That we know of, since so many have drifted away.

Rick (wacky)
Mary (Apple)
Mike (Phlebas)
Vince (VPG)
Larry
Mark

4 of the 6 to cancer. Some quite young. Only 2 would you say lived a reasonably complete lifespan.

I don't think she posted her much, but in addition to those on your list, Monica K is another person I always miss. And she was young as well.

There was a fellow named David? Burton. His last name was Burton. I am not sure if I am remembering his first name correctly.

I think David Burton may still be around (?). Just not here. I see replies from him in other people’s posts on FB or PW, but maybe those are old posts.

David is still around. He's posted on my FB page.

quote:

Originally posted by kluurs:
David is still around. He's posted on my FB page.

Good to hear!

Is anyone still in touch with ChickGrand?

Not in years. I got the impression he wanted to retreat into anonymity, so I honored that wish.

Felt a big stab in my heart reading Phlebas' name on this list. That one really killed something in me. His siblings reached out to me at one point to try to understand how he could have committed suicide. They had to have been feeling a huge desperation to do that--as if I would have a better idea than they would.

I didn't know about Phlebas. That's really sad.

I knew Phlebas had passed away, but I didn't realized he died by suicide.

Yes. IIRR, his marriage was failing, he was extremely devoted to his young daughter and was quite depressed about the loss of his marriage, but mostly deeply worried about how it was going to impact his daughter. So, he started therapy.

Now, I got to know Phlebas pretty well. We got together most of my visits to New York, he performed for my book launch on Piano Row, and he and I had forged a friendship years before that because of a shared interest in research (he was a librarian).

so I know him well enough to know that he is not the kind of guy to commit suicide. Very even-tempered, very well grounded. He was normally a rock, with a quite serene outlook on life. so his suicide was a very big shock to everyone in his life.

Best we understand from comparing notes, the therapist put him on anti-depressants (a stupid thing to do, IMO, for someone who is having a normal reaction to life events, not a brain chemistry problem). One of the side effects of some anti-depressants is suicide. the changes in brain chemistry can have this result.

there really isn't any other good explanation why someone like Phlebas, who adored his daughter and would never want to do something like this to her, would go shut himself in a garage with the car engine running.

i am still heartbroken when I think about it.

That is absolutely horrifying. And heartbreaking.

I was conversing with Monica K or her daughter right up to the day she passed, and stayed in touch with her daughter for a time after that.

She was a great gal. I really liked her. We were going to meet in person after her surgery, since she was relatively close to me, in a neighboring state. the surgery was supposed to be minor as they had no idea the cancer had spread at the time.

I think about her often.

quote:

I think about her often.

Me too.

Some of my most favorite pianists to play (Einaudi, Nevue) are people I learned about from her. We messaged all the time on PW and then at some point connected on FB.

When I came back to the US for grad school, I always thought one day we'd have the chance to meet in person and play together.

It broke my heart when when she died.