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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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#152 ·
This is the first time back in over a month and this is what I face. What a shock! and how sad.:-(
I can't really add to what has been already said by others who can say it a lot better than I. I agree with almost all the previous comments. A sad time indeed.
 
#153 ·
Absolutely right. He had kind of an ageless wisdom. Even though he knew many people would disagree with him. It must have got to him, at some point, the disagreement, but to his credit he came back and shared with us. When I chatted with him (I wished I'd saved that chat) he tread lightly, making the point that he knew his views weren't widely well received. Yet what would this or any forum be without some disagreement?

I think also we have a rare example here of knowing: why someone, who will be missed no matter what, went away, when it happened, how it happened. There will likely be scores of other people that come and go, and a quick look at the member list runs the gamut from people with tons of posts who leave after a time, or people with only a few per year, and a lot who haven't visited in forever, but who knows what happened to them? This is one case where we *know*, we *care,* and we care a _lot_.

That doesn't happen very often--nor should it--nor could it. This is a credit to ehMax's creation here, but mostly it shows what a profound effect GM had--still has--on us.


Dr.G. said:
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.
 
#154 ·
HowEver said:
Absolutely right. He had kind of an ageless wisdom. Even though he knew many people would disagree with him. It must have got to him, at some point, the disagreement, but to his credit he came back and shared with us. When I chatted with him (I wished I'd saved that chat) he tread lightly, making the point that he knew his views weren't widely well received. Yet what would this or any forum be without some disagreement?
What a person posts on a forum, and actually says or thinks amid a group of people face to face, are two very different things. It is easy to get involved and "fire off" a missive via the keyboard that one would never even dare to mention in the course of normal conversation.

Such a man was Gerry, whose persona on the phone was nothing like the bold, brassy individual he was in these threads.

I too am as guilty as Gerry at firing missives from time to time, although his were much more colourfully known as the Salmon cannon shots from SSI.

It takes all kinds to make up the community that is ehMac, and the mods allow much freedom with the odd caution here and there. Gerry defended himself and his philosophy in an honourable way, even if he did get the odd "vacation" for those views.

People who disagree with others and sink to the level of verbal abuse and name calling need a vacation at times too, but rarely get one. Gerry seldom stooped to that level and for that he will always be remembered. Those who do will soon be forgotten.
 
#155 ·
I was thinking how we could remember Gerry. All of the suggestions mentioned are excellent. But here is my suggestion.

If Posterboy finds out when Gerry's memorial is, we could close the board similar to what we do on Remembrance Day for a moment of silence.

Just a thought.
 
#157 ·
Not to turn this into a group hug or anything, but the passing of Gerry prompts me to say that I find myself confonted with the fact that I would feel the same sense of loss if any of you were lost from this forum.
Take care, my unkown friends,
OM
 
#158 ·
I'm still in a bit of shock over this. I haven't been on in a few days, and at first I didn't think that the subject was serious. But wow. He certainly was a vital part of this community of ours, and will be missed. What I'm feeling now also makes me realize how close this community really is. Most of us have never met in person, but the passing of one affects us all so deeply. That says something about what we have here, and the people that make this community what it is.

RIP MacNutt
 
#159 ·
Ottawaman said:
Not to turn this into a group hug or anything, but the passing of Gerry prompts me to say that I find myself confonted with the fact that I would feel the same sense of loss if any of you were lost from this forum.
Take care, my unkown friends,
OM
I was thinking the exact same thing. I find it amazing that I can have a hole cut inside of me because of an online community. MacNutt's passing has started to make me realize that even though most of us don't know each other.. we still quite often get "good friend" or "best friend" status virtually.

I'm actually quite shocked at how much his passing has really affected me personally, even beyond the 18 inches from the screen we're all accustomed to.

To all of you, I'm honoured to be part of such a wonderful community with so many great people. It's just sad that it took something so tragic to realize the impact of the community. Not to sound corny.. but I think a lot of us have realized the "iLife" that we've all become a part of.

Take care friends,

Vexel

aka. Roger
 
#160 ·
"Take care, my unkown friends." Thanks for the concern, OM. Paix, mon ami.
 
#161 ·
Ottawaman said:
Not to turn this into a group hug or anything, but the passing of Gerry prompts me to say that I find myself confonted with the fact that I would feel the same sense of loss if any of you were lost from this forum.
Take care, my unkown friends,
OM
I was shocked at the knews and at my reaction - I literally could not read this thread without crying at the very real loss that I feel. And, as you said Ottawaman, it would be the same for any of you. We have become a caring community and we feel the same emotions for our virtual friends as we do for our "physical" friends.
 
#162 ·
This is so true. The 20 or so people I've met/transacted with have been so incredibly nice that it makes me believe that meeting GM would have been a special time indeed. I may not suffer the usual online ennui gladly, but you can't take issue with someone's personal opinion intelligently expressed. In person, these are great folks.
 
#163 ·
What I find strange is that there is no one here in St. John's that I am able to speak to face to face (other than maybe ErnstNL, whom I have never met personally), with whom I can express my feelings of loss. Luckily, there are all of you out there in ehMacLand that share this similar sense of loss. Paix, mes amis.
 
#165 ·
This is a huge loss...I really liked his comments and the flame wars that were started over politics and touchy subjects. I will miss his postings on here a great deal....RIP Mr.Gerry Macnutt hope your playing lawn bowling with the big guy in the sky..
 
#167 ·
I keep thinking he's going to come back and laugh at all of us because it was a big joke. I really do miss him. :-( I have to say that reading some other groups out there, I've come to realize what a great place ehmac really is. Even the heated debates aren't as horrible as I've seen on other boards where groups of people attack all newcomers in packs.

I wonder if we could have something said about Gerry on one of the mac internet radio shows....
 
#168 ·
Sad news indeed:(

MacNutt was the Ying to the majority of ehmac members Yang. Like him or not he kept this board exciting, fun and engaging. How many members could claim the number of thread titles with their name included. LOL

God bless you MacNutt. You will be missed.

Cheers
MacGuiver
 
#169 ·
Just stumpled on this thread a little while ago.

I just can't believe it. I didn't know Gerry well, but I enjoyed his posts and his contributions to this community.

My condolences to his family. I'll raise a glass to Gerry tonight.
 
#173 · (Edited)
I've already placed my comments regarding Gerry's tragic passing, but just want to say how great this community of virtual friends is. It's heartening to see the amount of outpouring and reflection that has been offered. I was around during much of Gerry's most prolific posting and had a pretty good feel about him. I followed many of the controversial threads squaring Gerry off against other equally stubborn/opiniated members of this community and, agree with him or not, I always had an admiration for him and he regularly brought a smile to my face (I'm frequently a devil's advocate as well). Many names I see here these past few days are new ones to me and yet they share in the same sense of loss I and other "older" members feel. Kudos to this virtual community and its leaders for being people with real respect and caring for the other members.:clap: Together, you make this forum the best! Gerry would be thankful and proud.
 
#174 ·
Peter Scharman said:
I've already placed my comments regarding Gerry's tragic passing, but just want to say how great this community of virtual friends is. It's heartening to see the amount of outpouring and reflection that has been offered. I was around during much of Gerry's most prolific posting and had a pretty good feel about him. I followed many of the controversial threads squaring Gerry off against other equally stibborn members of this community and, agree with him or not, I always had an admiration for him and he regularly brought a smile to my face (I'm frequently a devil's advocate as well). Many names I see here these past few days are new ones to me and yet they share in the same sense of loss I and other "older" members feel. Kudos to this virtual community and its leaders for being people with real respect and caring for the other members.:clap: Together, you make this forum the best! Gerry would be thankful and proud.
Very well said. I am glad to be a member of this online community.

Hats off to all, a drink (of water) raised to Gerry.
 
#176 ·
I somehow missed this thread altogether, and I'm here everyday. This untimely and tragic loss is dumbfounding.

I have just read the entire thread and I am uplifted by the sincere sentiments expressed by my fellow ehmacers. It is hard to accept the loss of a member of your MacClan, and I shall raise a glass of uisge-beatha in memory of his many contributions here.
 
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