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RIP MacNutt

136K views 431 replies 137 participants last post by  talonracer 
#1 ·
Hello everyone,

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but our favourite bull headed scotsman, Gerry MacNutt, died in a freak accident this past weekend. I'dve posted something sooner, but I literally just found out when my mother phoned me from Salt Spring asking if I knew a guy named MacNutt.

Apparently he was photographing a motorcycle drag race (as he often talked about doing) and one of the bikes flew out of control and struck him.

Here is the story on the local Salt Spring newspaper:

<blockquote>
A high-powered motorcycle flew out of control and claimed the life of 50-year-old islander Gerry MacNutt while he was photographing a sand-drag race in Lake Cowichan on Sunday.
“He was a photographer and he liked to get the picture,” said MacNutt’s friend Marve Brimacombe, who witnessed the incident. MacNutt was standing on the edge of a 100-metre sand track near the finish line and taking pictures of the race when a rider lost control of his motorcycle, Brimacombe said. “The bike was veering and instead of jumping one way, he jumped the wrong way.”

According to a press release from the Lake Cowichan RCMP, MacNutt received immediate medical attention from first-aid attendants for numerous injuries after emergency services were called to Meades Creek Sand Drag Track at 12:38 p.m., but he succumbed at the scene. Both MacNutt and the motorcycle rider were members of Brimacombe’s Mental Racing Team that participated in the sport of sand-drag racing with 350 horsepower-plus, nitro-methane fuelled Harley Davidson motorcycles. “Gerry loved being around the nitro bikes and the filming of everything,” Brimacombe said.

read more here: http://gulfislands.net/news.asp?ID=1603
</blockquote>

I really don't know what to say. I didn't always agree with the guy, but I got along with him pretty well. I'm just kind of in shock.

I hereby invite everyone to raise a glass for Gerry MacNutt; 1956 - 2006. RIP.
 
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#127 ·
I don't believe it..........I always felt like defending MacNutt, even if he didn't need it. I always felt he sat back after some of his postings, chuckling to himself because others missed the humour behind them, or didn't recognize at the time that he was eggin them on. I can't even post this without tears. Although I never really talked with the man - I felt that there was a really good person there, and I admired the fact that he stood for his belief's regardless of how others put their responses. I don't follow politics, so I was never had to care about his views on that subject. But his sense of humour was fantastic and I near bust a gut several times reading his posts.

I remember the post regarding his cat and that post tells a lot about the man. I will miss his postings and his presence - somehow Ehmac will never be quite the same.

Rest in Peace Gerry................and rest assured that whenever we hear the phrase
"trust me on this" you will be remembered.:-( :-(
 
#128 ·
My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Although I did not know MacNutt, it truly shows how much he is missed and thought of with the great amount of respect everyone has shown in this thread. Some of the stories were very nice to read...May he rest in peace.
 
#129 ·
Well put, Cameo and others. My eyeballs got more rolling exercises from Gerry's posts, but I always admired his excellent advocacy work for the devil and his sense of humour. In many ways he defined the vivacity of this community for me.

I certainly thought of the 'crazy Scott' when I chose my avatar, regardless of how far apart we were on many issues.

He'll be missed.

b
 
#130 ·
Dr.G. said:
PosterBoy, should you get to this memorial service and if it is outside, leave a small stone near the grave site or near the service. It is a Jewish tradition to leave a stone on the headstone when you visit such a site. Since I shall not be able to be there, I would appreciate you doing this for me. You could softly say, "A rock from The Rock". Gerry would understand and approve, knowing how he felt about Newfoundland and Labrador, and the people he met from here. Trust me on this point. Merci, mon ami.
If I make it to the memorial I shall do this for you Doc.
 
#133 ·
darkscot said:
I bet he could have written one hell of an autobiography.
With 8971 posts, he already has.

This little snippit from AppleAuthority's chat session gives me some insight into MacNutt's character:
AppleAuthority said:
Last I talked to him was May 21:
g5macnutt: Everyone settled back down now after the election?
g5macnutt: That was a high traffic period, as I recall
appleauthority: well, there are still some rumblings, but for the majority, yes.
g5macnutt: Then they've accepted it.
appleauthority: yeah
g5macnutt: Good. had to be tough for some of them.
Even though he liked to troll the Liberals on this board, and he certainly didn't share their views, he still had some concern for their feelings. This shows more than a little class in my books.
 
#134 ·
After reading this terrible news, I've been pondering the sad "new normal" of ehmac without MacNutt's pot-stirring mischief. A real loss for all.

I'll be raising my glass to his memory tonight.

I like the idea of retiring his avatar. I recall we had a discussion a few years ago that touched on his preference for locking in his recognizable icon (http://www.ehmac.ca/showthread.php?t=20318&highlight=macnutt+avatar).

God rest, MacNutt.
 
#135 ·
How fitting is this for the top of the page.

I know Gerry would have loved it.

Trust me on this.
 

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#137 ·
Eh, I will miss his joyfully humorous jokes. He will be missed, I will raise a glass (of grape juice) to this kind of guy.
 
#138 ·
SkyHook said:
Another looser idea is the image of a virtual memorial park or members-only page, on a small scale fitting for a web bulletin board, Where Gerry MacNutt might be a fitting first candidate for "honourable members" only? It would have to be simple though or it could easily become maudlin or cheesy, so no extensive biographies. Maybe it could contain a understated listing of honourable members attaining a memorialized value of 8,971 posts, simply named after MacNutt to honour the value of an on-line community, while retiring their avatars?
I like that idea. Maybe we could also start a thread where everybody can list their favourite post (or least favourite) he made. One choice, that's all. I think it would really show his personality.

It felt strange seeing the 'RIP' post. I am an avid motorbiker and also frequent a local forum for bikers. Motobiking claims a lot of enthusiasts and I see a lot of RIP threads, including people I have riden with. I never thought I would see such a thread here, never mind one related to a motorbike accident with the fatality occuring to somebody who no longer rode.

I have thought a lot about risk taking and pursuing the things I love. I have decided that a life not lived, is not worth living. MacNutt died doing what he loved. I know the risks I take and to me its worth doing. I think MacNutt would have felt the same way.

We'll miss you. I am having a beer in your honour. Cheers! :-(
 
#139 ·
"If I make it to the memorial I shall do this for you Doc." Thank you, PosterBoy. I know that Gerry was not Jewish, but it is a "mitzvah" (i.e., a good deed) for a Jewish person to show respect in this small way for one who has died. It means "I was here and I shall remember". Shalom, mon ami.
 
#140 ·
Dr.G. said:
"If I make it to the memorial I shall do this for you Doc." Thank you, PosterBoy. I know that Gerry was not Jewish, but it is a "mitzvah" (i.e., a good deed) for a Jewish person to show respect in this small way for one who has died. It means "I was here and I shall remember". Shalom, mon ami.
That is one Jewish tradition I have always admired.
 
#141 ·
MP, many people were in a quandary at the end of Schindler's List as to why the actual survivors were leaving small stones on his gravesite. It is a show of respect and remembrance, which is why I am glad that PB shall do this for me. Should I ever get out to SSI, I shall bring a smooth beach rock from here in NL and leave it at his gravesite myself. Gerry shall be missed, but not forgotten. Shalom.
 
#144 ·
It's really a shock to hear this news. I've been struggling with what I could write, to say something, kind words, but I get a kind of writer's block when I try. So hear is my sad contribution, I hope Gerry likes it, wherever he is:

"Enjoy life!"

The story behind this phrase is too long to go into now, but suffice it to say that I heard it daily from someone who had a lot less than me, yet still managed to go through the day with a big smile on his face. I think it's a fitting mantra for the way Gerry lived.

My condolences to his family and friends. :-(
 
#147 ·
Just ran across this which brought a smile to my face:

Apr 21st, 2005, 03:25 PM #9
MacNutt
Honourable Citizen

Interesting....

Hey SINC. Now you are being "mentioned in dispatches by name" as well as myself. Considering how few people here at ehmac actually get mentioned by name in thread titles, then this has GOT to be some sort of honour...no?

I wonder...is it a Scottish thing?

Apr 21st, 2005, 03:59 PM #10
SINC
Honourable Citizen

Quote:
Originally Posted by MacNutt
Interesting....

Hey SINC. Now you are being "mentioned in dispatches by name" as well as myself. Considering how few people here at ehmac actually get mentioned by name in thread titles, then this has GOT to be some sort of honour...no?

I wonder...is it a Scottish thing?

SINC:

I da na no, laddie!



__________________
The fact that no one understands you doesn't make you an artist.
 
#148 ·
Thank you moderators, and an excellent idea sharkman.

Ehmac still feels odd knowing MacNutt won't return. He didn't post for a while before his recent comments, but it still feels very different knowing that he won't ever post again. I disagreed with his style of debate but I miss him. I can't think of another way to put it.
 
#149 ·
Beej, I was thinking the same thing this afternoon. MacNutt would go for stretches with no postings, due to his other interests and business. Still, you always figured that he was lurking about, ready to join in at a moment's notice.
 
#151 ·
No, there was only one MacNutt. Others may hold some of his political views, but no one could combine his wit and stubborness together is quite the same way.
 
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