Farewell, Linda Stoops, and Communal Plaque

[filkertom]

I am sorry to relate the news that Linda Stoops of MillenniCon has passed away today. She did lots of the necessary busy-work that makes MillenniCon so friendly -- making awards, donating things for the kids' programming, running room parties at other conventions, going all-out for the Chocolate Party.

Pat and Christy are, obviously, kinda busy right this second. They're not sure anything can be got together for this year (although they're planning big already for next year). But I think we can at least spend a few minutes at my concert Saturday saying goodbye to Linda, and Dave Alway, and a few other absent friends.

I want to have something lyrically ready for Saturday. And, honestly, my brain is a little fried right now, and what isn't is focused on several songs that are up against deadlines. Please help me out here and remind me of who we need to celebrate from the very recent past.

Comments

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Taken from my News Page (and preceding months), where you can find short obits:

From 2007. For 2006, see my In Memoriam Page

Richard Jeni
Leigh Eddings
Walker Edmiston
Fred Mustard Stewart
Dale Hoover
Myrtle Devenish
Ivar Berggren
Patrice Duvic
Peter Ellenshaw
Janet Blair
Patri Pugliese
Ian Richardson
Lee Hoffman
Charles L. Fontenay
Lee Bergere
Tige Andrews
Ron Carey
Steve Krantz
Yvonne DeCarlo
Robert Anton Wilson
Pete Kleinow
Iwao Takamoto
Lenny Wenshe
Virgil Utter

Deaths, and to remember

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

Tom, I'm willing to bet that you have been to at least one or two Midwestern cons where Jack McKenty, the wonderful bass player who did some solos (remember his electric bass "Malaguena"?) was also playing. He died about two months ago of infectious hepatitis. His Baha'i faith kept him going, and he was at a very calm and philosophical place. "If I die, I die." He died surrounded by people who loved him, and he was to be buried (and presumably has been buried) at a Baha'i holy place, where Baha'is will be coming to pray for the next thousand years. I miss him. (I don't know if you realize, because you and I bonded rapidly and well, that I usually really have trouble making friends with my fellow men rather than women. But Jack was always such a peaceable and gentle guy that I did far, far better with him than with an awful lot of other people, and he is also the only person ever to give me a bass lesson.) His father, Jack McKenty Senior, who had two short stories in *Galaxy* in the early 1950s and also read the Galaxy magazine slush pile, predeceased him by about two weeks.

Nate B.

Re: Deaths, and to remember

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me, Nate, and this is exactly the kind of reminder I mean. I did note Jack's death at the time, but it's slipped my mind since.

[poltr1]

It was through Linda that I met my first wife, mariasmom (aka R), at the Ohio Renaissance Festival waaaaay back in 1992.

If there are any memorials for Linda, please pass them on to me so that I may pass them on to R.

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

A few fen from the Michigan area who we need to also remember include:

Jim Overmeyer - Former ConClave Committee member, many panels, including the important intro to fandom panels. Since he was easily spotted the remainder of the weekend, he was the neo-fan's person to go to for many questions.

Nancy Denenburg - Wife of Eric K, past ConFusion chair. Nancy, when in better health was seen on healthy fen and religion diversity panels.

Howard DeVore - Big Hearted Howard

Many more on Page 14 of the Conclave 2006 book.

-Tim

Linda Stoops

[mayphoenix.livejournal.com]

I realize this is rather late but we only found out at MediaWest*Con this weekend that Linda had passed. It came as a shock to us. Linda was one of the first friends my partner Paulle (ne: Paulie, Paulie Gilmore, Dr. Whazoo) when she got into fandom in the 70s. Through Paulle I met Linda and became good friends, as well. She attended our first handfasting in 1987 and two reaffirmations over the years since, and came to our home many times for visits just to hang out. We have several pieces of her ceramics and have given many more as gifts. I should've known something was amiss because I used to get emails from Linda at least once a month but they stopped around March; I figured she was busy getting ready for one of her spring cons.

At Media, before I got the news, I was in the hallway and I swear I heard Linda's voice -- but of course, I didn't see her anywhere. A few minutes later I discovered the memorial sign outside of the dealer's room. I nearly collapsed. I will say that several people commented that they, too, thought they'd heard her voice or saw her walking the halls, and all agreed her presence was strong. We spoke to her creative partner Andrea Brown at length, which is how we learned that Linda's mother Betty had been trying to track down Paulle (our phone number had changed right around the time of Linda's death). Paulle contacted Betty immediately so we're back in touch again.

You mentioned that a larger memorial will be done next year because it was too short of notice this year. I would like to make a suggestion for that. Back when I first got into fandom (about 26 years ago), I heard a filk song called "Altair V" (to the tune of "Forest Lawn"). It was all about a fan's funerary desires. Some years later, I would mention this song to Linda and discover that SHE had penned the lyrics (in collaboration with Leslie Fish and someone else). At any rate, I think this would be a perfect song to sing at her memorial. If you need help getting a copy, I do have one on my PC.

Anyway, that is why I'm writing. To share my sympathies for the loss of one we held so dear, a good friend and fellow fan who will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

Namaste,
Tami