Be Excellent To Each Other

Like Dave, I knew Owen for more than a decade. I'm just... Jesus. Patience, if you read this, I am so, so sorry for your loss.

We should do something to mark someone who seemed a genuinely great chap.. although I never met him in person, he was one of us.

Thankyou for making this into its own thread. I obviously knew when I posted that it needed its own thread, but didn't want to make one because somehow it made it too real.

Of course. Do edit the title if you feel something else is more appropriate.

I totally agree with that. The support and strength I have recieved from people on this forum has been immeasurable and Owen was part of that. It shows how good people are here when they are all taking their time to write a message about what has happened even though it is hard and even though it hurts. I'm glad we had a chance to know Owen and I hope Patience knows how much we all feel this loss and all send her our love.

I still just can't believe it. Just so sudden.

How old was he?

37 according to his profile. So young.

Currently there is a chip-in fund started via the ravelry folks here which is raising money to help bring patience's mum over here to be with her, but we can work out something separately if that would be better. I don't know.

So saddened to hear this terrible news. Never met Rev Owen in the flesh but like so many on here I have known him for years. As others have said he's one of us and we need to send our collective respects in some form. Deepest sympathies to Patience and their families. Rest in peace mate.

*bangs head on desk*

@millarca's twitter feed is gut churning

In the top .000000000000000000000000000001% of cool people on the internet, he was.

For fuck's fucking sake.

I'm just speechless. The guy was a wonder.

I check inverty.com everyday...

I don't know patience bar Rev Owen's loving comments but my thoughts are with her.

I think we should hold some kind of memorial at the weekend.

Glyndwr just came into #digi to tell us. Probably hadn't really been in touch with Rev in an absolute age, but he was oldskool digi kru.

All I can think is... well... Shit...

RIP, Duder.

Has anyone broke the news to other places he frequented? He was active on rllmuk, wasn't he?

There's a thread over on there, yes.

?

I told the guys on Ravelry, which is probably Patience's largest internet presence, that I had linked to the fund here wanted to let folks know that the fund is now over $1000, as they think a couple of folks may have come from here. We co

There just aren't the words. Known Owen through UGVM for, well, forever really. We've followed each others' game diaries for almost as long. He offered me kind words and advice during a particularly traumatic part of my life. I feel utterly empty even though we never met in person, so I can't begin to imagine what Patience is going through.

My thoughts are with you both.

John

http://www.nelefa.org

Aye, it's weird to think that less than 24 hours ago we were winding each other up

I met Owen once, he had a cool hat & beard. He was also lovely

I can't join you guys at the cottage this weekend but if anything else is arranged in memory of Owen I'd certainly like to be a part of it. I've also never met him but I've known him from WoS.

I do think we should do something though, he was one of us.

The stupid thing is, on the way to college this evening I just kept thinking about his castle and all his stuff in Minecraft! I think going back to Beexworld will seem really weird now.

Very sorry to hear this news.

Oh man, his minecraft stuff...

I didn't know Owen that well, other than crossing paths on here and WoS, and whilst playing Minecraft and Wii Animal Crossing online, but he always came across as a credit to our community. My thoughts are with his family.

I would very willingly to chip in if we get a collection going.

Sorry to hear this sad news.

Very sad to hear this. Had known The Rev somewhat online for almost a decade. Always good for a laugh, and his marriage seemed to have made him blissfully happy. RIP.

The border is a nice touch but can we pin this? Student fees debate shouldn't be above it, nor should anything really.

I've made a brief post on WoS. Hope no one minds.

Terrible, terrible news. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Heh, that's my most popular & interesting picture on flickr. Everyone loves Owen

Whenever I see a pic of him I immediately think "Terry Pratchett"! They both have a penchant for epic head wear, I think.

I can hardly believe this, it's just awful.

My last tweet to him before I went to work this morning ended with get well soon
WTF !! FUCK FUCK FUCK !!

I didn't really get a chance to meet Owen, but he was an absolutely awesome guy, a real gent. I knew him (as much as you can through the internet) back in the old Dead Journal days and I'm sad that he's no longer around in fact I'm pretty devastated. I am glad however that I got to read about his relationship with Patience and just how happy in life he was.

Like Zio, I can't make the cottage but would very much like to be part of anything that is done to remember one of the good guys.

He did have shockingly lax taste in movies, and was a particular fan of Star Wars, so maybe you could have a lightsabre salute to him, or do a marathon watch of all six SW movies

I can't believe he's gone. It's funny how real a virtual presence can take and it must be all the more shocking as it unites a close knit group of people in here. Owen was a very gentle, sweet, intelligent and kind man. He's one of the few people I've encountered regularly on the internet over the last 12 or so years that I never disagreed with. Sure, I wound him up on time to time when he couldn't see flaws in a particular movie or he eulogised about a particular game. But that was him. Cut him in half, and like a stick of rock he would have fairness and forgiveness running through him. He was a fucking sweetheart and maintained a child like devotion to simple pleasures. There was no artifice or sophistry and in the virtual sense he epitomised a gold standard in the virtual world. WYSIWYG. People like him are rare and they deserve to be remembered well. RIP Owen, truly man, rest. in. peace.

I've always thought that, too. I thought I was alone.

Very well said, that man. It sounds silly but just by knowing him on here, WoS and Twitter he came across as a genuinely bloody lovely bloke.

Really sad to hear this awful news. His family are in my thoughts.

He helped me out loads when I went to see Harry Hill in February. He'd been a few weeks before so he gave me advice on what time to get there and such like.. He seemed like a damn nice guy and even alerted me to the Tardis inside BBC studios.... and all this through Twitter.

Horrible news. He was an excellent poster and always seemed like a top chap. Thoughts are with Patience!

R.I.P.

Well said David

So, so sorry to hear this.

We shared a few sneaky lunchtime minecraft sessions with a non boss-telling pact. Castle Rev is a fantastic place and will be a lasting memory of a great man.

My thoughts are with Patience and her family

Just heard via the #digi grapevine and thought this would probably be best place to say anything at all.

My interactions with him are all sadly well in the past, from alt.digitiser, occasionally #digi and the uk games newsgroups, and via deadjournal. In a way it's bad I only ever knew him from that era when while he wasn't exactly miserable continually, he wasn't ever as happy as he appears to have been more recently, reading through this thread. I suppose the only comfort to be found from my limited knowledge of his recent life is he had found love and was happy at the end of his life, but his life ended far too soon. There are very few people I ever talk to online that I've met in person, and I'm glad Owen was one of them, he was a genuinely nice bloke. It's still a massive shock to hear he's passed away. Just like to leave my condolences here, should they be of any use to anyone.

Oh man, this is so sad RIP dude x

RIP Rev.

I can always remember his contributions to that game Grim... made, where you started a story and you had two choices which you made up as you went along. Rev Owen's contributions stood out and were genuine laugh out loud funny [link anyone, I can't find it?].

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine et lux perpetua luceat eis. Exaudi orationem meam. Kyrie eleison. Requiem sempiternam. In paradisum deducant te angeli.

A truly, truly, sad and bitter loss for a man who, exemplified, above all others how to Be Excellent.

I'm raising a beer to you tonight, good Rev, and dearly hope you know how many people you made so, so very happy.

The fund is now at $2500. Hopefully Patience will have her mum with her soon.

I'm tired, so I am going to sign out for the night, and raise a glass of something strong and beardy to Owen.

i am sorry to hear about this. My thoughts go out to his family..