"Any word on Lou Zocchi?" Topic

Hi All,

Has anyone heard from Lou Zocchi in Gulfport? I've just seen the pics from the Gulfport area. I hope and pray he and his family are all right. Anyone heard from the Broms? Hope all are safe and well.

you will probably not hear anytime soon. The Broms will not be allowed back in the New Orleans anytime soon. Gulport is severely damaged. They are looking at weeks just to estimate the damages and start repairs. They are still plucking people off the roofs of homes as the flood waters rise.

My inlaws and friends live in New Olreans. One has rented an apartment in Baton rouge as she was told she did not have a home to go back to in Metairie.

keep praying and donate to the Red Cross or to your church. they need everything from ice, water, food and blood. Many injuries it appears.

I cetainly hope Lou is A-OK. Just saw him at GenCon last week selling his "perfectly balanced, micro edged dice". No one does it like Lou!

Yeah—I went to his "How to start your own game company" seminar. He's quite a character! Hope he's o.k.

Note to all. I spoke with Lorie Brom at Historicon and she informed me that they had moved to Atlanta. That's why Larry didn't make the con, to bushed from the move. They should have avoided the storm with no problem

Lou is a Colonel in the State Guard (not to be confused with the National Guard), so is probably on duty at the moment.

rebmarine, you must have misunderstood Lori. The move was to New Orleans. She did talk about her Dad insisting on driving THROUGH Atlanta in the course of it (at rush hour, naturally), which only added to the stress.

I was doing a search on the Web looking for news about Lou Zocchi, who is my father. Anyway, I ran across your thread. I and my siblings have not heard from him in the last few days. I also did not have time to call him before the hurricane hit, so I don't know whether he stayed or went somewhere. The phone lines are still down. Any news would be welcome. Thanks.

Wayne and I first met Lou in 1979 when we came to visit his warehouse, the living room of his home. He took us out for lunch at a Pizza Hut. At an Origins in Los Angeles he took us to the Magic Castle. He told me to use a Sharpie Magic Marker and mark in the numbers of his Gamescience dice, so he didn't have to do them. I wish him well and hope to read on this forum he is OK. He helped so many young people getting started in the industry. I will alway remember Lou. Shirley formerly of Wargames West.

I too have been trying to reach Lou Zocchi by phone.

We order dice from him regularly for our store, and I have grown to like him very much through our frequent (and sometimes long) phone conversations. I am very worried about him.

Tom, for what it's worth, he and the business have not been located in Gulfport for a few years. He's based in North Biloxi. Fortunately North Biloxi was not nearly as hard hit by Katrina as Biloxi itself. His home is a mile or so from the water.

Lisa, it was me who called you last night to see if you had any news. Now I know why you didn't return my call. My best wishes go out to both you and your father.

I sincerely hope you hear some good news very soon.

-Brigid Skelton

Well, God willing the good colonel is all right. Hopefully he's busy working to help others and will back in the game soon.

Lisa, Have you tried calling the Mississippi State Guard?

On their unoficial website link there is this message:

"We need more volunteers for shelter management/security and to man phones at MEMA. Over 100 members of the MSG have been deployed thus far during this disaster. If you are available, please call the MSG Coodinator in the EOC at JFH asap. The phone number is 601-313-6518. If you are a member of the 402nd MP Battalion and are not deployed, please also call this number asap. "

The message was posted August 31st.

Of course this phone number might not be in service at the moment.

That phone number was also given in a report dated September 3, giving details of the damage in Mississippi and again asking the MSG members to call in. The URL for the report is: link

One more possibility is the missing persons registry being hosted by Gulf Coast News: gulfcoastnews.com

I am hoping to hear word about Lou, as well. Lou was one of my instructors at ATC School at Keesler AFB, back in 1973-74. He also "gave me away" at my 1st wedding back on April 28, 1974.

We've kept in minimal touch over the years; I saw him when I was stationed in New Orleans with the Navy Steel Band. I have gotten Christmas cards from him over the years.

If anyone should hear from him, or hear word of him, please let me know. Thank you.

Hi

Just got word from "Scotty", Michael Scott Kurtic through a mutual friend Chuck Hards that Lou was evaced to Maxwell AFB and is fine and currently returning to his house. I am also told that the power must be on there as his answering machine is now "picking up" the phone.

It was about 25 years ago when a previous hurricane pretty much wiped out "Gamescience" as a business. The price for living on a tropical paradise, I guess.

Rocky

Thanks to all of you who have wondered with me and to those who answered some questions. I got word Sept 4 that my dad is okay. All I heard was that he was in Alabama and on his way home. I am in Canada right now, so I am feeling a bit out of the loop.

Brigid, you mentioned calling my house. So now I am wondering if you knew I was in Canada, or whether you were referring to my previous comment that the phone lines were down. As for the phone lines, I was referring to those in Mississippi.

Anyway, thanks again to all of you for your support and concern. I appreciate the suggestions, the reminiscences, and the updates.

Lisa,
I was calling you in Utah. I didn't know you were up here in Canada. I'm in Victoria BC.

I'm so glad Lou is okay!

Best wishes!

-Brigid (Tarodin)

I spoke to him on the phone this afternoon. He's fine. His house is missing some siding and roof shingles, but he has electicity, intermittent phone service, and (un-drinkable) tap water. The Biloxi post office blew down, so he's not sure how he'll be sending out his packages, maybe via UPS.

Anyway, it was really good to hear his voice, and know that he is well.

-Tarodin

Wonderful news!

I was just going through a ton of framed photos and stuff I hadn't had a chance to get to since the move to smaller quarters 12 years ago and found something Lou had given me 'way back when'. It's an inexpensive wood-framed glass shadow-print of a sailing ship against a sunset. He gave it to me at a con many years ago after we had released CORSAIR! and said "When I saw it, it reminded me of CORSAIR so I thought you'd like it."

That is just another example of why so many of us feel the way we do about Uncle Lou.

BTW, I'm hanging it up in my office right now.