Last week, I said goodbye to a dear friend, Gregg Gallagher. He was a sweet man with a quick wit and an easy smile. He put the "social" in my "social media." He was the first person I met on twitter, and one of the first people I met in person from "the Cloud." (Not everyone is an ax murderer or an imaginary unicorn!) I attended a few meet-ups that he attended as well. Gregg was a connector. He enjoyed his friends, and he enjoyed creating circles of friends around him. He hosted potlucks, and Rock Band sessions...epic Rock Band sessions. We laughed, and ate and drank...and it was good. Because of him, I have a wonderful circle of friends. That's who Gregg was.
Before Christmas, he was diagnosed with cancer. He fought, and it looked like he was winning. But it continued to progress, quickly. A few months ago, we got together for a Rock Band party that none of us knew was going to be our last. Soon after, he was in the hospital. We visited him. He never went home again. He was transferred to a rehab facility, and though JNerd and I were able to visit him a few times there, he finally went to hospice in his son's home. I had hoped to visit him there, but he died soon afterwards. I regret that I didn't get to spend time with him there...it all happened so fast!
He was a champion of social media, and few know that he was instrumental in bringing the internet to AT&T in the beginning. World Net was his baby, along with his team. His team won an award that sits in the Smithsonian because of it. He was the one who turned me on to the iPad. I was the one who talked him into getting his greyhound, Ares. "You need a dog, Gregg," I said.
Gregg's hobby was photography. I loved the way he saw the world. He helped me with my camera, and got me excited about taking pictures. Just after he died, I saw this picture again. The finality in it made me ache.
photo by Gregg Gallagher
The copy from the above photo is: "You may have gone back to school, but you'll be missing me come Spring Break."
You don't know how right you were, Gregg.
Last Saturday dawned warm and sunny. The perfect California day. We boarded a boat with some of Gregg's closest friends, who, because of Gregg, became our friends as well, and we laid him to rest. Afterwards, we had a luncheon at the Bluewater Grill, complete with a Guinness and some calamari for Gregg.
No one touched his Guinness.
To you, my friend. May you be at peace.
6 sent chocolate:
Oh no. I can't believe Gregg is gone. I had no idea. I've been so far removed from everyone since I left California. I feel like I've been a bad friend.
In my most troubled time, Gregg was intent on helping me to find a better job and help me to dig out of the mess I had been pushed and stomped into. He was a wonderful man, and though I admit I didn't know him as well as you do, it's just a testament to the kind of person he was. He would do anything he could to help those he saw as being worth his time.
Gregg will be missed by many people.
Lady Blackwood: you are so right. He will be missed. I am sorry you are just now hearing. The picture above with Gregg and Alex? You also are in it. Would you like me to send you the non-cropped version? email or Facebook me.
I'm so sorry for your loss. He sounds like an amazing person.
Nancy: He was a rare one, that's for sure.
Some people can touch your heart
Tony: speaking of...how have you been??
Post a Comment