WaltOHara | 24 Mar 2017 12:28 p.m. PST |
I heard this week that AL HAYDEN, a fixture at HMGS conventions (the ones in PA anyway) since the late 90s had decided to end his own life this week-- at first I thought it might have been an awful joke but it was confirmed by sources close to his family. Al was a fantastic, gifted guy with a wicked sense of humor. I am still trying to grasp the reasons for his decision (I probably never will) but I know many of us will miss him.
(that's Al playing "Sergeant Slaughter in Bun-Bun Land" back in 2004. With the Pith Helmet, of course) For whatever it's worth, I put up a small tribute on my blog about Al: link Thanks for your time and consideration, Walt O'Hara |
razuse | 24 Mar 2017 1:07 p.m. PST |
Walt, I just read your blog post about Al. Very touching words and even though I did not know Al, you did a fine job and I am sure people who cared about him are grateful to you. Sorry for your loss |
TheKing30 | 24 Mar 2017 1:10 p.m. PST |
Sorry for your loss Walt. Terribly sorry. |
Joes Shop | 24 Mar 2017 1:50 p.m. PST |
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Ragbones | 24 Mar 2017 2:33 p.m. PST |
Condolences and prayers, Walt, and to Al's family. |
Double G | 24 Mar 2017 2:59 p.m. PST |
Sorry for your loss Walt; the last paragraph you wrote under his picture caused the room I'm in to get all dusty, I felt your pain after reading those words. |
Pizzagrenadier | 24 Mar 2017 3:04 p.m. PST |
Thank you for this Walt. Al was a long time member of our club and a friend and we are all in shock and have been fighting tears. I've taken this all pretty hard. I saw him just the week before and it kills me knowing he walked out of the club and gave his final goodbye and we didn't even know it. He was everything you said. Funny, kind, a great rules writer, gamer, and all around awesome human being. I won't speculate on why he did what he did. I just know I miss my friend. Our club and our circle of friends has suffered a big loss and we are struggling with making sense of it. It did appear he planned this for quite some time. He even sent friends packages, put up his rules on his blog for everyone to access and download, and left the miniatures that went with them in our club. We will be holding a private memorial game day in his honor. It's the least we can do, and we hope it will help us heal a little. Man this sucks. Take care of each other everyone. RIP my friend. |
Grimmnar | 24 Mar 2017 3:28 p.m. PST |
No no no no. Would have been a sick joke. I have been con friends with Al for I don't know how long. So long I would like to think we were real friends. Always look forward to catching him at the HMGS cons and seeing what is new. I didn't find him at Cold Wars this year and I was looking. This makes me sad and i will miss him. :-( Grimm |
Ember52 | 24 Mar 2017 3:34 p.m. PST |
Walt, Thanks for sharing the news and your very touching reflections. Sincere condolences to you, Keith, and all of Al's friends and comrades. As Keith said, take care of each other. |
peterx | 24 Mar 2017 4:51 p.m. PST |
I am so sorry for the loss of such a fine friend and a wonderful man. My condolences to Walt, Keith and his gaming club, as well as his other friends and family. Sounds like he will be missed and remembered. |
dBerczerk | 24 Mar 2017 5:41 p.m. PST |
All his troubles are behind him now. |
Doctor Merkury | 24 Mar 2017 6:15 p.m. PST |
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Patrick Sexton | 24 Mar 2017 7:49 p.m. PST |
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McKinstry | 24 Mar 2017 7:54 p.m. PST |
Mt deepest condolences to his friends and family. Judging by the feelings he engendered with his friends, a very good guy. |
skinkmasterreturns | 25 Mar 2017 8:37 a.m. PST |
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Tiberius | 26 Mar 2017 2:41 p.m. PST |
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tkdguy | 27 Mar 2017 8:58 p.m. PST |
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