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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Bronx Banter: Belth: A Death in the Family

Sad news from the Banter gang…

It is with a heavy heart that I pass along the news that our colleague and friend Todd Drew passed away last night. According to his wife, “Todd lost the last game of the season in the bottom of the 9th inning just after midnight. His dear friend Michael and I were with him and he went very peacefully. While we were sharing the ipod listening to Regina Carter (jazz violinist), he opened his eyes for just a moment.”

I didn’t know Todd well. We spoke over the phone about a dozen times and exchanged many e-mails over the past few years. I have an e-mail he sent me last February of his favorite sports writers tacked up in front of my computer.

I met him just once, a few months ago, at a dinner with the rest of the Bronx Banter crew, minus Bruce, who lives upstate.

Todd was a gentle, compassionate man, but no pushover. He loved sports writing, loved baseball, and was an unyielding optimist.

This is a great loss for our community and he will be missed dearly.

Todd Drew: May 13, 1967 - Jan. 15, 2009

Repoz Posted: January 15, 2009 at 11:52 PM | 27 comment(s)
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1. Matt Waters Posted: January 16, 2009 at 12:07 AM (#3053414)

RIP Todd. You were an excellent writer with a humanistic touch. Your work will be missed. God bless.

2. Gamingboy Posted: January 16, 2009 at 09:16 AM (#3053536)

R.I.P. While I wasn't a reader of his stuff, it is always sad to hear of someone leaving this world at such a young age.

3. Repoz

Posted: January 16, 2009 at 12:37 PM (#3053741)

Nice touch by Curt Schilling, here.

4. phredbird

Posted: January 16, 2009 at 01:47 PM (#3053815)

This is sad news. did he ever post here? which brings up another question, has any longtime poster to BTF passed away?

5. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken Posted: January 16, 2009 at 01:52 PM (#3053821)

This is sad news. did he ever post here? which brings up another question, has any longtime poster to BTF passed away?

I died in a fire in January 2005.

Doug Pappas died several years ago, though he was more of a rsbb poster, and didn't post here much.

6. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: January 16, 2009 at 01:54 PM (#3053826)

This is sad news. did he ever post here? which brings up another question, has any longtime poster to BTF passed away?

It's possible. In a lot of cases, we wouldn't know.

7. Superunknown Gary Geiger Counter Posted: January 16, 2009 at 01:56 PM (#3053828)

Dick Thompson died of the flu about a year ago. I never heard of Todd before, but this is sad. He was barely older than me.

8. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: January 16, 2009 at 01:58 PM (#3053833)

Dick Thompson died of the flu about a year ago. I never heard of Todd before, but this is sad. He was barely older than me.

I didn't know that--I remember him.

Best Regards

John

9. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken Posted: January 16, 2009 at 01:58 PM (#3053834)

It's possible. In a lot of cases, we wouldn't know.

I've told friends that if I die to post it on RLYW so my online friends would know. I imagine that the BTF people who are Facebook friends would probably find out if nobody did that, too.

10. Dan Szymborski

Posted: January 16, 2009 at 02:04 PM (#3053838)

Whoa, I didn't know Dick Thompson passed away. I wish now I hadn't made a joke about summoning Dick when Wes Ferrell came up a few months ago.

11. Superunknown Gary Geiger Counter Posted: January 16, 2009 at 02:07 PM (#3053840)

Yeah, he was a nurse in a VA hospital. IIRC, I think he caught a really virulent strain at work. I got along with him fine, but he was kind of a dick to one of my best friends here.

12. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: January 16, 2009 at 02:26 PM (#3053855)

but he was kind of a dick to one of my best friends here.

I hope I never live up to my name in such a fashion.

I've told friends that if I die to post it on RLYW so my online friends would know. I imagine that the BTF people who are Facebook friends would probably find out if nobody did that, too.

Well, if word ever gets out of my passing I hope there's a BTF thread devoted to it with lots of sick humour from you miscreants. Leave 'em laughin' I always sez.

Best Regards

John

13. Repoz

Posted: January 16, 2009 at 02:28 PM (#3053860)

Dick Thompson's obit.

I'm pretty sure we had a thread about it.

14. Repoz

Posted: January 16, 2009 at 02:31 PM (#3053864)

has any longtime poster to BTF passed away?

I always figured a lot did...then Daly heps me to the fact that they only changed their handles.

15. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: January 16, 2009 at 02:56 PM (#3053878)

I've told friends that if I die to post it on RLYW so my online friends would know. I imagine that the BTF people who are Facebook friends would probably find out if nobody did that, too.

I've told people similar things. Although, and I'm really not trying to be tacky here, how do people find out when someone dies via Facebook? Do you e-mail the site and they dos something? Does someone just write it on their wall? Technology sure creates a weird new world of etiquette.

16. Russ Posted: January 16, 2009 at 03:20 PM (#3053895)

42 is way too damn young to go. Condolences to his family...

17. Superunknown Gary Geiger Counter Posted: January 16, 2009 at 03:43 PM (#3053926)

I've told people similar things. Although, and I'm really not trying to be tacky here, how do people find out when someone dies via Facebook?

You just update your status. Instead of "RB is finally taking down the Christmans Tree.", your executor goes in and types "RB is dead."

18. Justin T Posted: January 16, 2009 at 03:59 PM (#3053947)

According to his wife, “Todd lost the last game of the season in the bottom of the 9th inning just after midnight."

He choked?

Sorry.

19. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:13 PM (#3053958)

You just update your status. Instead of "RB is finally taking down the Christmans Tree.", your executor goes in and types "RB is dead."

Did I have the Christmas tree thing update? That was a debacle, incidentally. Anyway, shouldn't your executor just change your status from "RB is..." to "RB was..."

20. Swedish Chef Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:14 PM (#3053962)

your executor goes in and types "RB is dead."

Just hook up your heart monitor to a web server.

21. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:15 PM (#3053963)

I've told people similar things. Although, and I'm really not trying to be tacky here, how do people find out when someone dies via Facebook? Do you e-mail the site and they dos something? Does someone just write it on their wall? Technology sure creates a weird new world of etiquette.

Well, I have no doubt that some friends will use my Facebook Wall as a memorial wall if I died young, so anyone not in the know would probably pick up on it pretty quick.

My computer isn't password-protected, either, so my parents could log on easily enough and post a status update.

22. Ryan Jones Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:16 PM (#3053965)

Just hook up your heart monitor to a web server.

Alternately, you could just design a plug-in for Firefox, like the Abe Vigoda Status.

23. Superunknown Gary Geiger Counter Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:21 PM (#3053966)

RB in NYC (Now with Rigor Mortis!)

24. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:23 PM (#3053968)

RB in NYC (Now with Rigor Mortis!)

I think I'd go for "RB in NYC (Now with Tragic Early Demise!)" Maybe even drop the exclamation point, since I can't say I'd be altogether thrilled about it.

25. Superunknown Gary Geiger Counter Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:28 PM (#3053975)

You could also revert back to "Displaced NYer."

26. RB in NYC (Now with Resolutions!) Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:28 PM (#3053976)

You could also revert back to "Displaced NYer."

Wow. Wow. That was great as both a reference, and amazing you remembered that. I am impressed. Wow.

27. Superunknown Gary Geiger Counter Posted: January 16, 2009 at 04:42 PM (#3053992)

I do what I can, RB.

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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Bronx Banter: Belth: A Death in the Family

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