, thanks to a drunk driver.

I first met Furp back in 2003 or so, when unclekage felt that he would be a good addition to Con Ops. That totally turned out to be the case. He worked hard, and partied harder when the work was done.

Furp didn't just work Anthrocon, he worked other cons, and not always in an official capacity either. Furp was an EMT, and if there was ever a crisis situation, he would attend to it. I know more than once he spent the night in an emergency room with a convention attendee who had fallen ill, whether that person was a stranger or not.

Furp was also one of the most relaxed and good natured guys I know. I guess it comes with the territory when you're an EMT. Having worked my share of security incidents with him over the years, he was usually the calmest person in the room.

Believe it or not, I didn't initially hear of Furp's passing from furries, but from the other Dorsai Irregulars. Furp was loved by the DI, in fact some of our folks referred to working with Furp as a "highlight of Anthrocon". While Furp was never inducted into the DI, he is definitely "one of us", and I believe his induction was only a matter of time. Sadly, that will never happen now.

Con Ops won't be the same without you, Furp.

Comments

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

I think it would be a high honor if the Dorsai added him to the roster posthumously,

[swift-fox.livejournal.com]

I second that.

[swift-fox.livejournal.com]

Well said Giza. I grieve along with you.

[alien88.livejournal.com]

This is one of the worst days in a long time for me. Thing is going to be.. hard.

[hyperx.livejournal.com]

This is too much... The stuff with Num8... now FURP? I knew him pretty well back many years ago but didn't talk nearly as much with him as I used to. Dear god I don't think I can take much more of this...

[toracub.livejournal.com]

I'm still trying to hold it together, the only thing keeping me from breaking down right now is work... this is rough.

Tora

[mapdark.livejournal.com]

This really sucks!

Why do good people die first?

I've always wondered that. :(

I hope they reserve a special place in hell for that drunk driver . >:(

[giza.livejournal.com]

Oh no, that drunk driver should be sent straight to Heaven, right next to Furp.

Then he should fall ill.

One of Furp's lesser known talents--when treating people who got the way they were due to their own stupidity--was making them suffer in other ways.

For example, there was the drunk who he made chew aspirin once. Or the disinfectant that he got special order from Canada that burned worse than Betadyne. He saved that for the really dumb injuries. :-)

[silaria.livejournal.com]

Today is a very difficult day. Swift knew Furp much longer than I did but the times we spending hosting him at our house before and after AC the past few years were memorable.

[rexxwolfe.livejournal.com]

Wow :( This is just shocking i'm sorry for the loss you and your friends must endure. And to be taken in such a pointless way. I wish people would understand why i'm so against driving a vehicle even after two beers. drinking ONE drink can impair your reaction time. Also Because shit like this happens all to frequently how close does it have to hit come for People to act more responsibly..:( It always seems that God the universe chance that the drunk lives through the accident the innocent victim is taken perhaps the universe feels you have to live with the knowlege and guilt and suffer knowing what your stupidity has caused so much pain. MY thoughts go to Furps family.

[scs-11.livejournal.com]

Rene and I discussed nominating Furp for membership just as he was heading off for this second round overseas. We decided to push it off until he was back and more folks had the opportunity to meet him. And now it's too goddamned late (throws glass as wall).

Damn.

[scs-11.livejournal.com]

Throws glass at wall, not as wall. Can't type, either.

[neillparatzo.livejournal.com]

Damn. I didn't know the guy (and if I hadn't read it on your journal, I would have thought this was a hoax) but this is just sad. It hurts me to see someone so obviously respected and loved to be taken away like this.

[zeeth_kyrah]

'75 or 6, if it's true that he was actually 33, and not 29 like the article says.