Robert E. Howard fandom has lost two tireless supporters of late. And I’ve lost two friends.
First, Steve Tompkins died March 23rd, although I didn’t find out about it until Friday, April 3rd. Steve was in REHupa with me, the Robert E. Howard foundation. We found out from his brother that he had been admitted into the hospital after a bout with food poisoning, but then had a heart attack, which is what killed him. He had been rallying from the food poisoning when the heart attack occurred. Steve lived in New York City where he worked for The Bank of New York. His parents and three brothers are still living and I know they must miss him terribly.
I only met Steve once in person, in Cross Plains, Texas for Howard Days, but we corresponded many times over the years. Steve was the most erudite person I’ve ever known, with a prodigious memory for literary works and a wonderfully witty style of writing about literature. He single-handedly raised the level of Howard scholarship with his many essays for REHupa, as well as his blog posts and his beautifully researched introductions and/or essays for a number of recent Howard books. He will be missed by many, and I’m one of them.
Then, on Saturday, April 4, I found out that Joan McCowen had died after a year long battle with cancer. Joan was a member of Project Pride, the local Cross Plains group that bought and restored the Robert E. Howard house and turned it into a museum. She always supported Howard's Legacy, and the Howard fans who trooped through Cross Plains every year. Joan was a strong presence every time I went to Cross Plains for Howard days. She was a personable and energetic woman, although in the last year or so she had really been hit hard by her illness. She too will be missed, and everywhere I look in Cross Plains this year there will be a blank spot hiding part of the world.
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I'm so sorry for your loss. Not only were they treasured friends but good people.
ReplyDeleteMay they Rest in Peace.
I'm very sorry for these losses.
ReplyDeleteHate to hear of the passing of your friends.
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ReplyDeleteI did not know either of them, but very sorry to hear of their passing. It indeed sounds like the world will be a little smaller without them.
ReplyDeleteYou have my sympathys. The loss of a friend is a hard road to walk.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your losses Charles. Losses are hard when people have such an impact on your life.
ReplyDeleteI wish you healing and comfort.
:( sorry to hear about your losses.... life aye.... (((Zen))) hugs to you..
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Seems Death never comes singleton. Can be overwhelming. Will send good thought waves your way. D
ReplyDeleteCharles,
ReplyDeleteI'm saddened by these losses, too. Joan was a great lady. I never had the opportunity to meet Steven Tompkins, but I always enjoyed reading his work, and wanted to meet him in person one day...Santa Muerte has been taking from us a bit too much lately.
That's sad news. I'm sorry for your losses, Charles.
ReplyDeleteAnndi, thanks.
ReplyDeleteTravis, Much appreciated.
Travis Erwin, especially when it’s such a shock, I think.
Sidney, both were very fine people.
ARCHAVIST, I appreciate that.
Cath, thank you.
MarmiteToasty, two more good ones gone.
Donnetta Lee, I appreciate that.
Scott, you’d have liked Steve. Great guy and man did he know his Howard.
writtenwyrdd, thanks, I appreciate it.
I'm sorry, baby.
ReplyDeleteso sorry for your losses, charles :(
ReplyDeleteblessings to their survivors...
I'm sorry for your loss, Charles. They both sound like good people, and I'm sure they'll be missed.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about that. Sad news.
ReplyDeleteLana, thank you sweetness.
ReplyDeleteLaughingwolf, thanks, bud
Greg Schwartz, I appreciate that.
Erik, thanks.
Tragedy that the loss is they have a good friend in you that allowed others to see a bit of them. In that Charles, you are to be commended.
ReplyDeleteI wondered in high school if poetry was that old moon-june stuff.
ReplyDeleteBut I think trumps science.
We had to memorize this one, and I hope words can be a balm here.
Break, break, break
Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.
O, well for the fisherman's boy,
That he shouts with his sister at play!
O, well for the sailor lad,
That he sings in his boat on the bay!
And the stately ships go on
To their haven under the hill;
But O for the touch of a vanished hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still!
Break, break, break,
At the foot of thy crags, O sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.
-- Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Sympathies to you and the families for your losses. I've been through it and know the feelings.
ReplyDeleteVery well done eulogies, Charles.
ReplyDeleteMark, thanks. I appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteivan, yes, that is a great piece. At these times poetry does lend a comfort. I'm not always sure why but I feel it.
Randy Johnson, yes, it's the families who feel it most keenly. My thoughts go out to them.
BernardL, thank you.
I'm sorry to hear about your friends, Charles. Their passing is a sad thing, but it is at least a small comfort that a good man like you remains to remember them.
ReplyDeleteAlso sorry to hear about this.
ReplyDeleteYou honored them well, Charles. Prayers for you and thier families.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of your losses. Barrie xo
ReplyDeleteMy condolences, Charles. It sounds like you were lucky to have one another while you did.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sorry.
ReplyDeleteElegant words at a difficult time...
ReplyDeleteTheir families will be in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteAvery DeBow, I'll be working a long while to be as good as either of those two. But they made me better, and many others.
ReplyDeletepattinase,thank you.
jodi, appreciated.
Barrie, thanks.
moonrat, good folks for sure. It would have been nice if they'd lived closer for more visiting time.
Rachel, I appreciate that.
Steve Malley, definitely not a pleasant weekend.
L.A. Mitchell, thanks.
I'm so sorry, Charles.
ReplyDeleteHi Charles,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about your friends -- it's hard to lose so many valuable and lovely people in such a short time.
I'm very sorry to hear about your losses. May your friends rest in peace. :(
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry to hear of your losses. Life sometimes hits us and hits us hard. I am sure they must know the depth in which you cared for them. Remember they are never gone as long as we remember them.
ReplyDeleteBe easy and soft love,
T
Oh, that's awful. It's a small comfort I suppose, but I think it's nice they get to live on in your memory and through your kind words.
ReplyDeleteI'm also sorry to hear about your friends. Both sound like special people that the world is worse off for losing.
ReplyDeleteHi Charles, I've given you an award. You can pick it up here.
ReplyDeletehttp://writtenwyrdd.typepad.com/writtenwyrdd/2009/04/blushes.html
Wishing you strength, Charles!
ReplyDeleteHey, Charles. Just stopped by in between things, and I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friends. Reading of this has made me decide to spend a little less time training and more time with family and friends. Hang in there and I'll remember them in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteVesper, I appreciate that.
ReplyDeleteMichelle's Spell, yes, like a blow to the solar plexus followed by an uppercut.
Lisa, Yes, thank you.
Tara, I certainly have many memories. Thanks.
SQT, it's about all we have to offer.
Shauna Roberts, and yet murderes and rapists walk the earth.
writtenwyrdd, thankee. I appreciate that.
Anne Vis, thanks. Much appreciated.
Rick, I appreciate the kind words. Yes, now I wish I'd spent more time with them.
Man, so sorry to hear it. With online tech we have the advantage of making so many friends so far away. But it's a hard loss when we hear sad news like this. I'm sorry for your loss, Charles.
ReplyDeleteThe passing of good people is a loss to all of us, but if one knew them well, it is always heartbreaking. I am so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this Charles.
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling us a little about them, Charles. A beautiful tribute that reflected their goodness, and yours, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd I, too, am sorry that they were taken too soon.
benjibopper, thanks. Yes, that's true about good friends being made at a distance now. I hadn't really thought of that.
ReplyDeleteMerisi, I believe that myself. The death of good folks diminishes us all a bit.
David Cranmer, thanks.
Sarah Hina, I appreciate that. It's pretty easy to write something about folks you love.
Losing good friends is always tragic, but you have the good times with them in your memories to call upon.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, yes, memories can be a very good thing.
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