I have terribly tragic news.....

[Dee Dee Warren]

Dear TheologyWeb family, I can barely see my screen and my hands are shaking so bad I can barely type this. I received an email this morning which I was given permission to post in full.

Hello,
I am a friend of Andrew Bentley, who you know as Bandecoot. I am very sad to tell you that Andrew passed away this afternoon, after a seizure of unknown cause. Andrew had been in chronic poor health for some time. He was only 43 and is survived by his wife Kara.

I know he would have wanted me to let you, his friends, know what has happened and I just wanted to let you all know that he valued your discussions very highly, even those of you with whom he disagreed - that was most of you, it seemed :-).

I don't know when the funeral is to be held yet, but I will let you know when I do.

Regards,
Craig Minns

I am completely grief-stricken. I wrote and asked if there was anything we can do and when I know information on sending flowers or anything to the family I will let you know.

[ApologiaPhoenix]

He will be greatly missed. Prayers for his family.

[DesertBerean]

Oh, wow.

:pray:

[brother vinny]

No! Dang it, no! This cannot be happening! Geez, we were just goofing on Monty Python and the Holy Grail last weekend in PalTalk!

Whenever he'd come in, if I was there, I'd give him "hugs," and he would always be like, "Brother Vinny, get off me, you sick freak!"

This hurts more than I could have imagined.

[Gideon Brown]

:pray:

Andrew, know that we truly loved you. :candle:

[SteveF]

I'm speechless.

He was only online a few hours ago.

Here is his final contribution on TWeb, having fun in the Locker Room earlier today:

http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showpost.php?p=1733127&postcount=19

He will be sadly missed.

RIP.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I know what you mean BV. He would always be there. And we never know when we have the last time to say something kind to someone.

[Crow]

I feel terrible that he's gone. He was smart, interesting, and a really likeable character.

I'm going to miss bandecoot.

I'll go in on whatever you decide to do for his family, and keep them in my prayers.

[NeilUnreal]

This is deeply saddening. My condolences to his family. He will be sorely missed here, but infinitely more so by those close to him.

:pray:

-Neil

[Michelle]

How terribly sad! :pray:

[Barry Desborough]

Oh Bande, Bande.

:frown:

:group hug:

[norwegen]

I didn't interact with him much, but he was certainly a memorable fellow.

Truly one of the good ones.

[Rusty T]

This is terrible news. I loved giving bande a hard time, and being on the receiving in of his wonderful wit. I will miss him.

rusty

p.s. Please include me in your plans for sending flowers, or however you guys want to do this

[Jade]

My condolences. :frown:

[sylas]

Stunned... I have a phone message from him to which I had not yet returned. I met him several times, and Kara once. We used to go out for dinner and a drink and a game of pool when I was in town. He was as likeable and funny in person as he was on-line.

[Rubia Warren]

Oh my gosh. :bawl: He was just a cool guy, one of my favorites here.

[Stabbytheclown]

Wow, that's sad. He was one of my favourite posters.

[mossrose]

:sad:

[Gabby]

:sad:

[Telleriab2]

I just cannot believe it.


This is terrible. So terrible in so many ways.

How is his wife, Dee Dee?

[Dee Dee Warren]

I don't know. I wrote Craig and asked if it would be possible for me to speak with her or another family member. I want to let them know how much he meant to us here. Also I don't know how far away bande lived from some of other Aussie members but perhaps someone from Tweb could attend the funeral on behalf of all of us.

[sylas]

I don't know. I wrote Craig and asked if it would be possible for me to speak with her or another family member. I want to let them know how much he meant to us here. Also I don't know how far away bande lived from some of other Aussie members but perhaps someone from Tweb could attend the funeral on behalf of all of us.

I'm about 800 km away at present. But I'd consider a trip. When is the funeral? . I only have Andrew's mobile number.

Cheers -- Sylas

[Dee Dee Warren]

I don't know when it is, Craig said he would write and let us know. I will post here information when I get anything at all.

[semmie]

:bawl:

[A Cup of No]

:sad: May God give his wife comfort and mercy.

[RumTumTugger]

:sad:

PalTalk is not going to be the same without him and Tweb will be the poorer without his wit.

[Trout]

I'm stunned.

[Amazing Rando]

What a shock... I didn't even know he was ill. :sad:

[aspiretohope]

very sudden

not good

[A Cup of Maybe]

:sad:

[Johnny MacManky]

I am numb. I want to cry, but I can't. I don't believe it. I was his miserable Scottish git.

[TheAnalogman]

:sad:

[lilpixieofterror]

:sad: He'll be greatly missed.

[Patroclus]

:sad:
"The grass whithers and the flowers fade..."

This is the second time, in my memory, that a Twebber has died - thought it has probably happened more often. Nonetheless, it is amazing to me how easy it is to forget the lives lived on the other side of the screen. This second time, like the first, snaps me back to the humanity of what we do here. Like so many others, here, I am stunned.

Lord have mercy.
:candle:

[Dee Dee Warren]

This is the third time. WinAce and Lion also passed away. Not as many people got to know Lion but I had interacted with him, he didn't post a great deal but was a very sweet person.

Bandecoot though was someone I had interacted with the most. I am incredibly sad that the last time I was on Paltalk with him, I didn't participate much. I can hear him saying "you gimboid" in my head. And "all hail the sheep god, he's a real deep god, all hail the sheep god, bah, bah, bah." The Paltalkers will know what I am speaking of.

[Brandalf85]

I'm shocked and saddened by this news. This is so unexpected. You don't really know what you have till it's gone. I think something that rests on my mind, today, is that he wasn't saved. For me, that'll be the saddest part of this thing. Goodbye Bandecoot, you brought laughter and smiles to many and we will all miss you.

[Sevivon1913]

God bless him

[Johnny MacManky]

"Cows rule, turtles drool."

Dee Dee, do you know if anyone has contacts Bande's non Tweb Paltalk buddies. I'm thinking of Luther007. He's offline Paltalk just now.

[$cirisme]

My heart sank when I heard the news. As others have shared, it's so easy to forget the life on the other side, and even easier to forget just how fragile life is.

I'm deeply saddened by the news and wish his family the very best in this time of grief.

[lao tzu]

Dear TheologyWeb family, ... <snip>... I am completely grief-stricken. I wrote and asked if there was anything we can do and when I know information on sending flowers or anything to the family I will let you know. Thank you for sharing the news with us. Andrew will be missed.

__________

Here in the states it is Thanksgiving Day. We who do not share the faith of the owners of TWeb in an afterlife still have reasons to give thanks to those around us who make our virtual community richer, and Andrew was certainly one of those. I would hope that, along with our grief at the absence of Andrew's continuing gifts to this community, we would all remember to be grateful for the gifts of the past.

All of us who are born will die, and almost certainly sooner than we would choose, or would be chosen for us by our family and other loved ones. It is part of the human condition to give honor to our dead, to give meaning to the lives they left behind. This is all the more true for those of us who feel that the marks we leave behind are all that will remain of us.

I am thankful that Andrew lived in an age where we who are necessarily physically separated could enjoy his virtual company. I am thankful that the owners of TWeb created this gathering place to provide a place for all of us to leave our marks with Andrew. I am thankful that a man who I otherwise would never have met could reach out and touch me, reminding me once again that we humans share a bond that crosses our world.

Rest in peace, Andrew. Thank you for stopping by.

:cheers:

As ever, Jesse

[Dee Dee Warren]

"Cows rule, turtles drool."

Dee Dee, do you know if anyone has contacts Bande's non Tweb Paltalk buddies. I'm thinking of Luther007. He's offline Paltalk just now.

I do not know, but do pass on the news to anyone who should know.

[Meh_Gerbil]

Thank you for sharing the news with us. Andrew will be missed.

__________

Here in the states it is Thanksgiving Day. We who do not share the faith of the owners of TWeb in an afterlife still have reasons to give thanks to those around us who make our virtual community richer, and Andrew was certainly one of those. I would hope that, along with our grief at the absence of Andrew's continuing gifts to this community, we would all remember to be grateful for the gifts of the past.

All of us who are born will die, and almost certainly sooner than we would choose, or would be chosen for us by our family and other loved ones. It is part of the human condition to give honor to our dead, to give meaning to the lives they left behind. This is all the more true for those of us who feel that the marks we leave behind are all that will remain of us.

I am thankful that Andrew lived in an age where we who are necessarily physically separated could enjoy his virtual company. I am thankful that the owners of TWeb created this gathering place to provide a place for all of us to leave our marks with Andrew. I am thankful that a man who I otherwise would never have met could reach out and touch me, reminding me once again that we humans share a bond that crosses our world.

Rest in peace, Andrew. Thank you for stopping by.

:cheers:

As ever, Jesse

I'd like to second this.
:frown:

[Johnny MacManky]

I do not know, but do pass on the news to anyone who should know.

Will do. I'll keep an eye out for him signing on.

:worldapart:

[Elegy]

:frown: I'm praying for his family...

Andrew will be missed. *nod* :sad:

[Alien]

I don't know what to say. Like Dee Dee, I'm crying as I type.

I had a long break from Paltalk, then returned recently. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to talk to him again and enjoy his humor and (sometimes caustic) wit.

Rest in peace Andrew. I was privileged to know you, however briefly.
You will live forever in the hearts of those who loved you.

Tony

[Little Shepherd]

Oh, wow, I can't believe this. I just read the thread and am a little numb at the moment. I remember him inviting me to play Battlefield 1942 with him once, but I didn't have the game, and now I guess we'll never get to play. :frown:

[Telleriab2]

I shall miss him dearly. Especially his taunts directed at my taste in music.

That shall always bring a smile to my face. It is the memories which matter now.


Please keep his wife and his family in your prayers, my friends.

[Taran Wanderer]

I echo what everybody else said. How stunning to hear news like this. I always think of how the person was there and available only days or hours before, so tangible and normal, and now the person is gone forever, and with him any plans you might have made with him, any possibility of enjoying his company.

I haven't been on Paltalk much in a while, but it really will never be the same. Bande was there always. And even though he always told us he was not a nice person, I never believed him. He had such a sense of decency and good will, lying behind and all around his Aussie sarcasm. It intrigued me that he was an atheist and yet spent hours of his free time every weekend hanging out with Christians, not to heckle them or even debate them, but just to hang out. Other TWebbers have passed away, but he was one of the core group, so in that sense it's a different kind of loss.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Amen to all of that.

[Glenn P]

What the??? No way! Wow.... this was completely unexpected.

How terrible! I had no idea he had been in poor health. This a tragedy in more ways than one.

[Dave G]

Bande was one of the longest Paltalk members who always greeted me since I first started attending.
It is going to be hard to go on without him...it is so sudden, it seems like a dream.

May God have grace and mercy.

[Em7add11]

Bande will definitely be missed. Even from the few times I was on PalTalk it was obvious he was a really neat guy.

[Dracula Girl]

What the??? No way! Wow.... this was completely unexpected.

How terrible! I had no idea he had been in poor health. This a tragedy in more ways than one.I could hardly have said it better.

[Jedidiah]

Unexpected - death always is, even when we expect it.

Sad - oh yes. The coot was one of the good guys.

[anthrogirl]

:frown:

[Xmansmommy]

I read the thread earlier today and have been crying off and on since. He always blamed me for bringing him to TWeb and I was blessed to own the guilt. I had a special bond with him even though I haven't been on Paltalk much over the last year. I'm saddened by our loss. I agree with whomever it was that said Andrew loved being around Christians. He truly loved us TWebbers and we truly loved him. He will be sorely missed. I prefer to remember him as the fun loving, caring and compassionate man that he was. My heart goes out to his wife and family. May God be with all who are mourning the loss of a great man. :pray:

[Dee Dee Warren]

It is terribly sad. I got the email immediately after awaking today. I was grateful that we were told so soon but so grieved over the news. But I was considering today what would have happened if we didn't have a friend of his that was kind enough to write, we might not have known. I wonder how many times that happens, someone doesn't post anymore and we don't know.

[Johnny MacManky]

. . .But I was considering today what would have happened if we didn't have a friend of his that was kind enough to write, we might not have known. I wonder how many times that happens, someone doesn't post anymore and we don't know.

It's a thought that has crossed my mind in the past. Noone knows my passwords, either for Tweb, or to my ISP. I have no known illnesses which could cause a sudden 'expected' demise... but I will make arrangements to ensure my family have a means of letting you all know if anything was to happen to me. I'm just a few months younger than Bande, and my own Grandad died at 42...

I managed to get in touch with Luther and he did raise a pertinent but dark point. He wondered if this could be some sick joke that someone was playing. I don't know if that was his way of expressing denial, and was no doubt sure Bande, would never be party to such a joke, but it's not impossible someone else would.

[luv1another]

:bawl: sigh I only talked to him a week ago or something :sad: he rang me to try and cheer me up. he told me if I came to paltalk he wouldnt bring up the roo thing for two whole times...funny thing is last week when I was on he did anyway :lol:
:bawl: :bawl: I dont know what else to say right now except I am going to miss him lots :bawl:

[Rubia Warren]

I don't know for sure, but I think it's probably true. Bandecoot told me about a year ago that he was ill. I am not sure what exactly he had but he described his symptoms in detail to me. I assume his death was related to that.

I thought about it being a joke earlier today, and I wished so badly that it could be. WinAce's death freaked me out because he was so young and suffered the same disease that my brother does, but I didn't know him. But Bandecoot.... I just really really enjoyed him and loved him. I can't even deal with this.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I am positive this is legitimate. I received another email from Craig and he stated that flowers if we wished to send them would be welcome. I wrote him back to hash out making the arrangements.

I wish it were a joke.

[mossrose]

I also have wondered off and on throughout the day if it not true. My daughter was part of a message board about 6 years ago where that exact thing happened. One of her friends on the board had his email account hacked, and a bunch of the membership got emails from a so-called "friend" of his who claimed he had died.

Turned out to be a total hoax.

But I think that by now bande would have come online himself and told us so if such were the case here.

:sad:

[Telleriab2]

When I first read this thread, my heart just sank. I had hoped that it was a joke.

I am still wishing someone would come up to confess that it is.

:frown:

[Mark_S]

:frown: I'm not a regular on Paltalk, but he was one of the highlights of it. You will be missed Bande.

[Raptor]

:pray:

[docjam]

I'm with Johnny, I want to cry but i can't (probably will when this sinks in). Every single time i came in paltalk, there was never a hi. He would finish his sentence and pretend he didn't see me and then he's always end with "oh and jojo, cows rule, turtles drool" every sinlge time I'd think I'd slip in there without him catching me and every single time he'd rant for a couple minutes and slip it in there. Sometimes I'd just go in to paltalk just to hear him say that. Even though we disagreed on a lot of issues, he was always so open to discussion and never got upset or anything and was always a good person to talk with, never letting his personal beliefs interfere with the debate at hand. I really grew to love the guy...he'll be missed

[familyof6]

Wow. That's way too young to go. I feel really awful. I didn't know him well, but I read quite a few of his posts and found him to be smart and witty. I suppose we should all be thankful for our health today...it makes you realize how quickly it can all end.

If there is something being sent to his family from TWebbers, please send me a PM and I will contribute what I can.

I wonder how his wife is sitting financially? Maybe a cash donation from TWeb for living costs or burial costs would go further than just sending flowers? I'm only mentioning this because my sister's mother in law lost her husband last year and had to move out of her house and is not doing well financially because he was the bread-winner. Just a thought....what do you think Dee Dee? You seem to be the one organizing this...

:sad:

[LGM]

Death is so enduring…
For those who haven’t tried it.

Death is too tragic,
When destiny arrives early...

Death is all around us,
We just don’t notice…
Till we do.

Death weighs heavy,
On the mind,
That contemplates its own...

Death pricks at memories,
Of what might have been,
Of things left unsaid...

Death rolls the dice,
Behind hopes and prayers…

Death is the painful irony,
Only the living,
Must tolerate...

Death has no direction.

Andrew danced among us,
While a brief spotlight of time,
Shone upon him.
His personality remains,
Permanently etched,
In the neurons,
of T-web.

I will miss him.

[semmie]

:bawl:

[Teallaura]

:pray:

[Pilgrim]

Sigh. I think I'll go lift a glass of Scotch in his honor. Then I think I'll cry.

[Ice Angel]

It's official....I hate Thanksgiving!

I'm crying and I can't seem to stop. Bande always greeted me whenever I was in Pal Talk. He'd always joke around with me.

Just last weekend we were in the Pal Talk room and before he left I gave him a hug and he made a joke about being afraid that a 16 year old girl was flirting with him.

My heartaches cuz I never told him how much I truly appreciated him and how he was always willing to talk to me when I was thinking about theological things.

If I could trade places with him....I would.

[{Tim}]

:frown:

This is so terrible... I found out earlier today when Kaz SMSd me. What a brithday present... :bawl:


Dee Dee, when you find out about the funeral, can you let me know? I'd like to go to it, if I can. I was trying to arrange to meet him for steaks and beer some time soon, but now it looks like I'll only get to see him once, for the first and last time... :sad:

[Christy]

It's strange that he died. I didn't know him or interact with him except for once, he seemed like a nice guy from what I read, and he was on here alot. I'll pray for his family :pray:

[Red Wine]

:sad:

[Abigail]

Oh my this is very sad. :pray: for his family

[Jaltus]

His family is in my prayers.

[Rahab]

:sad: I remember getting on his case once.If there is any "silver lining" to those tragic news, it is that his loss will remind us all to share kind words with one another any time we have such opportunity.

[lee_merrill]

May the Lord bring comfort to his family, and to those who knew him...

[Minnesota]

Death is such a crappy thing, able to make one both sad and mad at the same time.

I already miss coot.

[TCapp]

I didn't really know him at all (my loss, I can see), but death sucks. :bawl: Profound condolences to the family.

[sylas]

I called Kara, and left a message for her. She is staying with family, I gather; and from what I have heard she's got lots of support and is coping well. She's aware of and appreciative of your good wishes. It was a shock, however; Andrew's health was not great, but neither was anyone expecting him to just drop dead.

I'm now in touch with Craig as well.

Cheers -- Sylas

[SpinyNorman]

I am in complete shock.

Complete.

[Johnny MacManky]

I called Kara, and left a message for her. She is staying with family, I gather; and from what I have heard she's got lots of support and is coping well. She's aware of and appreciative of your good wishes. It was a shock, however; Andrew's health was not great, but neither was anyone expecting him to just drop dead.

I'm now in touch with Craig as well.

Cheers -- Sylas

Thanks Sylas,

I think I needed someone to 'confirm it was true' and not some sick joke. A form of denial, I guess. All along I've been expecting Bande to pop up and say "Hi, what's all the fuss about, you stupid morons?"

If you're in touch with Mrs Bande again, please, please convey just how much this "Manky Scots git" (Bande's term of endearment for me) loved the old sod. I've been out at a wedding, and have had a few drams and a couple of Guinnessesss'. Maybe now I will be able to shed those evasive tears and let him be laid to rest (in my mind).

B.....r.

[brother vinny]

TMJ just reminded me of how bande gave the word "beer" an extra syllable. "Bee-ah." Or something very close to that. :sad:

:argh:

[Johnny MacManky]

Let's hit our heads against that wall together BV... Thank you... at last my eyes are leaking

[Warcraft3]

Just read this.....

Very sad :bawl:

[NJon]

I've been away from TWeb for a while, but Kelp sent me an e-mail to let me know what happened. It's strange, really, how quickly death can come. I've been through that lesson so many times now that I'm almost desensitized to it. Of course just when we think we have something figured out, we find out that we don't.

I'd gone back and forth on apologetics a couple of times with Bandecoot and discussed archeology with him once in PMs. Seeing as how he was in the history field as I am, it made for interesting debate. I'm reminded of an article (http://www.icr.org/article/2834/) by Dr. John Morris at ICR about the late Dr. Carl Sagan, who was a personal friend of ICR's Dr. Larry Vardiman, concluding with the prayerful hope that in the last possible moment before the end, God's grace was received and Sagan put his faith in Christ. We Christians on TWeb can have that same hope today in this case and trust the Most High to do right, and work out all things together for His glory.

My prayers are with all of Bandecoot's family and friends.

[jason]

:sad:

[JB]

May God be with his family and friends. :pray:

I never really had much opportunity to interact with him on here, but from reading his posts, he seemed like an excellent fellow. He will surely be sorely missed. :sad:

[JardinPrayer]

I cared for Bandecoot and considered him a friend. I will miss him and think of him every time I am in PalTalk, I'm sure. Maybe even every time I make a cup of tea.

[One Bad Pig]

Oh, Lord have mercy. Bandecoot was one of my closest friends here. We had many interests in common. He liked to send me an occasional picture that he thought I'd enjoy. My avatar is from the last one he sent me (last weekend).

I miss him sorely.

[Rayado]

:sad:

[sylvius]

one salute to Bandecoot

[Middle Aged C]

:sad: I am truly saddened at this news. Prayers to his family. How I wish to have just one more cup of tea and one more wisecrack. :sad: He will be sorely sorely missed.

[Sparko]

What a shock to return to. I was out of communication while I was at my mom's for thanksgiving. It's odd to say, but Bandecoot, Andrew, was a good friend of mine, even though I never met him in person. How strange that we can become close to people through this internet thing. Talking and typing to people on the opposite side of the planet as if they were in our own livingrooms. I am sitting here at work reading about this and trying not to cry. I am failing.

I will always think of Bandecoot whenever I see a Monty Python skit.

"Is this the room for an argument?"

[SpinyNorman]

There is a scene in the Monty Python film The Life of Brian that always remimded me of Bandecoot.

In the scene Jesus is giving the Sermon on the mount. The camera starts on Jesus giving the sermon as quoted in the bible. As He preaches, the camera pans away. It sweeps over a multitude listening to the words of Jesus. It comes to rest on a small group just on the outskirts. They are so far away Jesus is a tiny figure, his words almost unintelligable.

The group then begins arguing over the hard to hear words from Jesus, making such mistakes as turning "Blessed are the peacemakers" into "Blessed are the cheesemakers". The argument becomes heated with one man, played by the brilliant Eric Idle, beginning to insult others in the group in his frustration, telling them to listen up because there may be a bit about "Blessed are the Big Noses".

It is a funny scene that reminds me of our dear friend Bandecoot. The man was a combination of intelligence and quick wit. That wit was oft loosened on those he lost patience with for one reason or another. The insult was often quick and quite humorous. Where as Eric Idle quipped about "Blessed are the Big Noses", Bande's quip would have been more like "Blessed are the Gimboids". He would give you your chance to speak, but if you crossed that gimboid line, he would let you know.

I was surprised at how deeply Andrew's passing has effected me. He is a man I never met face to face, yet the sound of his voice ringing forth with acerbic wit will always ring in my ears, especially on the nights we gather in Pal Talk.

Bandecoot...I will remember you always with a smile. I now own a copy of the Oxford. I never finished it. You answered my questions when I had them. I guess I will have to finish it on my own now, but I thank you for making me aware of it. You will be missed here at Tweb. Thank you for brightening our world in your own unique way.

I know you would laugh to be reminded that we will now need another "token" athiest in pal talk. You would laugh. And in remmebering you, so should we. I think that is what you would have wanted.

Rest in Peace.

You Smeghead.

Spiny

[Gabby]

:bawl:

[Johnny MacManky]

. . "Blessed are the cheesemakers"

Of course, the saying refers to all workers in the dairy product industry and not literally just to the makers of cheese.


. . . .we will now need another "token" athiest in pal talk. You would laugh. . . .

Indeed he would. I nominate, erm... Nope, no one can fill those shoes.

One of the things that's quite painful is seeing the likes of yourself Spiny, OBP, Sparko, BabyC, Jardin et al returning from a break to this news. Loadsa :hug: and :worldapart: needed all round, although Bande woulda probably just done this :buttkick:

[SpiritWoman]

:cheers: To memories and contributions of a Tweb friend.

[JardinPrayer]

He always pronounced "Jardin" with such relish...flawless in his french accent. And, the last time we were on PalTalk together, I was making everyone with any accent different than my own say words I thought would sound cool. Theonomy and Johnny, remember "Justification?" It sounds great in all of your voices...but I will remember it in Bandecoot's forever. And, I remember how erudite he always sounded, even when he was calling people the most vile and vulgar things.

We had that special time when we arranged to trade a first-edition signed copy of his favorite book (whose author was a friend of mine) for a bottle of his favorite Portuguese wine (which he called liquid sunshine). I delivered the book and he discovered US customs law would not allow him to ship the wine. I teased him mercilessly about it for months and it really got his goat that I insinuated he was not a man of his word. I hope he knows I let him off the hook. I'm fairly sure he does. I wonder where that book will end up. It was personalized to him...and, oddly, he asked me to have it inscribed to another name than Andrew.

[spiritmech]

He always pronounced "Jardin" with such relish...flawless in his french accent. And, the last time we were on PalTalk together, I was making everyone with any accent different than my own say words I thought would sound cool. Theonomy and Johnny, remember "Justification?" It sounds great in all of your voices...but I will remember it in Bandecoot's forever. And, I remember how erudite he always sounded, even when he was calling people the most vile and vulgar things.

We had that special time when we arranged to trade a first-edition signed copy of his favorite book (whose author was a friend of mine) for a bottle of his favorite Portuguese wine (which he called liquid sunshine). I delivered the book and he discovered US customs law would not allow him to ship the wine. I teased him mercilessly about it for months and it really got his goat that I insinuated he was not a man of his word. I hope he knows I let him off the hook. I'm fairly sure he does. I wonder where that book will end up. It was personalized to him...and, oddly, he asked me to have it inscribed to another name than Andrew.
Been away on holiday. Very sad. :sad: Memory eternal.
sm

[Ryokan]

Jesus. I didn't see this at all.That's horrible. Absolutely horrible. Poor bande. I don't even know what to do. I am literal sick to my stomach. Your computer goes down for a few days and you missyour friends...

[gharfish]

I had never seen a picture of bandecoot--Andrew Bentley (Bentley, right ?) I would have never guessed he looked like that. I've heard now three recordings of him, one of them of him singing. I did not know that on PalTalk there was a live telephone conversation going on. I thought it was a one room live chat exchange.

Bandecoot and I never got along at all. We fought up until the end. The last day he posted on TWeb we were on the tail end of an awful fight; it was among the very worst of them all. There were none before that were any more so, anyway. Twice, we tried publically to make peace with each other, but by then there was too much bad blood between us and it didn't work out.

Honestly, I did not like bandecoot. I did not like him at all. I do wish he weren't dead. I am thinking about him often--not fondly--but shocked (like everyone else) and with a normal amount of sadness. It's personal regret that I feel strongly. I didn't feel much of anything for about two days. Well, I felt numb.

I had been continually angry and stressed-out re. stuff going on the particular thread he and I were in together on his last posting day. I felt so agitated that it was daily interfering with my sleep. I was up early to check and see what new flak had come across during the evening/night that I would now have to deal with.

Now this Andrew is gone, and I've gone to losing sleep. That is, my wife could see that I was troubled and awake in the middle of the night and asked me what was wrong. I told her. I said that that was a real man, as real as I am, that I was fighting with the past few days. She can't see it quite that same way. TWeb's not "real" in her mind; the people are all like machines furiously interacting. That includes me ! She can't have any idea what coming here every day involves, emotionally.

Maybe if I had spoken with him in person a number of times in PalTalk we both might have been able to make good on a peace accord. I too, like so many here, might have some genuinely good feelings about him. Seeing the man's face for the first time, and especially, hearing him speak, is disturbing. Now he is an Andrew Bentley, and not the sci-fi picture too small to make out matched with the name of some Australian animal I'd never heard of. He sounds authentically Australian--no put on.

No. Of course he was the husband to a woman named Kara. Why had I missed that ? He was born the same year as I was. His life is over this soon ?

I hope I learn something from this "lesson." I fear I won't. It's so easy to fall into hatred when all you have to do is type some tough trash back and forth each to a nonsensical username and looking only into the face of 'it's' avatar.

[mossrose]

I had never seen a picture of bandecoot--Andrew Bentley (Bentley, right ?) I would have never guessed he looked like that. I've heard now three recordings of him, one of them of him singing. I did not know that on PalTalk there was a live telephone conversation going on. I thought it was a one room live chat exchange.

Bandecoot and I never got along at all. We fought up until the end. The last day he posted on TWeb we were on the tail end of an awful fight; it was among the very worst of them all. There were none before that were any more so, anyway. Twice, we tried publically to make peace with each other, but by then there was too much bad blood between us and it didn't work out.

Honestly, I did not like bandecoot. I did not like him at all. I do wish he weren't dead. I am thinking about him often--not fondly--but shocked (like everyone else) and with a normal amount of sadness. It's personal regret that I feel strongly. I didn't feel much of anything for about two days. Well, I felt numb.

I had been continually angry and stressed-out re. stuff going on the particular thread he and I were in together on his last posting day. I felt so agitated that it was daily interfering with my sleep. I was up early to check and see what new flak had come across during the evening/night that I would now have to deal with.

Now this Andrew is gone, and I've gone to losing sleep. That is, my wife could see that I was troubled and awake in the middle of the night and asked me what was wrong. I told her. I said that that was a real man, as real as I am, that I was fighting with the past few days. She can't see it quite that same way. TWeb's not "real" in her mind; the people are all like machines furiously interacting. That includes me ! She can't have any idea what coming here every day involves, emotionally.

Maybe if I had spoken with him in person a number of times in PalTalk we both might have been able to make good on a peace accord. I too, like so many here, might have some genuinely good feelings about him. Seeing the man's face for the first time, and especially, hearing him speak, is disturbing. Now he is an Andrew Bentley, and not the sci-fi picture too small to make out matched with the name of some Australian animal I'd never heard of. He sounds authentically Australian--no put on.

No. Of course he was the husband to a woman named Kara. Why had I missed that ? He was born the same year as I was. His life is over this soon ?

I hope I learn something from this "lesson." I fear I won't. It's so easy to fall into hatred when all you have to do is type some tough trash back and forth each to a nonsensical username and looking only into the face of 'it's' avatar.
Indeed, we all forget sometimes that the person on the other end of whatever makes this internet thing work is a real, living, breathing, actual person.

Especially when we disagree on a subject that to ALL believers is literally a matter of eternal life or death, we forget that we are discoursing with a human being.

All of us are guilty of this. But all we can do now is to leave Andrew's eternal fate in the hands of a gracious, merciful, and yes, just God.

And, as I mentioned before, try all the harder to become the image of Christ to those that we do interact with, both here and in real life.

[Sparko]

That's why I like pal talk despite the crummy software itself. It lets us hear each other and we become people to each other instead of just words on a web page. I became friends with Bandecoot through pal talk. I hardly every interacted with him here on tweb. But on pal talk we got along like old buddies.

[JardinPrayer]

Likewise. Because I don't spend much time in debate or heavy theology forums, I had barely crossed paths with Bandecoot here. But, he was ever-present on PalTalk. He practically was PalTalk for me. There were certain people without whom the room just wasn't complete. He was (is) one. I'm glad for his obnoxiousness, his intelligence, his willingness to be extremely silly, to sing, to reach out personally to those with whom he seemed totally philosophically and theologically opposed to. He was cool. Very cool.

[Ryokan]

it's funny. I mostly knew him through the foprum and pm's, and only rarely talked to him on pal talk.

[Jawa Man]

It still hasn't really hit me that anything's happened (I barely feel sad right now). We used to hit it up history style on Paltalk until two in the morning, as he slowly and gradually tried to prove to me that the Gospels were as unreliable as Tacitus' report that the Flavians had eyewitnesses to their doing miracles. The last time I talked to him was the weekend before last, and after Tweb Paltalk closed I went with him to a Calvinist room. One of the last things he said to me was, "Did you tell them your secret yet?" referring to Orthodoxy. And he called me bogbrush and used to say I wore my pants hanging below my underwear. I never got to play him on Battlefield 1942 either, because for some reason the game wouldn't let us connect. He was so smart and great to talk to.

[Teallaura]

http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=87711

The above is a link to a thread specifically for condolence messages to the family which we will forward later.

[Soundsurfr]

Just found out.

Feeling pretty badly. Ole Bandecoot, died on my birthday.

A toast to you, my friend. You will be missed.

:ale:

[sylas]

I have details of the funeral/memorial. I'm guessing it is OK to post this; I was told I could pass this on to whoever might want to attend, and since it is in Brisbane somewhere, I doubt we'll be inundated.



4 pm Friday 1/12/06
New Haven Crematorium
21 Quinn's Hill Rd
West Stapylton


I hope to be there; though I'll have to fly up from Newcastle.

Cheers -- Sylas

[Sparko]

Thanks for the info Sylas.

Does anyone have any further info on how he died? All I have heard was it was sudden and he had been ill recently.

[ApologiaPhoenix]

I have details of the funeral/memorial. I'm guessing it is OK to post this; I was told I could pass this on to whoever might want to attend, and since it is in Brisbane somewhere, I doubt we'll be inundated.



4 pm Friday 1/12/06
New Haven Crematorium
21 Quinn's Hill Rd
West Stapylton


I hope to be there; though I'll have to fly up from Newcastle.

Cheers -- Sylas

Is that accurate Sylas? It's a bit too late to have a funeral on January 12th, 2006.

[mossrose]

He means Dec. 01, Nicky, I am fairly certain.......

:whacknick:

[ApologiaPhoenix]

He means Dec. 01, Nicky, I am fairly certain.......

:whacknick:

I had thought of that, but maybe that's just the way they do it over there. Just wanted to be sure.

[sylas]

Australia does do day/month/year; it is this Friday coming. I will get some more details; but what I do know is that this was a total shock to all concerned. He'd been unwell. No-one expected this.

Sylas

[Teallaura]

Thanks, Sylas.


For those who wish to participate, this thread is for leaving condolences:

http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=87711

[JardinPrayer]

Sylas, could you, perhaps print the condolences thread and bring it to Kara? (Unless other arrangements have been made, Teal.)

I, too, knew he was ill - a lung problem I thought. But, I would appreciate knowing what could have happened so very suddenly...hours after his last post.

[{Tim}]

Just found out.

Feeling pretty badly. Ole Bandecoot, died on my birthday.

A toast to you, my friend. You will be missed.

:ale:
I know... me too. :sad: He died the day before, but I only found out on my birthday.

[sylas]

Sylas, could you, perhaps print the condolences thread and bring it to Kara? (Unless other arrangements have been made, Teal.)


I will be doing this. Dee Dee and I spoke about it. I will be making some effort to get it nicely presented.

But be aware folks; there's a time difference. The USA is rather backwards with respect to Australia -- as Bandecoot would also have been swift to point out.

I expect to be printing soon... around about 10am local Sydney time or so Thursday. That would be Wednesday afternoon in the continental USA (3pm west cost to 6pm east cost) and 11pm in London.

If you would like to put a message in the condolences thread, do it by then. The link: Messages of Condolence for Bandecoot's Family.

If there are more entries made after I do the nice print, I might try and make a small appendix. So don't give up; the thread will remain open.

I might also print out some of the other threads that have been made, and perhaps make a cover of some kind with a montage of bandecoot related material. Not sure what I can manage yet. But the main official presentation to Kara will be the condolences thread, with anything else quite separate and ad hoc. Flowers are also in hand; at this stage the plan is to get them fresh on Friday.

{Tim} will be there as well; I think he and I will be the Theology Web representatives. We're also going to get together later just for the heck of it. We'll toast bandecoot, and then get on with life and learn a bit about each other also.

We'll report back on the whole event. I'm not sure -- I've never done it -- but maybe we could join the paltalk crowd on Friday evening... Saturday morning Brisbane time. This is just a thought at this point.

Cheers -- Sylas

[Sparko]

thank you Sylas.

[sylas]

Latest news.

I printed out all the condolences thread this morning, up to message #33 by "Ice Angel". Since then, there have been a few more added. I'll try to include them; but I'll need to prevail on friends as I am now in Brisbane.

Basically, to make it print well, I am using the "Garden" skin, and printing two posts to a page. I'm editing the image files to move things up or down and make space as needed by removing buttons or other stuff that doesn't matter. I've also printed a front page.

The front page of the printed thread appears as follows:

[attachment=1]

I'm putting all the printed sheets in a simple folder with a clear cover, to make a single package to present to Kara.

Kara is happy for a couple of folks to speak at the funeral and say something. I'm going to do this also; and the main thing I plan to say is what an impact he had with all of you people on-line.

Cheers -- Sylas

[DesertBerean]

Very nice. :smile: Thank you.

[JardinPrayer]

Just lovely, Sylas. The garden skin was my first design effort for TWeb...so I am moved by the choice (though I don't know when that bee showed up :wink:).

[Gabby]

:bawl:

It looks wonderful Sylas!

[Johnny MacManky]

Every time I see a bee (!) I'll think of Bande. Bandebee, always watching us.

[sylas]

I am printing out some more pages... I am up to msg #43 of the condolences thread. If you wanted to add a message, there will still be time for an hour or two after this post appears.

Cheers -- Sylas

[mfoster]

Oh, my. I just heard about Andrew's death from Raggedy Annie. Unfortunately, since I have been adminning in another Paltalk room I have been a bit out of touch. I am deeply sorry. Bandecoot was one of my closest Paltalk friends, and I was wondering why I had not heard from him in a while. May God's protection and forgiveness be with him.

Mark Foster

[Cheetah]

This really is terrible. I didn't find out until now and although I didn't really talk to him, I heard him on Pal Talk and read some of his posts. He was a character of reason and one whom I respected. It is very sad news indeed.

[luv1another]

did you both see the sticky thread in the rec room? about the funeral it has pictures

[rach12]

Our shared love of all things Fifth Element brought us together. Rest in peace, my friend. You are still missed.

[luv1another]

6 years later and I still think of Bande :sad: funny how someone can have an impact on your life and they may never even realise.... still miss ya Bande and still playing that dam song you tormented us with in paltalk "I eat cannibals" and the other one "dracula's tango"

[Dee Dee Warren]

Posting in Curt's thread makes me remember Coot too, and I never fail to cry. I will never forget receiving that email.

[Teallaura]

:hug: