RIP, Rogmeister

Here at robohara.com I offer e-mail notifications for whenever I post a new blog entry. You can add and remove yourself from the list, so I rarely get bounced e-mails from the mailing list. Unfortunately, last week, I got one.

rogmeister@earthlink.net
Error Type: SMTP
Remote server (209.86.93.226) issued an error.
Mail Server sent: RCPT TO:
Remote server replied: 550 rogmeister@earthlink.net…User account is overquota

Last week while I was in Vegas, my friend Rogmeister passed away at the age of 61.

Online communications have redefined the meaning of the word “friend.” I grew up calling BBSes, so it was not uncommon for me to have “friends” that I rarely saw in person. In fact, I met some of my best friends online! Because most of us lived in the same area code, it was more common back then for online friends to eventually meet up in real life. Through the internet I now have friends all over the globe, some of which I’m met in person and some of which I doubt I ever will.

I first “met” Roger through the Digital Press forums. Roger was already a staple of that community when I first joined back in 2003. Like most people there, Roger enjoyed playing and talking about old games. My impression of him was that he was a gentleman, in the truest sense of the word — a gentle man. Roger liked his cats and his games and would talk about anything but rarely argue about anything.

A few years ago (five, maybe) Roger was downsizing and looking for a way to store his growing DVD collection. I suggested picking up some DJ CD carrying cases, designed for holding 500+ discs. I had found a place locally selling them, and when Roger couldn’t find any in his area I bought one and mailed it to him. He told me he filled it up with western movies. Anyone who knew Roger knows that he had a fondness for classic westerns, especially those starring John Wayne.

Due to diabetes and heart-related conditions, Roger’s health began declining to the point that he could no longer live alone. Roughly six months ago, Roger moved in with his brother Sherrill and his wife Donna. A couple of months ago, Roger posted on Facebook that he was looking for a second Gamecube controller so that he could play Gamecube games with his niece. I went out to my garage, grabbed a spare one, boxed it up and mailed it to him. I never heard if he finally got to play any games with her but I hope that he did.

Anyone who knew Roger knew about his cats. His cat, Shadow, passed away a few years ago and it was a sad time for Roger. His cat Cindy, who was I think 12 years old, made the move with Roger over to Sherrill’s place. In one of Roger’s last blog posts he wrote about some health issues Cindy was having. To say that Roger was always thinking of other people (and cats) is an understatement. Roger’s Christmas cards had a picture of him with his cats. We had that card sitting our mantle for something like six months.

A few months ago Roger posted that he was looking for things to read, so I sent him a copy of my book Commodork. He later posted that he enjoyed it even though he owned an Atari computer back in the day. I also sent him a copy of my second book, Invading Spaces, and he later posted on Facebook that he finished and enjoyed that one, too.

Through Roger’s Facebook updates and blog posts I (and I’m sure many others) feel like we’ve been along for many of Roger’s adventures. Even if only virtually, we were there when his cat Shadow passed, when Cindy temporarily disappeared, when Roger began dialysis, and many other trips to the hospital. In one of his last updates he spoke about going to Ohio for another surgery. Unfortunately he didn’t make it through this last one.

Roger’s funeral was May 6th, one day before his 62nd birthday. RIP Rog, you were one of the good ones.

Link: Roger’s online obituary