I'm sorry to report that DUer Junkdrawer has passed away
I received a DU Mail from his wife last week, unfortunately since I was on vacation I only just got around to reading it. Here is the message:
on 13 May 2014. Rich died ostensibly as a result of blunt force trauma to the upper body after a head-on collision. Nobody else was injured. They thought Rich was going to make it--he was able to tell them his name, address, & date of birth. Once en route to the hospital, however, he began experiencing some difficulty. When he arrived at the emergency room, they tried to revive him two or three times. He didn't make it...couldn't even hang on until I got there. This goes to prove that simply because one is driving a Subaru Forester does not mean that one will walk away unscathed.
Rich was a true progressive and a realist--almost to the point of pessimism. He joined DU in 2002 and you all have been a part of our dinnertime discussions until he died. I do not think that many of the DU members know just how smart Junkdrawer was; he was scary-smart. He had been a math/physics major as an undergrad many, many years ago and got into computers in the 1980s. He once told me, "There is no playground greater than the one in my head," but I went ahead & married him anyway!
Richard was very concerned about the direction this country is headed. The watered-down liberal pabulum that has replaced any sort of true activism was distressing to him. Increasingly he found people on DU who were merely posing as liberals (I believe you all call them "Trolls"
. Often this would anger him. I was fond of saying, "Honey, if you're going to do intellectual battle, do intellectual battle with your equals." Very few people qualified.
So this is his goodbye to the Democratic Underground. He would want you all to remember one of his favorite quotes from Kurt Vonnegut:
"Here's what I think the truth is: We are all addicts of fossil fuels in a state of denial, about to face cold turkey. And like so many addicts about to face cold turkey, our leaders are now committing violent crimes to get what little is left of what we’re hooked on."
So it goes.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Condolences to his family and friends and those he was close to on DU.
He will be missed.
Peace...
My condolences to the family.
So it goes.
Last edited Wed Jun 18, 2014, 02:39 PM - Edit history (1)
May he RIP.
Definitely OUR loss, in addition to that of his friends and family.
he will be missed
Deepest sympathy
My heart goes out to his bereaved.
My condolences to the family.
RIP Junkdrawer.
deepest condolences to his wife, family and friends. Rest in Peace Junkdrawer.
My condolences and best wishes to the family...
I loved his screen name! Everyone's got one, huh?
I will miss your husband and am terribly sorry to read this. Thank you for letting us know.
My condolences to his friends and family.
Our DU family will truly miss him.
Peace to Junkdrawer.
Thank you, EarlG, for bringing us this bad news.
After a day of letting this awful news soak in, I am just shocked and so very sad to learn that Junkdrawer is gone.
My heart is breaking for Ms. Junkdrawer, I send vibes across this country to her, thoughts of comfort, strength, and peace.
We were privileged by his presence here at DU for so many years, now, tragically, he is gone too soon.
Thanks for all the thoughtful posts.
Why WHY is it always the good ones who pass on too young!
He could talk just fine one minute and be dead the next. Damn.
RIP Richard
-Laelth
...DU will miss you.
May all of your good memories help bring you comfort. I will really miss his posts. 
That is a real shock. We shared a lot of passion about the environment. He was one of my favorite DUers. RIP Richard.
The Tikkis
I'll surely miss Junkdrawer and so sad about his tragic death. What a beautiful tribute from his wife, and I wish only good thoughts for his family.
Thanks, EarlG, for sharing this though it is so heartbreaking.
My condolences to Mrs. Junkdrawer.
Peace to Richard.
And so it goes.
We've lost an important voice and a good liberal.
Condolences to his family and friends.
RIP, Junkdrawer
RIP Junkdrawer.
So sorry to hear the news
Yes, he was a very smart guy, and his contributions will be missed.
I always enjoyed his posts.
Great quote to remember.
Thank you for sharing the information, EarlG. I hope you're able to share the comments in this thread with his wife.
Miss your presence here already.
Your spirit will be sorely missed.
RIP
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RIP Richard.
My deepest condolences to you and yours.
I didn't know him, but that doesn't matter.
He contributed.
May he rest in peace. My deepest condolences to his wife and family and friends...
It is really tough when you don't get to say goodbye.
How devastating to lose a loved one in a blink of a eye. My sincerest condolences to his wife, family and friends.
May he rest in peace.
these many condolences, as well as mine, to his wife. She sounds quite level-headed and wise, just the kind of person to join the DU community. Maybe suggest that to her? Who knows, it might help ease some of her loss...
Peace and healing to his family.
Thanks for the thread, EarlG
Peace to his family and friends...
This is so terribly sad.
He will be missed.
My condolences to his family. Junkdrawer was a great and respected member of this community.
to this community and his family and friends.
Peace.
RIP Rich.
...and to all that knew and loved him here. This is crushing news.
My condolences to your family and friends.
and was well respected. So incredibly sorry for your (and our) loss. He was the best of old school DU and, as himself noted, there's too little of that here these days. His contributions will be missed.
he will be missed by many people here.
I remember him well and wondered why we weren't hearing from him for a long while.
He is remembered fondly.. and, losing another long time DU'er is very sad to this whole community who have been here long enough to know and remember who he was and read his posts and commented.
Wishes to the family, friends and all those who held him dear in their hearts.
Another gone off to a place of peace who contributed to this community who will be sorely missed.
Rest In Peace, Junkdrawer
I'm so sorry to hear of his passing! He was a great DUer!
I hope you will email Mrs. Junkdrawer back and give her our collective condolences.
I am so deeply sorry for her loss, and send my wishes that she find peace and strength.
I'm very sorry for DU's loss, too.
RIP for a true progressive.... 
condolences to his family and friends.
Thank you to his family for sharing him with DU.
Hugs to you all. He will be missed.
That sucks.
My condolences to his family.
(I always loved his user name.)
What a beautiful tribute to him by his wife, who sounds like a treasure herself. I wish her strength & comfort.
Thank you for all the wonderful posts, Richard "Junkdrawer". You were an awesome DUer.
What a tragic loss.
Peace and strength to all of you.
RIP Jundrawer.
I always enjoyed his posts. This is a great loss to our community.
Take care of yourself, Mrs. Junkdrawer.
so sad.
friends.
Rest in peace, Junkdrawer, my friend.
TYY
