![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancerjodiThe 501st/Rebel Legion has lost one of its own over last weekend. Nick Ring was only 22 years old and died from complications during a routine day-surgery to repair his jaw (both he and his twin brother have 'open bite', and the surgery was to repair it).
I guess while in surgery Nick had a heart attack, his lungs collapsed, and they induced a coma to try and save him. His lungs collapsed again while in the coma and they lost him. 22 years old!
I didn't know Nick well, but had met he and his twin brother Graeme at Dragoncon in our first year at the 501st Hooter's Dinner. Each year I looked forward to seeing their crazy costumes, including Mario and Luigi and Nick's rendition of Goro of the Japanese Garrison. Brian's been closer to them than I given his involvement on The Dented Helmet board (he and Graeme have actually shared Boba parts in the past). We got the call on Saturday while sitting around the house and Brian was just in a bit of shock for a while on the couch. One minute someone is there and the next they are gone, in an instant.
Members of the 501st are raising a pint to him in Ontario tomorrow night with many folks making the journey to support Graeme. Many troopers are participating in a massive dedication to him on Saturday (in armor) at his college. The family is having a memorial service for him a week from Saturday http://www.ospreyobituaries.com/sitepages/obituary.asp?oId=250421&source=St.%20Catharines%20Standard . Troopers across the globe are collecting action figures to send to the college ceremony so that they can be distributed amongst the crowd. Graeme said that his brother would like to know that everyone had a piece of Star Wars there and would love to see so many folks in armor in his honor.
Its jarring when something happens to someone so young and so bright. It serves to remind you that you shouldn't waste any second you have on this earth. It also goes to show just how amazing people can be and how supportive so many complete strangers can be when they mobilize to celebrate the spirit of one small life. Its extremely touching to be a part of this world-wide family and to see again the kind of things that we can do if we only put our minds and our efforts to it. Imagine if folks were this motivated and this supportive of others all the time, what we could do?!
I guess while in surgery Nick had a heart attack, his lungs collapsed, and they induced a coma to try and save him. His lungs collapsed again while in the coma and they lost him. 22 years old!
I didn't know Nick well, but had met he and his twin brother Graeme at Dragoncon in our first year at the 501st Hooter's Dinner. Each year I looked forward to seeing their crazy costumes, including Mario and Luigi and Nick's rendition of Goro of the Japanese Garrison. Brian's been closer to them than I given his involvement on The Dented Helmet board (he and Graeme have actually shared Boba parts in the past). We got the call on Saturday while sitting around the house and Brian was just in a bit of shock for a while on the couch. One minute someone is there and the next they are gone, in an instant.
Members of the 501st are raising a pint to him in Ontario tomorrow night with many folks making the journey to support Graeme. Many troopers are participating in a massive dedication to him on Saturday (in armor) at his college. The family is having a memorial service for him a week from Saturday http://www.ospreyobituaries.com/sitepages/obituary.asp?oId=250421&source=St.%20Catharines%20Standard . Troopers across the globe are collecting action figures to send to the college ceremony so that they can be distributed amongst the crowd. Graeme said that his brother would like to know that everyone had a piece of Star Wars there and would love to see so many folks in armor in his honor.
Its jarring when something happens to someone so young and so bright. It serves to remind you that you shouldn't waste any second you have on this earth. It also goes to show just how amazing people can be and how supportive so many complete strangers can be when they mobilize to celebrate the spirit of one small life. Its extremely touching to be a part of this world-wide family and to see again the kind of things that we can do if we only put our minds and our efforts to it. Imagine if folks were this motivated and this supportive of others all the time, what we could do?!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-07-10 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-10 04:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-11 04:41 am (UTC)Andy and I stayed at their house a couple of times. Like you, I always looked forward to seeing their antics at D*C.