Very sad news indeed!

[foreigncorrespondent]

Just stumbled across this in the lounge. Posting it for the old Rainbow room gang and of course our DUers friends to see.

Scottie72 passed away October 1st.

That's all I can post guys, sorry. I have tears streaming down my face.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4267534

[xchrom]

1. oh shit -- that is so sad.

damn it.

[Ian David]

2. Scottie will be missed. n/t

[Thtwudbeme]

3. I was so sorry to see that

It's so hard to lose friends; especially hard are online friends that we really have a hard time keeping up with.

I am thinking of you all-

Hugs,

Stephanie

[Sapphocrat]

4. Oh, God...

I just saw this. I'm speechless... at least about the way I feel, which is numb.

But about Scottie... I can say a few things about Scottie, for those who didn't know him. (Those who did know nothing I could say here could do him justice.)

Scottie was one of the most genuine human beings I've ever had the honor of knowing. He was a scientist -- well, that's how I understood his work, anyway, as professions outside the arts tend to stymie me a bit -- who worked at one of those linear-accelerator labs, back east. That tells you Scottie was no dummy.

Most of all, though, he was only what I can call a gentle spirit. He was angry when it was right to be angry -- he railed against misinformed, bigoted ideology, not against people.

One of his worst days (before he knew he was sick, that is) was the day the people of Virginia voted away all of his -- and Danny's -- rights. As long as I knew him, I don't think he ever quite wrapped his mind around the fact that people could be so fearful and narrow-minded as to hate everything he stood for, without ever knowing who he was.

And the irony of it was that he was a man of faith himself.

I know it will happen to all of us eventually, but no amount of reason can keep me from asking, "Why him?"

I don't feel numb anymore. I just hurt.

Thank you, Scottie, for touching my life, if only briefly. I'll never forget you -- and when it's time to fight the bigots again, I'll be doing it with you in mind.

I love you, Scottie. Sleep well.

[foreigncorrespondent]

6. I did email you about this last night.

Thank you for finding the words I just couldn't find. You said ever so much better than I could have.

I just cannot believe he has gone. It truly is such a sad loss. And I am really affected by it.

[Meldread]

5. *sighs* I didn't know him well, but...

...I still feel sad. It is always upsetting to lose someone from our community. Finding out that he was a fellow gay Virginian... well... that packs a little extra punch. Hopefully where ever he is he is celebrating Tim Kaine's victory and our slight cut into the GOP House Majority.

I hope he finds the peace in death that was difficult to find in life, especially here in this state. My sympathies to his partner, his friends and his family.