General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDU's "Senator" Died June 8, 2011
Dusty Kiegel -- "Senator" here on DU since 2001 ("Senator101" on the old TableTalk Politics board), love of my life and constant companion for more than 20 years -- died on June 8, 2011.
I am so sorry that I allowed his online "voice" to go silent without explanation for almost a year, but I was just unable to relay the heartbreaking news sooner.
His death came without warning. I saw him off on a trip on June 7, 2011. After the flight he become ill with what he thought was some sort of food poisoning. He died that night. A heart attack as he slept. He was 49.
His obituary appeared in the New Jersey Star Ledger. You can find it here
I like to think that he and Andy Stephenson had a grand reunion.
-- pat_k (Patty Keeshan)
Photos
______________________________________________
For those who did not "know" him....
Senator's Journal
TalkingImpeachment.com
Project we sponsored
lpbk2713
(42,947 posts)I am so sorry for your loss.
Raine
(30,565 posts)so young to go, a good voice silenced. THANK YOU for letting us know and much sympathy to you and all those who loved and cared about him.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Skinner
(63,645 posts)RIP, Senator.
pat_k
(9,429 posts)Tikki
(14,622 posts)Thank you for this...some of the newer DUers will now know of this man.
Tikki
pat_k
(9,429 posts)to know his contribution is appreciated. Thank you.
PCIntern
(26,003 posts)thank you for letting us know. May his memory always be a blessing.
PC Intern
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)I'm so sorry for your loss.
H2O Man
(74,359 posts)Take care of yourself, Friend Patty. And know that there are always folks here to talk to. Okay?
Peace,
Patrick
pat_k
(9,429 posts)I know I've been among the missing, but the connections remain very real. The significance of DU to "Senator" and I is hard to express. Making his loss known to his online community has somehow been a separate, very difficult thing to do. I guess I just needed to leave him alive "out here" for awhile.
Thank you Patrick. I hope you know how much I appreciate your presence and kind thoughts.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)It will help bring closure to put a smiling face with his writing.
Best Wishes.
Don
WillyT
(72,631 posts)Peace...
& Rec !!!
Spazito
(52,172 posts)I remember Senator's posts and his passion.
The empressof all
(29,100 posts)He became one of the many who have silently gone missing from our community. I am so very sorry for your loss....and the loss of those here who didn't have the pleasure of reading his posts. Thank goodness for journals so we can remember a bit....
Thank you for posting this.....
AnneD
(15,774 posts)I wonder what happened to familiar names when they go missing. I am making a contact list so that in the event of my sudden demise-my family knows to call on of my DU friends to let them get out the word to my extended circle of friends.
Little Star
(17,055 posts)Skidmore
(37,364 posts)I just assumed he had moved on. I always looked forward to his posts.
FailureToCommunicate
(14,158 posts)And for us.
RIP Senator
NC_Nurse
(11,646 posts)May he rest in peace.
Canuckistanian
(42,290 posts)Thanks for letting us know. We often wonder about former long-time DUers who no longer post any more.
jannyk
(4,810 posts)Thanks Pat, for letting us know. Thoughts will be with you on the 8th of next month. Fare thee well Senator!
mrs_p
(3,031 posts)and hope that you have found peace and healing.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)My friend lost her husband that way and it is such a shock when it is not expected in the least - no illness /not old age yet. The closure you anticipate should anything ever happen between you was not there - in her case he left in the morning and she got a call by lunch.
My condolences on your loss and good memories forever
KaryninMiami
(3,073 posts)I have to believe that not only did Dusty have a terrific reunion with Andy- but I'll bet they are gonna team up and help us win this election. Who knows- maybe those two were the ones who knocked some sense into Holder today to finally take action against the vote purging in Florida!
Such great memories of us all together in Nashville- for those of you newer to DU, once, a very long time ago, back in the pre-twitter days, a bunch of activist citizens, came together for one of the most amazing gathering of election reform/voting rights activists ever assembled.
Anyone know had the honor of knowing Dusty, would know how amazingly focused he was on so may key issues- and how committed he was to facilitating change and to making a difference. Most especially about impeachment and election integrity (or the lack there of it with electronic machines) and justice. He was brilliant and an excellent writer and great fun to converse with and knew so much about so many things- I learned a lot from him.
His voice shall be missed around here- and also in my life.
Cheers to you Dusty and also to Andy! We love you both!
pat_k
(9,429 posts)Thanks so much Karyn. The image of them doing some "from beyond" Holder ass-kicking is priceless.
Here are a couple photos Dusty took at the conference.... none of "Senator" (he was behind the camera...
Nashville 2004
KaryninMiami
(3,073 posts)And yes- I am pretty sure that Dusty and Andy will continue to work for justice from their new location! At the moment, my guess is they are very focused on throwing out Walker and on stopping the purging. The image is priceless- keep it in your heart - especially this week as we near the anniversary.
Sending love to you.
pat_k
(9,429 posts)pat_k
(9,429 posts)AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)Sorry for your loss, Patty. May his afterlife be eternally peaceful.
Bossy Monkey
(15,863 posts)a la izquierda
(11,828 posts)I hope you find some solace.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)No wonder you couldn't post for a year, or so...
I do recall some of his posts, and thank you for his journal link. May time continue to help sooth you...
Your love is forever held here.
Ilsa
(61,876 posts)and your family, Patty K. I can't imagine the pain you've been through this last 12 months.
The Senator left us far too soon, sweetheart.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)And after reading some of his journal and seeing his passion for impeaching the chimp I know I would have liked him too.
Thanks for sharing this with us and may peace be on you...
ornotna
(10,919 posts)Thank you for posting this here.
DLevine
(1,788 posts)Iggo
(47,882 posts)Autumn
(45,542 posts)A great loss.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Gormy Cuss
(30,884 posts)I am so sorry for your loss.
RIP Senator.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)...I thought, what a noble idea.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)Solly Mack
(91,282 posts)I'm so sorry.
AndyTiedye
(23,500 posts)May you find the peace and the strength to get through this.
RFKHumphreyObama
(15,164 posts)I'm so sorry for your loss. Peace and condolences to you and your family
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)His was such a strong, clear voice. I always looked forward to reading his posts.
I'm sorry, Patty.
pat_k
(9,429 posts)...and so many others.
Thank you.
barbtries
(29,046 posts)NNN0LHI
(67,190 posts)Senator was a good DUer and he will be missed.
Don
Kaleva
(37,084 posts)JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Thank you for posting this. Please take good care of you and feel free to visit us!
Julie
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)I am so sorry.
pat_k
(9,429 posts)I'm thankful our paths crossed, and that you were among the DUer's Dusty and I got to meet in the "real world."
HillWilliam
(3,310 posts)Bill
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Just realized I hadn't seen him around for awhile.
Sorry for your loss.
MADem
(135,425 posts)What a lovely obit--this bit certainly speaks volumes:
A lifelong Red Sox fan, Dusty was always there when needed, and spent his life caring for the needs of his family and friends. He lived his life with integrity and compassion, and brought joy to the ordinary activities he shared with the love of his life, Patty, and their dogs, KD., OD., and dd.
A loving husband, good to animals, AND a Red Sox fan? That's a life well lived! I hope your memories are a comfort to you.
pat_k
(9,429 posts)His truly was a life well lived. It was always more about the journey for him. He was more concerned with the well-being of his fellow travelers on the road, than on getting to the next milepost. His voice will always be with me, reminding me to pay attention to the things that really matter -- to "stop and smell the roses." Remembering is still so painful -- the fact that he is gone is still unreal at times. But I know one day I'll be able to look back without tears, and just be thankful for the joyful times we shared.
MADem
(135,425 posts)The memories will always be with you. They are bittersweet at first but in time they're more sweet than bitter. The pain does seem never-ending, and if you're anything like me, you might try to actively wish away the pain because it's just with you so damn often and it feels like a weight on your chest and a knife in your heart. Then, as time passes, it's not always there, but it sneaks up on you when you least expect it, and boy does that just, well, suck. I sometimes wished there was a pill I could take to hasten that day when the memories would make me smile without that stabbing feeling. It does come, eventually... it just takes its sweet time getting there.
Hang in there, I'll be thinking of you. He sounds like he was a "helluva fellah" as we say in the land of Bean and Cod.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)and I'd like to send all of my sympathies on to you. Your "Senator" was a wonderful voice here and so important to the struggle for justice in our ravaged world. It is a shock to learn that he is gone too soon. I am so sorry, but I do thank you for telling us.
Sending thoughts of peace and strength as your family approaches this grievous anniversary.
libodem
(19,288 posts)Is our loss, too. May you find comfort to ease the grief.
Warpy
(112,249 posts)and those of us who have experienced grief and loss would never fault anyone else's timetable.
I'm so sorry you lost him.
How are you doing these days?
pat_k
(9,429 posts)Grief threatens to overwhelm. I still can't imagine a future without him. But I know that as long as I am able to stop and listen for his voice -- reminding to pay attention to the things that make life worth living (like taking the time to watch for the seasonal arrival of "our" hummingbirds, or reminding me that someone I love would probably love to hear from me) -- I'll be ok.
Thank you for the understanding.
pat_k
(9,429 posts)I can't tell you how much your kind words and thoughts mean to me.
Historic NY
(37,619 posts)I remember them being posted.
kimi
(2,441 posts)I didn't know him, but reading about his life is touching. He will RIP, & peace to you & all of his family, friends, & dogs.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Not much, but something. I'm so sorry.