Comments on: Gary’s Funeral http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/ Matt Forbeck's official website and blog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:18:18 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Alliterates » Uncle Duke in the News http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-46736 The Alliterates » Uncle Duke in the News Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:56:20 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-46736 [...] ban coming to Wisconsin. In it, they interviewed tabletop gaming-industry legend Duke Seifried. You might recall I sat next to “Uncle” Duke at Gary Gygax’s funeral last year and had a chance to [...] [...] ban coming to Wisconsin. In it, they interviewed tabletop gaming-industry legend Duke Seifried. You might recall I sat next to “Uncle” Duke at Gary Gygax’s funeral last year and had a chance to [...]

]]> By: Uncle Duke in the News | Forbeck.com http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-46735 Uncle Duke in the News | Forbeck.com Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:02:22 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-46735 [...] ban coming to Wisconsin. In it, they interviewed tabletop gaming-industry legend Duke Seifried. You might recall I sat next to “Uncle” Duke at Gary Gygax’s funeral last year and had a chance to [...] [...] ban coming to Wisconsin. In it, they interviewed tabletop gaming-industry legend Duke Seifried. You might recall I sat next to “Uncle” Duke at Gary Gygax’s funeral last year and had a chance to [...]

]]> By: Matt Forbeck http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-45963 Matt Forbeck Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:10:26 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-45963 Thanks for the note, Steve. I know exactly how you feel. Thanks for the note, Steve. I know exactly how you feel.

]]> By: Steven Martin http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-45962 Steven Martin Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:08:06 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-45962 I never met Mr. Gygax nor even attended a GEN CON, despite living in WI my entire life and gaming since the early '80's. When my old DM called and informed me Mr. Gygax's passing, I tried to explain to my wife the profound influence this man had on my life, despite never meeting (truly one of my life's only regrets). It took my counting out the 20 plus books which contained his name in the credits before she understood. My former DM, his wife and I attended and Luke's tribute is something that I will remember for the rest of my life. Mr. Gygax touched so many of our lives in a way that can not be explained to someone who's never slain a dragon, just for the fun of it! Since the funeral, we've gotten the old party together and started playing again, in Greyhawk, just like old times. Thank you Mr. Gygax and family for how all of you have helped shape my life.... Nevets "9-Finger" Nitram I never met Mr. Gygax nor even attended a GEN CON, despite living in WI my entire life and gaming since the early ’80’s. When my old DM called and informed me Mr. Gygax’s passing, I tried to explain to my wife the profound influence this man had on my life, despite never meeting (truly one of my life’s only regrets). It took my counting out the 20 plus books which contained his name in the credits before she understood. My former DM, his wife and I attended and Luke’s tribute is something that I will remember for the rest of my life. Mr. Gygax touched so many of our lives in a way that can not be explained to someone who’s never slain a dragon, just for the fun of it! Since the funeral, we’ve gotten the old party together and started playing again, in Greyhawk, just like old times.
Thank you Mr. Gygax and family for how all of you have helped shape my life….

Nevets “9-Finger” Nitram

]]> By: Matt Forbeck http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-45909 Matt Forbeck Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:57:21 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-45909 Thank you, Cindy. Your dad inspired a lot of people with his work, but the funeral made it clear just how much more his family loved him than anyone else possibly could. Thank you, Cindy. Your dad inspired a lot of people with his work, but the funeral made it clear just how much more his family loved him than anyone else possibly could.

]]> By: Cindy Gygax http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-45905 Cindy Gygax Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:57:42 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-45905 It has been nearly 9 months since Dad died. The loss is great...he was the most intelligent, complicated, funny man I've ever known. He must have know 1000's of puns, jokes, riddles, stories. I'm grateful for the story you wrote Matt. There are so many myths and misconceptions about him and us..I guess that will continue. My family and I miss him daily and those memories of selling pop and hot dogs to the gamers will remain, as will the play-testing of many of Dad's games and the games of people who worked with him. He was happy doing his "work" and it wasn't easy to pull him away from it. Luke's tribute was beautiful and more heartfelt than anything I've heard my little brother ever say. The lead figure that Duke made did indeed get put into the pocket of Dad's orange button-up shirt (one of his favorites) and is likely still with his ashes. He wasn't a suit wearing kind of guy... I want to thank all the people who did make it to Dad's funeral. Try as I might to rid myself of the memory of that day, seeing friendly faces from the past was nice and meant so much to us. Thank you. It has been nearly 9 months since Dad died. The loss is great…he was the most intelligent, complicated, funny man I’ve ever known. He must have know 1000’s of puns, jokes, riddles, stories. I’m grateful for the story you wrote Matt. There are so many myths and misconceptions about him and us..I guess that will continue.
My family and I miss him daily and those memories of selling pop and hot dogs to the gamers will remain, as will the play-testing of many of Dad’s games and the games of people who worked with him. He was happy doing his “work” and it wasn’t easy to pull him away from it.
Luke’s tribute was beautiful and more heartfelt than anything I’ve heard my little brother ever say.
The lead figure that Duke made did indeed get put into the pocket of Dad’s orange button-up shirt (one of his favorites) and is likely still with his ashes. He wasn’t a suit wearing kind of guy… I want to thank all the people who did make it to Dad’s funeral. Try as I might to rid myself of the memory of that day, seeing friendly faces from the past was nice and meant so much to us. Thank you.

]]> By: Matt Forbeck http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-45803 Matt Forbeck Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:53:24 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-45803 My condolences again on the loss of your father, Jamie. I was in the kitchen at the American Legion Hall when you gave the Gygax's the game, and I could see they appreciated it. You did a good thing. My condolences again on the loss of your father, Jamie. I was in the kitchen at the American Legion Hall when you gave the Gygax’s the game, and I could see they appreciated it. You did a good thing.

]]> By: Jamie Chambers http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-45801 Jamie Chambers Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:20:16 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-45801 I stumbled upon this today, and it brought me back to both the sadness and the real sense of community and family that the event had. Even living in the same town for the past seven years, I'd only had the chance to spend time with Gary a handful of occasions. It was a real thrill for me to get copies of the early 80s "red box" version of D&D and get both Gary and Larry Elmore to sign it for my then-unborn son. Though I didn't have a personal relationship with him, Gary was profoundly important to me and my life. Having lost my own father more recently, I also now understand all too well the feelings of Ernie and Luke at this event. I was very glad to bestow upon them the first off-the-press copy of Dragon Lairds, our company's very first board game: one that the Gygax family playtested and continued to play. I stumbled upon this today, and it brought me back to both the sadness and the real sense of community and family that the event had. Even living in the same town for the past seven years, I’d only had the chance to spend time with Gary a handful of occasions. It was a real thrill for me to get copies of the early 80s “red box” version of D&D and get both Gary and Larry Elmore to sign it for my then-unborn son. Though I didn’t have a personal relationship with him, Gary was profoundly important to me and my life.

Having lost my own father more recently, I also now understand all too well the feelings of Ernie and Luke at this event. I was very glad to bestow upon them the first off-the-press copy of Dragon Lairds, our company’s very first board game: one that the Gygax family playtested and continued to play.

]]> By: Matt Forbeck http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-45763 Matt Forbeck Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:28:24 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-45763 You're welcome, Bill and Elise. I was honored to be able to attend the funeral and to have known Gary for so many years. We all miss him, although I'm sure that's nothing compared to your sense of loss. You’re welcome, Bill and Elise. I was honored to be able to attend the funeral and to have known Gary for so many years. We all miss him, although I’m sure that’s nothing compared to your sense of loss.

]]> By: Bill& Elise'Gygax-Cousino http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/comment-page-1/#comment-45762 Bill& Elise'Gygax-Cousino Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:47:33 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/2008/03/10/garys-funeral/#comment-45762 Thank you so much Matt,my wife just found your sight and we would again like to thank you for you account of that day and your history of TSR. Thank you so much Matt,my wife just found your sight and we would again like to thank you for you account of that day and your history of TSR.

]]>