Please post your favorite memories and times with Andy

[cynatnite]

I find the friendship and love for Andy inspiring. It gives us all hope what we can accomplish when motivated.

I didn't know Andy and I feel I've missed out on so much. Please express your feelings and what made him special to you. If you have a memory or a moment I think sharing that would benefit so many of us who weren't fortunate enough to know him.

Thanks.

[ck4829]

1. I only 'met' Andy a couple of times

He responded to a couple of my posts. He was a very good guy.

But, my work involving Andy goes a little deeper than that.

I was one of the people involved in the Scamdy investigation which, I think, led to them being shut down for a while.

[mzmolly]

2. I got to know Andy online, and via Private Messages and various

discussion groups.

I found him to be sweet, innocent, compassionate, humorous, intelligent, kind, thoughtful, bold and brave ...

Only the good die young as they say.

What a nice thread. Recommended

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. In January, my county Supervisor of Elections addressed

the monthly meeting of the Democratic Executive Committee. I wanted to ask some pointed questions but felt inadquate. I needed to know which questions would be the most helpful to election activists and how to phrase them appropriately.

I posted to DU asking for suggestions. Andy sent me a PM and offered to talk to me over the telephone. I gave him my number and he called me long distance between meetings while he was traveling in New York. We talked three separate times I believe. He was always very patient and amazingly tolerant with my ignorance. I was blown away that he would take time from his schedule to answer the questions of a total stranger.

And his suggestions were right on the money. I can't tell you how many people came up to me after the meeting to thank me for standing up and engaging the SOE. AND the SOE thanked me for asking good questions and remaining dignified about it. (He'd been subjected to some less than courteous challenges throughout the evening as well.)

Other than posting with him at DU that is my only off-line interaction with Andy. I was very impressed and very grateful.

[cynatnite]

4. Oh, that's great!

What a heart of gold :)

[Cassandra]

5. Last year, during the Repuke convention

I went to the Question W Revue and met Andy and Bev. I already knew Jeff Matson from two previous DU meet-ups. We had a howling good time during the performance. Andy ended up at my table and we were laughing really hard when one of the songs mentioned electronic voting. Afterward we all went to a bar around the corner and sat outside on a beautiful night; I was talking mostly to Andy. Afterward, I shared a cab with Andy and Bev and dropped them off on the way uptown. I've been thinking this morning that I had no idea that night that Andy and Jeff, two wonderful, committed people, would both be gone in less than a year.
I'm so sad. I miss them both.

[WilliamPitt]

6. Two memories

July of 2003 at a Rolling Thunder event in Seattle. Andy and I ran a teach-in inside a packed tent about electronic voting. Andy, predictably, was aces with his data and scared the shit out of everyone. Got a lot of people off their asses. By the way, everything he predicted in that tent in July '03 came true in November '04.

Then there was January 'o5 at the inauguration protests. He and I and some other DUers walked the route, protested, and then went out for drinks later. Andy burst into tears at one point because he was so frustrated. He'd tried so hard to keep fraud from happening, and felt like he'd failed. I held his hand and said, "Andy, it could be worse." He looked up at me and said, "How?" I said with a solemn, serious face, "You could be straight."

He laughed his ass off. That was the last time I saw him.

[cynatnite]

7. Great memories to be read here, folks!

:kick:

[GOPisEvil]

8. My living room is an Andy Stephenson original design.

Andy was down here for something or another. Somehow we ended up at my house for a little drinking and chatting. Andy took one look at my living room, and decided that it was all wrong. So, in his half-drunk state, he ordered us to move the furniture around so that it was much more accomodating to conversation.

A couple pieces of furniture are different, but it's still the same setup today.

[proud patriot]

9. He was so happy when he made the decision to run for office

I remember when he first opened the campaign website
and thinking "Wow he's Serious" I sent the link to friends
in Washington State and told them to "vote for my Friend
He's a good guy."

Andy lived life to the fullest that's how I remember him
Living Doing Being . I hope to be more like him :cry:
(smiling through tears) His wit kept me smiling and his
dedication inspired me .

[sojourner]

10. I "met" Andy when trying to uncover some truths about Guckert/Gannon.

A number of us worked together on the Wrinkles threads - and on other forums. Andy was always there to dig, to help with analysis, and to keep us motivated when we got a little lost in the data.

In a private group we ended up setting up on Yahoo Groups, Andy made me a moderator (all of the core group were made mods). Proved to be a HUGE mistake, cuz I deleted most of the posts one day -- thought I was doing "house-keeping" in my own personal files. WHAT A DOLT!!

But the group was forgiving...they were able to recover the lost posts from private emails...and Andy never offered to revoke my membership status. Although I felt terrible and embarrassed, and due to other obligations eventually drifted out of active membership, I remember Andy's kind spirit. (Although when he was "heated up" about an issue he could deliver a scathing, no-holds-barred rant.).

The other thing I recall about Andy was his exuberance and joy in living, in working for what he believed in, and his love for his partner, his family, and his friends - who were many.

I wish I could have met this remarkable person. The world has suffered a great loss with his passing!