I’m very sorry to report that my friend Brian, a longtime Doper, died at 10:10pm EST yesterday in a nursing home just west of Cleveland, Ohio. His MS hit him hard in recent years, and he had various health problems which just got worse and worse, resulting in him recently going into hospice. I was able to see him yesterday afternoon, just a few hours before he died. He was unresponsive, alas, but I held his hand and told him I loved him. I later learned from mutual friends, several of whom stood vigil at the end, that he’d passed away.
I first met BMalion not long after joining the SDMB; we bonded over our shared love of Monty Python, Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes and Tolkien’s writings. He hosted several DopeFests at his home and was the perfect host. He was a dapper dresser, always funny and witty, with a big laugh and a devilish grin, and knew just about everything that was worth knowing. One of my favorite memories was of him trying to see how many bottles of beer he could fit into the various pockets and pouches of his utility kilt (yes, you read that right). It was about two dozen, I think.
I’m so sorry to hear this. I remember him well, and enjoyed interacting with him over the years. I also remember when his health started to get worse, and him posting about it here.
While I never met the guy; as part of the 2021 postcard exchange I was “introduced” by @Elendil_s_Heir.
To continue this connection I included him as an honorary member in my 2026 postcard exchange but, if the card did arrive in time, there’d have been more significant issues to attend to.
I didn’t know him, although I recognize his name. I would have liked to, though, he sounds great. I’m glad you were able to be with him yesterday.
Thanks for letting us know.
Sorry to read this. I don’t know if I interacted with him here, but I recognize the user name. It’s always a surprise when you learn of the passing of a name you know, even in this anonymous place.
