June 10, 2011...MAX: A True And Dear Friend, Has Passed Away

[conmee]

Brethren and Sistren,

I don't have much more to add than what has already been said by people who knew MAX better than I. He will certainly be missed here at The Roth Army.

I seem to recall many PMs from MAX asking me about this or that policy or practice, what to do in various situations, complaining about other people and other moderators lol. It was quite hilarious some of the topics he would send my way or involve me in. I was hoping to find some of those old PMs from an old database backup of the forums that I have, and share them with the community, but no luck.

Suffice to say, thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

That is all.

Icon©®™

[Dave's PA Rental]

Really bummed about this. Max was my boy back in the day when I was here more than I wasn't.

Carpe Diem, don't waste a day.

[diamondsgirl]

Thought I would share this:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?n=jeremy-williams&pid=152179479

[chefcraig]

Thank you, DG.

[Igosplut]

Haven't been here in a year, but somebody Emailed me about this. Never easy forming something to say in a situation like this. I've lost quite a few people to cancer including most of my immediate family so I know what his family is going through. Following that link that DG put up, I see that the celebration of his life is today, and that gave me this idea. We're going out on the annual "Blessing of the fleet" today where they bless all the of the fishing fleet. I have some ashes that are from a friend who died on a bike a year ago and I was going to throw them in the water after we are blessed, before the party starts. I have an old Roth Army tee that is too spent to wear anymore that I saved . I printed a picture from his avatar to put with it. I also included a rock from one of the local beaches that is know for these weird stripped rocks that people like to make fireplaces out of, and and is marked like the stripes on Ed guitars. I'm gonna wrap this all up and toss it into the waters of Cape Cod bay for him. He had Excitedly PMed me about DG and him coming down here to party and take in the local seafood (lobster rolls particularly), but alas, fate did not allow. I'd like to think that in some small way, This is a fitting sendoff from this end.

Max will make his splash in Cape Cod Bay after all......

My deepest sympathy to DG and Jeremy's family.

Igo.

[sadaist]

That rocks stripes DO look like Eddies guitar. Wow man. I think something greater than us allowed you to find that particular rock. Weird and beautiful. You are doing such an awesome thing. I know as you put that tribute to sea and say a couple words, ALL of us here at the Army will be with you in spirit and wishing we could be there physically.

That's really great Igo. I can only hope that when my time comes, a friend does something that terrific for me. We should all be so lucky. I think 'Max' will be smiling as he watches.

[bueno bob]

I was thinking about ways to put Max's passing into perspective, and I decided this morning that the best thing I can offer him was a story about what kind of guy he was, away from the board, when we did a little deal.

My Grandfather passed away some years back, and I had kept around his Playboy stash, although I hadn't really gone through them or anything. At one particular point, maybe around '05-'06, I started browsing through them, one of which was dated '86. Lo and behold, right in the center was a big ass interview with our own Diamond Dave, talking about the solo career starting, the departure from Van Halen, etc. Well, I wanted to get it up on the boards, but I was still a wee bit behind on the technology side and didn't have any way to do it, short of typing everything up (oddly enough, I couldn't find the interview/pics online anywhere).

Max actually took the initiative to contact me and volunteer a trade, the Playboy for some other VH related stuff (I don't even remember what it was now, but it was something I needed). After speaking a bit on the subject, and already knowing Max from the Pen and other stuff around the board, I mailed out the magazine his way. Not only did the stuff he promised me show up BEFORE he got the magazine, but he was true to his word and had the article and photos scanned and up here at the Army the very next day after he got it.

You know, I'd done internet trades before - more often then not, they don't usually go your way and it just kinda sours you on the situation - or at least, so has been my situation and experience. But Max was really the first person to open my mind up to the possibility and able me to think "You know, maybe everybody's NOT a thief/dick/liar and there are a few good apples out there". And it's because of that that I opened myself up to some other folks around here, and because of the good experience he gave me, I like to think that he influenced me to make sure everybody else got the same kind of experience.

That said, well...that's living a life where you impact people...living a life where you're an influence, and living a life where the people that you touch similarly touch others.

If we had more Jeremy's in the world, it'd be amazing what the human race could accomplish, wouldn't it? Even in the simplest things, the biggest impact can be felt.

I didn't always agree with him, and more than once got into an online shouting match with him, but a lot of us did at times. "Max" was one thing, "Bueno Bob" was another, but Jeremy and Rob were always brothers in the Army and always had a great deal of respect for each other. Rob is always going to log into this place, maybe not as frequently as he used to, but he's always going to miss Jeremy. Much love, brother! The Army is a smaller place without you, but your impact goes on forever. Jeremy was just a god damn classic.

Peace and love to Jeremy's friends and family.

[tjvhou812]

Max was one of the elite on this site, one of the coolest people on here, and he will be missed

[diamondsgirl]

Haven't been here in a year, but somebody Emailed me about this. Never easy forming something to say in a situation like this. I've lost quite a few people to cancer including most of my immediate family so I know what his family is going through. Following that link that DG put up, I see that the celebration of his life is today, and that gave me this idea. We're going out on the annual "Blessing of the fleet" today where they bless all the of the fishing fleet. I have some ashes that are from a friend who died on a bike a year ago and I was going to throw them in the water after we are blessed, before the party starts. I have an old Roth Army tee that is too spent to wear anymore that I saved . I printed a picture from his avatar to put with it. I also included a rock from one of the local beaches that is know for these weird stripped rocks that people like to make fireplaces out of, and and is marked like the stripes on Ed guitars. I'm gonna wrap this all up and toss it into the waters of Cape Cod bay for him. He had Excitedly PMed me about DG and him coming down here to party and take in the local seafood (lobster rolls particularly), but alas, fate did not allow. I'd like to think that in some small way, This is a fitting sendoff from this end.

Max will make his splash in Cape Cod Bay after all......

My deepest sympathy to DG and Jeremy's family.

Igo.

Igo;

Thank you so much for your tribute to Jer. I know he would have loved the Cape and we spoke of it often. The summer he got sick we were planning on renting a place down there where my family and his family could get together and get to know eachother. Kind of like a week long open house where people came down for as many days as they could, you know? But, as you said, fate did not allow. Had it, we would have looked you up, for sure. Lobster rolls for everyone!

Thank you again for thinking of Jer today, and for putting this tribute together. He is smiling for sure.

[Igosplut]

Here's the video of me tossing it off the stern of the boat. The engine house door was open, so you can't hear shit of what I said. the funny thing is, the camera strap snapped when I was at the top of the mast and the fucking thing fell 20 feet down into the winch. it was all fucked up but still worked enough to get the pictures, and video out.....

[Halen High]

I was thinking about ways to put Max's passing into perspective, and I decided this morning that the best thing I can offer him was a story about what kind of guy he was, away from the board, when we did a little deal.

My Grandfather passed away some years back, and I had kept around his Playboy stash, although I hadn't really gone through them or anything. At one particular point, maybe around '05-'06, I started browsing through them, one of which was dated '86. Lo and behold, right in the center was a big ass interview with our own Diamond Dave, talking about the solo career starting, the departure from Van Halen, etc. Well, I wanted to get it up on the boards, but I was still a wee bit behind on the technology side and didn't have any way to do it, short of typing everything up (oddly enough, I couldn't find the interview/pics online anywhere).

Max actually took the initiative to contact me and volunteer a trade, the Playboy for some other VH related stuff (I don't even remember what it was now, but it was something I needed). After speaking a bit on the subject, and already knowing Max from the Pen and other stuff around the board, I mailed out the magazine his way. Not only did the stuff he promised me show up BEFORE he got the magazine, but he was true to his word and had the article and photos scanned and up here at the Army the very next day after he got it.

You know, I'd done internet trades before - more often then not, they don't usually go your way and it just kinda sours you on the situation - or at least, so has been my situation and experience. But Max was really the first person to open my mind up to the possibility and able me to think "You know, maybe everybody's NOT a thief/dick/liar and there are a few good apples out there". And it's because of that that I opened myself up to some other folks around here, and because of the good experience he gave me, I like to think that he influenced me to make sure everybody else got the same kind of experience.

That said, well...that's living a life where you impact people...living a life where you're an influence, and living a life where the people that you touch similarly touch others.

If we had more Jeremy's in the world, it'd be amazing what the human race could accomplish, wouldn't it? Even in the simplest things, the biggest impact can be felt.

I didn't always agree with him, and more than once got into an online shouting match with him, but a lot of us did at times. "Max" was one thing, "Bueno Bob" was another, but Jeremy and Rob were always brothers in the Army and always had a great deal of respect for each other. Rob is always going to log into this place, maybe not as frequently as he used to, but he's always going to miss Jeremy. Much love, brother! The Army is a smaller place without you, but your impact goes on forever. Jeremy was just a god damn classic.

Peace and love to Jeremy's friends and family.

Great story bueno bob - thanks for sharing.

[Nitro Express]

I once had a good chat with Max regarding the dirty underbelly of Salt Lake City. It's an interesting vortex of religious oppression, ski resorts, intersecting interstate highways (lot's of drugs), money, culture, rebellion, and a special flavor of decadence. He knew it all from the naked orgies at the downtown Hilton to the cocaine at La Caille. The thrill of jumping drunk and butt naked off the fifth floor of the Iron Blossom Lodge into the snow and then trying to find the heated pool. Then riding up the Snowbird tram with a hangover so you can ski the untouched powder in the bowls hoping the naked girl you left sleeping in your room won't rob you blind. Max knew all of that plus he knew all the local greasy fast food joints that served something special.

[Grant]

Thought I'd share this little story about MAX and to emphasise his contribution to this site:

I remember years ago one of my fellow Australian VH counterparts said he had been watching a popular music TV quiz show down here (called Spicks And Specks) and they actually ran through a couple of DLR quotes - in which the host said was obtained from the DLR Army website. Well, when MAX got wind of this...he just simply laughed his arse off and cited that one of the quotes that got mentioned was one that he himself had uploaded on here.

Only someone like Jer can get the DLR Army mentioned on Australian national television.

[Full Bug]

Just stumbled across this thread today, so sorry to hear about Max, I remember his name and posts very well, I didn't know he was sick, but its comforting to know he is no longer in any pain, RIP Max, you may be gone but around here you will never be forgotten....

[WARF]

I knew I should have never logged back in here....