I was shocked when I got word about this, and it's taken me some time to start absorbing the news of Henry's passing and be able to start putting together my thoughts about it
First of all, my thoughts go to his wife and kid daughter, who I know he held very dearly, as well as to the rest of his family. I can only imagine the loss they have suffered, and that this must have happened quite suddenly and unexpectedly does not make it any better
It's a strange thing with people you know solely over the internet. Though I never talked to Henry in person or even over the phone, I felt I was starting to get to know him. We became "active" within this community at fairly comparable rates, and since we also had a few things in common personally (married with a little daughter, government employees, about the same age, "not French"
, etc), it was kinda natural, I guess, that we got to talking a fair deal, both about things related to AGEOD as well as other stuff.
He had a good understanding of forum life and communities and he had the ability to both see and work towards "the big picture". Though there was nothing in it for himself, I know he went more than a few extra miles in "spreading the word" about AGEOD games among the Germans.
I'll remember his intelligence, his humor and his self-irony, and I'll miss him for his ability to post the Right Post, be it a particularly good insight into something or something humorous or even corny to diffuse a discussion that looked like it was heading in the wrong way. I also think it's typical that his last post at these forums was about not taking the bait when forum trolls are on the loose.
Rest in peace, Henry. Thank you for the time you spent with us and best wishes on your journey onwards. Perhaps one day we'll get round to doing that PBEM game we talked about but never really got started.
).
