As readers know, our friend Andy Stephenson, a founding advisor of ours at VelvetRevolution.us passed away last Thursday night after a short, but heroic fight against pancreatic cancer.
His death came on the day prior to the BRAD BLOGATHON (wherein the readers took the joint over, so we could not post here at all!) and therefore I was unable to follow up with a few items of note. I shall do so now.
Those who knew of Andy’s illness, may also have known about the disgraceful ghouls at FreeRepublic and elsewhere who had made a quick industry out of challenging Andy’s illness after the Internet community came together to quickly raise $50,000 for Andy’s surgery at Johns Hopkins (he had no health insurance after being unemployed in the wake of leaving Black Box Voting where Bev Harris and he parted on very less than good terms).
The loathesome Freepers charged that the fundraising effort was fraud, and succeeded in having his PayPal account frozen until an investigation proved that his needs were legit. That little act of thoughtfulness on the part of the repugnant folks who would unrepentingly do such a thing, helped to delay Andy’s surgery for three weeks and added an unconscionable additional burden to his final weeks of life and death struggle.
There is some discussion on that, some words of tribute, and information on a memorial service to be held for Andy at Town Hall in Seattle at 1119 Eighth Ave., on Saturday, July 16, at 2 p.m. in the following items on his passing from over the last few days…
There is no low that republicans won’t go. Gleefully.
Rest in peace Andy, we carry on…
I read most of of the history on Andy and his illness after seeing his memorial here. Went to DU and spent a hour on the bachground.
Even went to BBV to read their obit.
I did not know him, but I think his treatment by his opponents shows their evil ..against what? Absolute hate for..who?
>>>…opponents shows their evil ..against what? Absolute hate for..who?
Real Americans and the promise that is (was?–no, still is) America.
It really is just that simple.
:plain:
That story about the FReepers made me ill. I didn’t know. I guess the FReepers haven’t apologized? :plain:
We met Andy for one wonderful weekend when he stayed at our home for the National Election Reform Conference in Nashville. He was a patriot, coming to Nashville despite the fact that he had just days before discovered that he was about to enter the health battle for his life. The reason he came was to give a speech insisting on paper ballots, not paper trails, in the voting reform wars. The speech was thoughtful, well-reasoned and funny. Just like Andy.
He was a delightful man to be around, a happy warrior with a Texas background and a Seattle lifestyle. We got to share his delight in his first national television appearance, as we watched the tape at my house with my family, asking my wife, "did I look fat?"
I urge all y’all to read Andy’s story and be inspired by the man, as we were; and to continue his work.
RIP Andy.