In Memoriam: Gregory McMullan

[thatcrazycajun]

It seems the month for out-of-nowhere, kick-in-the-gut news about someone dying...but this time, it's far too close to home. tigerbright and bedlamhouse inform me that Greg McMullan (known on LJ as filkergem) has perished in a fire that started in his family's home while he was sleeping there alone. I fear I lack further information than this, including his age at death; but there are links from filkerdave's and TB's pages.

Greg was one of many who joined us mere weeks ago here in Atlanta for GAFilk and contributed to all of us having such a marvelous time. His LJ's most recent entry was on the 19th, just over a week ago, and reported he'd achieved a new personal best for running (an ironic health habit, now). Hearing how he died is also that much more disturbing for me; coming as I do from a family of firefighters, I'm more aware than most of the ways in which a seemingly sound home can turn into a raging inferno in next to no time and with startling ease.

My heart goes out to his poor wife Maya and their daughter—now bereft not only of him, but of their home and almost all their possessions as well—and to all his relations, friends and others in whose lives his passing blows a great big honking sudden hole.

Comments

[ex-wouldyoue846.livejournal.com]

I went to his site to see if seeing his picture helped me put face to name (and it wasn't triggering anything, sorry) and winced at the obit for his father around 10 months ago. (And I don't come from a family of firefighters but given how painful a small burn is, I can't imagine how painful it would be to die by burning.)

Makes you worry about next year's GAFilk, doesn't it?

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Indeed it does...as kitanzi put it, if the Universe has decided a filker needs to die every January, it can jolly well knock it the hell off right now.

And ohiblather has a nice picture of Greg on the "My Filk" panel at this year's con, if it helps you put a face to the name.

[crystalgee.livejournal.com]

that is so sad, my thoughts are with his family. *sigh*

[banjoplayinnerd.livejournal.com]

The sad news was announced yesterday at Conflikt, putting a bit of a damper on what was otherwise the Best! First! Filkcon! Evah! We had a moment of silence for Greg and put up a poster that people could post their condolences on. It would have been nice to do more, but the news was pretty sudden and I don't think anyone knew at the time what, if anything, was to be done for Greg's memory and his family. I think I'll suggest that if it's appropriate (unknown) and the funds are there (very likely the case, considering how well he con did) that the concom at least send flowers in the name of the convention-goers or make a suitable gesture in his name if the family requests that no flowers be sent.

I didn't know Greg, but hey, filking is all one big family, right? Well, in a way one small family. I'll say more about this when I post a con report later but coming at fandom from the experience of regional SF cons like Norwescon I was surprised at just how few people attend even the major cons.