This section is
in memory of friends, or people who are important to friends
of mine who have passed. Please contribute to their families
if you can.
Steve
Holtgrefe - Aug 11, 1964 - Dec 8, 2007 Former U.S.
Navy
Steve
was a friend, motorcycle riding buddy, and part of the extended
family at the Torrance Airsoft Extreme store where I met him
through the owner, Andrew Ho. Steve was a fellow who loved his
hobbies - airsoft, motorcycles, shooting, scale and R/C models,
and his classic Lotus 7 car. Always easy going and amiable,
he had a quiet, friendly nature and wry sense of humour. He'd
sometimes communicate with a nod of the head and raised eyebrow
rather than words. I don't think I can recall a time when I
saw him without a smile on his face, or the hint of one. He
was always quick to help anyone in need, and enjoyed being around
the people he shared his hobbies with.
He rode his motorcycle erratically, and those who followed him
were wise to keep a safe distance as he'd speed up or slow down
for no apparent reason. It'd definitely keep you on your toes
(or brakes). I'll miss the sight and sound of him on his Honda
RC51 with the one pipe higher than the other, giving the bike
a slightly lop-sided appearance from behind (he's dropped it
on one side). When I got my Ducati 996, we compared the throaty
growl of our bikes' V-twin engines exhausts side-by-side, and
he said "I still think mine's louder". He was wrong,
of course.
He loved driving his Lotus 7 car as much as riding his motorcycle
in the twisty mountain highways, and that was a fun car to watch
when I was on the bike.
It was while doing something he loved that he passed, and for
that he is lucky. He passed away during an airsoft game, surrounded
by friends and fellow hobbyists alike. We could only hope to
be as fortunate to be amongst those we love when we die, but
for Steve, that time came too soon and unexpectedly.
My wife had just given birth to our son on Dec 2nd, and a few
days later he had a serious infection that put him back in the
hospital for a week. The doctor told us that if it had been
allowed to spread a couple of days more, it could have been
fatal. It was during that stressful time that Andrew Ho called
to tell me about Steve the evening of the day that he died.
I was in disbelief, and it hit me hard as I had just been contemplating
the fragility of us humans all week while spending day and night
in the hospital, watching over my week-old son hooked up to
needles and wires. One day we're here, the next we're gone.
But ever since Steve died, he's been on my mind daily, as I
reminisce about conversations we've had or replay scenes in
my mind. As I do so, I realize that Steve lives on in my memory,
as do others that have passed, and to some extent, will always
be here with me. RIP, Steve. You are missed.
For
more about Steve from the words of his other friends, please
visit Steve's
Memorial Page on the AEX website.
Andrew
Ho has received many emails and calls in the past week from
many people, some of whom do not even know Steve, to express
their condolences. Their wish to show support for Steve's family
and friends include offers of financial contributions which
the family has declined. With the family's permission, Andrew
has set up this memorial page with the American Heart Association
for Steve's friends and fellow hobby enthusiasts so you can
make a contribution in Steve's honor and, just as importantly,
leave a message in the guestbook to share your thoughts with
Steve's family and friends.
Click
here
to view the Fund Page for Steve Holtgrefe.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can
visit the web address:
http://amha.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General?px=1065901&pg=fund&fr_id=1030&s_tafId=1061
Michael
'Mac' McInnis (posted for a friend - I did not know Mike
personally). Former Navy SEAL, warrior, friend and
loving father. This is the trust fund for Mike's daughter, Sarah:
By
mail:
Account Name: The Sarah Michael McInnis Trust
Fund
Account Number: 3010059149
Navy Federal Credit Union
P.O.Box 3100
Merrifield, VA 22119-3100
Direct deposit:
Navy Federal Credit Union
Account Name: The Sarah Michael McInnis Revocable Trust Fund
Account Number: 3010059149
Routing Number: 2560-7497-4
Larry
Bullock, the owner of Buffer
Technologies lost his life in a tragic automobile accident
on 11-12-05, leaving behind his wife and two daughters. He was
a great contributor to the shooting industry and a supporter
of our men and women in the military; always making sure they
got what they needed if he had anything to do with it. He was
a kind and generous man - a genuine 'great guy'. He will be
deeply missed by all who knew him. A scholarship fund has been
set up to help his girls through school.
Please
send contributions to Mary Wilson at Jefferson Bank of Missouri,
700 Southwest Blvd. P.O. Box 600, Jefferson City, MO 65102-9930.
The account is titled The Abby and Grace Bullock Scholarship
Fund. The account number is 0144784. Rest in Peace, Larry.
Elijah
Wong - Former owner of assultvest.com and a really great
guy. Eli was KIA in Iraq 2-9-04, while serving with the Arizona
National Guard, 363rd Explosive ordnance Company (EOD). He is
survived by his wife and three children. No trust fund information
available.
More information here
and here.
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