SqzMyLemon

[pws1225]

Sorry to hear the news. Sqz will be missed.

[CaptBeefheart]

Very sorry to hear this. Although I never interacted directly with him, he certainly came across as a gentleman and put his best face on the situation after he received his diagnosis. This forum is very much richer for him having been here.

May he rest in peace.
CB

[wdolson]

RIP, dang forum members keep falling.

Pancreatic cancer is a rough one. My SO's step-mother died of it and it was hard way to go and tough to watch happen. Her step-brother, who was an alcoholic fell off the wagon hard afterwards.

[Insano]

Sad news indeed. His place here on Earth will be missed by many of us from all places around the globe. His local friends and family probably don't have a perspective on the global reach through the forum here. Unknown to them his passing will be felt by many people. Our community is the poorer without him.

[NigelKentarus]

Fair Winds and Following Seas. RIP

[pontiouspilot]

RIP fellow Albertan....I think only me left. Fricking cancer strikes again. No more fretting, no more second guessing.

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Insano

Sad news indeed. His place here on Earth will be missed by many of us from all places around the globe. His local friends and family probably don't have a perspective on the global reach through the forum here. Unknown to them his passing will be felt by many people. Our community is the poorer without him.

They know. I'm sure Chickenboy told them. I told his wife today via email, that people from Singapore to South Korea, England to Sweden to the Czech Republic, France and many of the states and some of the provinces, all knew Joseph. That we knew him as a gentleman. That we are a tightknit group who share a love for history and a complex game. That we'd known Joseph for years. That he was a meticulous player who prepared thoroughly and who grumbled good-naturedly when an opponent pulled some tricky calamity on him, just like we all do, and that we will all miss him, especially his former opponents, who are quite hurt at his passing.

An hour later, I received the most beautiful reply from her. She must be quite a lady.

If Andre thinks its fitting, perhaps he can share her email address (at least via PM) so that others of you can write condolences. If you wonder if your words could be meaningful at a time like this, this was how she ended her email:

"Your words warmed my heart... He loved history so much and enjoyed playing very much... Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I will print out your email and treasure it forever..."

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

Sad news... [:(]


Leo "Apollo11"

[Barb]

Sorry to hear the news... He will be missed.
R.I.P.

[m10bob]

Rest in peace.

In 2013 I came down with what we thought was laryngitis and after two weeks, it just would not go away.
At the time I was into a long career as a Sr Accts Mgr at a major bank, with many great customers who contacted me by phone.
Friendships developed and several were concerned about my voice problems enough to convince me to return to the Dr..
I finally did, and after seeing several specialists, it was determined I had a massive case of cancer, stage 3 Neuroendocrine carcinoma, in both lungs, my throat, and "30 to 40" lymph nodes.
I was told it was "inoperable"...but my great Oncologist did not bat an eye when he said "So we will burn it out with radiation."

I began daily treatments, which lasted for months...and the cancer was killed.
Until this event in my life, I had been a big, strapping former army Ranger, capable of bench pressing over 300 pounds, even into my sixties.
The cancer NEVER made me feel ill at all.
If not for that "laryngitis"...I would be gone now as well.

I believe I was spared in order to tell my story, to give an encouragement if and when possible, that cancer CAN be beaten at times...even when declared "inoperable".
None of us can take our lives for granted, and IMHO no matter how healthy we think we are...even something as innocuous as a case of a raspy throat might be natures way of getting us in to see the Dr.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

ORIGINAL: Insano

Sad news indeed. His place here on Earth will be missed by many of us from all places around the globe. His local friends and family probably don't have a perspective on the global reach through the forum here. Unknown to them his passing will be felt by many people. Our community is the poorer without him.

They know. I'm sure Chickenboy told them. I told his wife today via email, that people from Singapore to South Korea, England to Sweden to the Czech Republic, France and many of the states and some of the provinces, all knew Joseph. That we knew him as a gentleman. That we are a tightknit group who share a love for history and a complex game. That we'd known Joseph for years. That he was a meticulous player who prepared thoroughly and who grumbled good-naturedly when an opponent pulled some tricky calamity on him, just like we all do, and that we will all miss him, especially his former opponents, who are quite hurt at his passing.

An hour later, I received the most beautiful reply from her. She must be quite a lady.

If Andre thinks its fitting, perhaps he can share her email address (at least via PM) so that others of you can write condolences. If you wonder if your words could be meaningful at a time like this, this was how she ended her email:

"Your words warmed my heart... He loved history so much and enjoyed playing very much... Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I will print out your email and treasure it forever..."

Thanks for the follow up, Dan. Sending a nice letter before we get 'busy' with the rest of our lives and move on is definitely the way to go. I've done so this morning as well.

Yes, if anyone wants his widow's email, please PM me.

[Chickenboy]

Joseph's loss stings on a personal level for a number of reasons, least of all because we were the same age. And he was the third "horse" that I had shot out from under me. USS Henrico (Alex), DivePac88 (Dez) and now SqzMyLemon (Joseph). A sharpened stake of reality right into the heart.

Media vita in morte sumus

[rsallen64]

I don't post often, but I read the forum every single day, so I am familiar with most of the names of the people that do post. This is another loss that's hard to bear, as people have mentioned, and every one saddens me. I'm in my mid 50's now, and more and more I see people I knew from childhood falling or getting ill with serious illnesses. It stings and is scary. As others have mentioned, don't let things go too long if something is bothering you and get it checked out by a doctor.

I go through all the Matrix forums, and I have to say, this is the only one that posts messages of support for other forumites in this manner. This is the best forum, bar none, I have ever seen on the net. This is a really unique, close knit community, formed around a unique, fantastic game. I am grateful and humbled to even be a part of it.

[Insano]

ORIGINAL: rsallen64

I don't post often, but I read the forum every single day, so I am familiar with most of the names of the people that do post. This is another loss that's hard to bear, as people have mentioned, and every one saddens me. I'm in my mid 50's now, and more and more I see people I knew from childhood falling or getting ill with serious illnesses. It stings and is scary. As others have mentioned, don't let things go too long if something is bothering you and get it checked out by a doctor.

I go through all the Matrix forums, and I have to say, this is the only one that posts messages of support for other forumites in this manner. This is the best forum, bar none, I have ever seen on the net. This is a really unique, close knit community, formed around a unique, fantastic game. I am grateful and humbled to even be a part of it.

Well said. I'm the same and I know there are more like us. I don't post frequently but I read the forum every day. I consider myself a member of the fine community here. I feel like I personally know the guys (gal) that post frequently.

I remember SqzMyLemon's game with Smeulders. That was at the time when I was first getting into this game.

[geofflambert]

For those young ones who haven't been in the forum long, there's a bunch of cranky old dudes here and every so often one of us dies. As Betty Davis once said, "Getting old ain't for sissies".

[obvert]

Hi all. It does warm me to see so many comments and heartfelt messages surrounding Joseph's passing. It was sad news to get.

As most know we played a game, but had already been friendly before that, and shared an interest in modelling and other things. We enjoyed a friendship built around a daily challenge, that thing we would wake for and immediately load up to see what problem the other had posed for us to solve. That daily interaction, the sharing of our lives and the battle of wits, led us to feel close over the years in spite of distance and our never having met in person.

I spoke with Joe a few times and heard about his struggle and also his commitment to enjoying his time with his wife, family and friends after being diagnosed. It sounds like he did just that as long as his body would allow. He did have a great attitude about the illness in spite of the prognosis.

A glass raised to Sqz. You will be remembered fondly.

[Orm]

Rest in Peace.

[rustysi]

Sad news. [:(]

[Kull]

Yes, a real gentleman. Fair winds and following seas, Joseph. You will be missed.

[Chickenboy]

I wrote a message to his widow today. Her remarkable response follows:

Thank you Andre for that beautiful tribute of Joseph. It warms my heart to hear what you wrote. For many years, I saw him playing that game on the computer, sometimes it drove me crazy, " I just have to run my turn...". But I knew it was something he loved and for the very intelligent man he was, it challenged him mentally....

...

I treasure these memories that you and others have sent me.. While I am very grateful he is no longer suffering from a horrible disease that robbed him of his body, his skills and dignity, I am just starting to see the impact Joseph had on others... I will print out your tribute and always keep it.

I am heartened that she is taking solace in Joseph's impact on others. When heartfelt words can help others with the grieving process, they should be shared freely. I encourage others to do so if they feel comfortable.

ETA: I will send her the link to this thread so that she can see for herself the brotherhood and fraternity that Joseph was an integral part of.