This last week has been trying, at best. And when I thought things really couldn’t get any worse, they did. And when I thought I’d cried enough, I soon realised that I had evidently not…
Last Tuesday (16th September, 2006), Rob Levin – known to many as Freenode’s lilo – was in a tragic car accident while he was out cycling in Houston, Texas. I’m told that he had not a mark on him, however he did suffer head injuries leaving him in a coma. On Saturday 16th September, 2006, while being treated in a local hospital’s neuro trauma ICU (Intensive Care Unit) Rob passed away. This terrible news, still, has just not sunk in…
Over the last few months he and I talked rather a lot, and not just about Freenode; we talked about that obviously, but we would also talk about other common interests like Gentoo and Tor, but also life in general. This quite suprised me as he and I had “butted horns”, so to speak, occasionally in the past; but, as suprises go, it was really a rather fabulous one.
The last thing I remember him telling me was: “have you tried breathing exercises?” (I was having some trouble sleeping at the time), and what do you know, it worked. Not suprising, really, as he was often good with advice – be it technical or otherwise. It saddens me deeply that we will never speak again…
Rob, you have taught me many many things; from the basics of IRC, to ways of dealing with the problems that life throws at you and that you throw at life. You have been my mentor these past few months, but more importantly you have been a most extraordinary friend. Your untimely passing has touched thousands upon thousands of people, and you will not be forgotten.
Rest in peace, good man. Rest in peace.
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Rest in Peace Rob…
I was about to turn the corner from Kirby onto Inwood when I saw a bicycle down on te grass and a man down in the street, not moving. Near by was a young woman talking into her cell phone and greatly upset. Another woman was trying to make her cell phone work but she obviously could not get reception. I pulled my car into the turn and parked so to protect him from other vehicles. I opened my cell phone, called 911 and immediately told them the intersection and that we needed help and that bicyclist was down. The 911 operator asked if we needed police, ambulance and I said we needed police, ambulance and life flight. She said all was now on the way. As I walked to the man on the road I told 911 that he was breathing but not moving. I let the ladies know I had gotten through to emergency – they were greatly releaved. I went on my knees next to the dear man, gently put my hand on his side with light pats told him that help was coming, to – what do you say when you care? to hang on, stay with us that help was on the way. I kept gently patting his side for you never know when our voice can be heard and I saw that his right ear was full of blood. I prayed my heart out and I asked others to pray too – we prayed out loud. I prayed that God’s angels would wrap their wi