Share your memories of Andy.

[Ladyhawk]

I didn't know Andy as well as some of you, but I knew him well enough to realize he was an incredibly special person, a gentle soul. Originally, he and I were scheduled to have our surgeries a few days apart, in April. I was to have a double cervical diskectomy and fusion. He was having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor of the pancreas.

When I mentioned my upcoming surgery, Andy became very concerned for me. He was upset because of the recent losses of Khephra and nostamj and didn't want to lose another DUer. Andy was the one with cancer, yet he was concerned about me. Andy was the one with the more difficult operation, yet he was concerned about me. Andy was the one facing a life and death struggle, yet he was concerned about me.

I am humbled as I type these words. In terms of human decency, Andy was the best. He had the "loving each other" thing down pat. I wish I could be more like Andy in that regard.

Andy, thank you for showing me what true caring is all about.

[crikkett]

1. I read Andy's posts about BlackBoxVoting

...and followed his reports about 'irregularities' in Ohio...and later, his fears about his medical condition.
He did good work, selflessly. He was a patriot.

I'm sorry he's gone.

[Droopy]

2. I remember Andy from when I first signed up

2.5 years ago. He was known by a pseudonym back then. I didn't really picture him as an activist back then, but things changed in a hurry. I will always remember him for his commitment to truth and doing the right thing.

[Ladyhawk]

4. Yes, I remember him as god_bush_and_cheney.

I still have private messages from him under that name. I really should save my private messages from Andy and Jeff Matson. I treasure them. When I look at the private messages from nostamj, I feel almost as if I could hit "reply" and he would come back with an answer.

DU has been hit hard by the grim reaper, lately. Today I can't help but mourn.

[Marnieworld]

13. I had no idea that Andy was God Bush and Cheney

wow.

[RummyTheDummy]

24. I didn't either until yesterday

We went had a back and forth on a few threads a while back (in a good way).

[Debbi801]

3. I was lucky enough to meet Andy when he first came to MD (m)

To meet with doctors at Hopkins. He was lost, it was almost 8:00 and he needed directions. We gave him directions to our house :-). We had a very enjoyable dinner together. He was seeing the doctors the next day and then heading to Ohio. With everything weighing on his shoulders, he spent so much time getting to know us, discussing computers with my husband, having deep conversations with my older 2 kids (10 & 12), treating them like young adults instead of insignificant kids. He got down on the ground and played with my 3 yr old. Even our dog got undivided attention. Andy was like that, totally selfless.

After his surgery, I visited him in the hospital--brought him cookies, magazines, and a beanie baby dog to keep him company until ballot came home. Just stuff to make him smile while he was recouperating. But, as much pain as he was in, yet again, he was more worried about my comfort--did I want a cookie, would I like drink, etc. He amazed me.

Even when he was in pain and depressed, he was still caring about every one else. He just had such a selfless positive attitude. I am so glad I got to meet him, I wish I had met him sooner.

Debbi

[im10ashus]

5. I met him here in Manhattan in January.

Right before he was diagnosed. He was here visiting my friend Stephanie and we all met up for beers. He and I stepped outside for a smoke and I was so impressed with his passion for the VVPB; but I was equally impressed, if not more so, when he told me he and his partner had been together 19 years. I have only been with my partner for 8 years and as anyone can tell you, straight or gay, it takes A LOT of work from both parties to stay together that long. Especially in today's climate when our rights are so marginalized. He was truly an amazing person - politically and otherwise. Those who disparage his good name have no idea what they are talking about. They are merely jealous that they couldn't have such a profound affect in such a short time. His spirit lives on in each of us.


:grouphug:

[Payback Time]

6. When did he pass?

I've been offline a lot due to Tropical Storm Cindy's affects on New Orleans. I would just like to know when we lost him. I've only known of his work and his illness in the last year when I started participating in DU but I donated to his fund and am so impressed by the love and unity he inspired and still inspires.

[Droopy]

7. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4046336&mesg_id=4046336

[TryingToWarnYou]

18. That bloody sucks...I never knew Andy, but I read all of his posts

We always seem to lose the good guys. Peace

[im10ashus]

10. 12:27 a.m. Eastern Time today.

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Rainbowreflect]

8. I am so sad & weepy today & I never had a chance to meet

Andy in person. I feel so sorry for all of you who knew him well, but I also feel a great loss. It seem strange how much it hurts to lose someone you never saw face to face. But I could tell from his posts & from love & respect of those who did know him that he was an incredibly special person.
You will be so missed Andy. RIP

[meganmonkey]

9. I only met him in person on one occasion

At the Teach-in and meetup in Columbus in early May - after he had been diagnosed.

It worked out that I gave him a ride from one event to another, and then another (hanging out at goodboy's house where he was staying while in Columbus).

On the ride from the Teach-In to the restaurant for the meetup, Andy and I chatted about everything from the obvious (VVPB and Whipples) to the personal (what the 'W.' stands for in W. Andy Stephenson - no, Andy is NOT his first name, and NO, I won't tell you what it is! ;) )

I felt like I had known him forever, even though the only previous meetings we had had were brief exchanges on DU and a couple chat room conversations about VVPB activism. He's just that kind of person. Warm and open and sincere.

Despite the pain he was in, he hung in there all day, throughout the Teach-In and the meetup, being social and business-like and whatever was needed.

When we got back to goodboy's, it was clear that he couldn't hide the pain anymore. I saw him for the human that he is. And I wanted to help, but what can you do for someone in his situation? So I massaged his shoulders, and his back, and I like to think I made him feel a little better at least for a while. I feel better thinking that anyway.

He was a courageous soul - he had a goal and he wasn't ever going to give up on it.

And I know I, for one, will do my best to carry on his legacy in what little way I can, and so will the hundreds or thousands of others whose lives he touched, be it briefly like me, or more deeply and long-term as many others.

O8)

[Ladyhawk]

14. I didn't know "Andy" wasn't his first name.

I'm glad you had the chance to meet him and help him feel better. What a trooper to work all day in pain. I'm in awe.

VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS and HEALTHCARE FOR ALL!!!!

[meganmonkey]

16. I actually almost stopped myself from posting that

but then I remembered it was on some of the medical docs that have been put online - the initial, not the name. And remembering the conversation we had, the experience of him telling me about it just made me grin and I had to mention it.

I'm glad you posted this thread, it makes this all seem more personal. It's hard to mourn together on the internet, if you know what I mean. I've seen what happens here when a beloved DUer passes on, but this was the first time I knew the person.

So thanks, Ladyhawk!

:hug:

[seemslikeadream]

11. Remembering the Subway guy

from jpuma

(7/8/05 2:23 pm)

ah, geez

way, way back in 2003, i was a regular at a local subway sandwich shop, which happened to be just a few blocks away. one day, while i was ordering my usual, the red-headed manager, a really really nice guy named Andy, asked me if i wanted some material on black-box voting. already familiar w/it, we chatted for some time, and he gave me a card (this was back when he was still with the sinister bev harris). i remember thinking how cool it was that this really nice subway manager was passionate enough about the subject to chat it up w/his customers! but then, i guess that's seattle for ya . . . .

eventually, both andy & i moved on, but every time i lurked on du (i still do, but i've never registered), i made sure to keep up w/andy's posts. it was a real unexpected shock to read he'd passed on, prolly because i knew him as 'the subway guy' long before i knew him as 'the black box voting guy.' in a world of cynics, assholes and evil bastards, andy was one of the truly good ones.

Requiscat in Pace, Andy!

http://p097.ezboard.com/frigorousintuitionfrm7.showMessage?topicID=560.topic

[meganmonkey]

19. That's so cool

He touched people everywhere he went, in everything he did.

Most of us can only hope to have that effect on someone, anyone, let alone all the thousands of people he has influenced.

Whatta guy! :)

It's really nice to smile about all this. I like this thread!

[Marnieworld]

12. I received a personal thank you note from him

And he wrote it during the worst time for him, during the fundraiser time and defending himself from libel time right before his surgery. It BLEW MY MIND that in the midst of all he was going through that he would have the time let alone take it to write a note. I only spoke with him online here a few times but I will never forget him as a inspiration and a beautiful spirit. He will live on in the fight for VVPB. What a sweet face too. He will be missed.

[WilliamPitt]

15. Two memories

July of 2003 at a Rolling Thunder event in Seattle. Andy and I ran a teach-in inside a packed tent about electronic voting. Andy, predictably, was aces with his data and scared the shit out of everyone. Got a lot of people off their asses. By the way, everything he predicted in that tent in July '03 came true in November '04.

Then there was January 'o5 at the inauguration protests. He and I and some other DUers walked the route, protested, and then went out for drinks later. Andy burst into tears at one point because he was so frustrated. He'd tried so hard to keep fraud from happening, and felt like he'd failed. I held his hand and said, "Andy, it could be worse." He looked up at me and said, "How?" I said with a solemn, serious face, "You could be straight."

He laughed his ass off. That was the last time I saw him.

[Ladyhawk]

17. That is hysterical, Will!

First time I've laughed all day!!! Thank you.

[stevedeshazer]

20. A memory and a regret.

When Andy was running for Secretary of State in Washington, he posted here that he would be at a rally for union workers at an aluminum plant in Longview, Washington, an industrial town hard-hit by NAFTA and the outsourcing that resulted.

The company, ALCOA, had announced they were closing the plant and laying off hundreds of union workers; Andy had volunteered to speak, along with a number of union officials and their congressman, Brian Baird, a Democrat (and a genuinely good guy).

Being newly unemployed for the first time in twenty years, I decided to drive to Longview to catch the rally, even though I live across the river in Oregon. I wanted to show my support for the union workers, and thought I might meet Andy, especially since we were both DUers.

Well, I showed up about twenty minutes late. I had no idea what Andy looked like, and I didn't personally know anyone there, so I listened to the speeches by the union folks and Rep. Baird among a crowd of fired up union families and a smattering of media.

As I stood in the crowd, I ended up next to this red-haired fellow wearing a Subway cap who was practically leading the cheers. We looked at each other and nodded, admiring each others passion (he noticed how loud I was, too.) When I later saw his picture, I was stunned, realizing that we indeed had met, but neither of us knew who the other was!

So, I met him sort of, apparently having missed his speech by minutes. I'll always regret that.

But I knew the moment I saw the guy, he was on my side, and the side of those union workers.

He must have taken it upon himself to drive about 2-1/2 hours from Seattle to Longview just to be there for those union families whose jobs were being lost to the greed of the wealthy; indeed, that's why I went, too.

I'll always remember him for that.

Rest in peace, buddy. You were one of the good ones. We'll keep fighting the good fight, you can rest assured of that.

[meganmonkey]

21. Thanks for sharing that story

and kick!

[stevedeshazer]

22. kick

I want to read more stories, I know they're out there....

[mzmolly]

23. Done here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4050360&mesg_id=4050402

[stevedeshazer]

26. thanks n/t

[proud patriot]

25. He was so happy when he made the decision to run for office

I remember when he first opened the campaign website
and thinking "Wow he's Serious" I sent the link to friends
in Washington State and told them to "vote for my Friend
He's a good guy."

Andy lived life to the fullest that's how I remember him
Living Doing Being . I hope to be more like him :cry:
(smiling through tears)