Some sad news - Page 3

EddieT (Eddie) · #41 30-09-2005, 09:08 AM

Absolutely shocking news. Terrible for Erwin, I'm sure he had lots that he still wanted to do before being yanked from his mortal coil. I wish we had a chance to say goodbye and good luck for the future, whatever that is for him now.

Though we only bumped into each other a couple of times a year at most, he will be missed and remembered.

#42 30-09-2005, 09:13 AM

This sort of news is very tragic, far too young to be taken, makes one realise just how short life is and how quickly it can be terminated. Erwin's family must be devastated, like most here I did not know him, but there is sadness regardless. My thoughts are with his family and close friends.

davidpretorius · #43 30-09-2005, 09:28 AM

12 hours on and still tinged with sadness, but extra keen to get out there and image mars like he did!!

Right Bintel, talk to me about a 3x, 4x, 5x barlow!!!

It is funny, I am not all that emotional normally, and was unprepared for how I felt. How can you explain this feeling i had for someone I had never talked to, never met, just traded a few threads on this forum a couple of times.

I believe i have an answer!

Even though i may have more "personal" contact with some members than others, each and every member is very very important to me.

My "parental" (for want of a better term) feeling for each and every forum members and the loss of one of its children is testament to Mike's vision in setting this forum up and I would say it has been fully realized!

I am proud to say that if something was to happen to even a one day old member who is being bullied into his /her first 10"dob, then i would treat that as a loss in my family!

Thanks mike for providing me and others with an extended and close family, sharing successes and failures, fighting and making up, celebrating births and young family photos and sharing the grief of shock departures.

acropolite (Phil) · #44 30-09-2005, 09:32 AM

I am shocked at the news of Erwins departure. My condolences to his family and friends. Although I have never corresponded or met with Erwin, I feel that I have lost a personal friend.

RB (Andrew) · #45 30-09-2005, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

12 hours on and still tinged with sadness,

Thanks mike for providing me and others with an extended and close family, sharing successes and failures, fighting and making up, celebrating births and young family photos and sharing the grief of shock departures.

Here, here.
Well said Davo.

.

Itchy · #46 30-09-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tornado33

Gee this is trajic and totally unexpected news.
Erwin's images are amongst those that inspired me to get my off axis guider and experiment with nebula filters. When I saw the great work he was doing with a digital SLR I wanted to "get amongst it" too and see how far I could push my gear. So I have Erwin to thank for much of my work with his fantastic, inspiring images, they are among the best ever taken with a digital SLR and rival some taken with much more expensive astro , cooled CCD imagers. We can only imagine the great images he would have taken just in the next few years. We must treasure the great images he has taken, and I expect that they will continue to inspire up and coming astrophotographers in the way they have inspired me.
Thanks Erwin
Regards Scott

Scott

Well said
You have captured my thoughts and feelings as well.
My emotions have not let me be together enough to post to this thread until now.
Although I never met Erwin, I feel like I have lost a close friend.

Tony

xstream (John) · #47 30-09-2005, 11:17 AM

I like many others only new Erwin through these forums. As Scott said he was inspired through Erwins images as was I, so much so as to go out and purchase a DSLR.
A sad loss to the Astronomical community indeed. But by what has been said by those that new him personally, I'm sure he's looking down upon us now and smiling.

Condolences to his family and may you forever RIP Erwin.

John.

Striker (Tony) · #48 30-09-2005, 11:49 AM

OMG...

I only met Irwin once and that was out at Leyburn......I am stunned for words...I just cant believe it.

Irwin your fanatasitc images done with your D70 also inspired me into DSLR...thanks mate.

asimov (John) · #49 30-09-2005, 12:37 PM

Dave Pretorius..You have pretty well summed up my feelings as well. I was trying to analyze why I was so upset having never met Erwin...I am also analyzing why I bumped most of his image threads. I even went outside & had my moment under the stars with/for Erwin ( I prefer to think he was there with me actually) Would you believe as soon as I stepped outside the sky cleared itself of all clouds..Kind of a special moment for me..

cventer · #50 30-09-2005, 04:37 PM

Reading all of these posts really does refresh my faith in humanity.

I had goosebumbs over my whole body while reading some of them. What is strange is that having never met Erwin but seen his images I cant shake this deep feeling of sadness. Not being a very sentimental type this has me puzzled...

I think it strikes a chord beacuse of our shared passions and makes us glimpse our own mortality....

My heart goes out to Erwins family and friends....

Does anyone know what actualy happened to cause his sudden passing ?

Best Regards
Chris Venter

davidpretorius · #51 30-09-2005, 05:09 PM

yes chris and asi,

i got goose bumps again reading your comments.

We have all got something special, a love for a great hobby, a brotherhood (& sisterhood) of mates (like the guys in the wars). What happens to one, happens to all. I have played many team sport and Ken may dispute, but i haven't felt this feeling before.

Lets treasure it, not bugger it up. It is gold, can't be bottled and can't be prescribed on another forum!

It makes you think that maybe the world could be nice place one day!

dhumpie · #52 30-09-2005, 05:22 PM

I am as shocked as all of you. I had quite a good chat with him while I was up at Astrofest this year and I have spoken to him on numerous occasions at Leyburn. He will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family. Anyone have any news of what actually happened?

Darren

asimov (John) · #53 30-09-2005, 05:36 PM

Yeah...as much as I hate to ask, I'd like to know the 'how' question as well.

After saying that, it's not imperative that I know I guess. We'll all find out in time.

TidaLpHasE · #54 30-09-2005, 05:45 PM

My condolences to his family, a sad time that makes everyone of us feel their pain.

CometGuy · #55 30-09-2005, 06:22 PM

I don't know the full reasons for his death. I believe he failed to turn up for work on Tuesday and Wednesday and the authorities were then contacted. They entered the house and found him collapsed. Thats all I know sorry...

I like to say its nice that so many people expressing there sympathies for Erwin. I too woke early this morning to look up the night sky in his Honour...

The only other news I have is that Erwins fellow SAS members (Renato Langersek, Peter Marples, Peter Robbins, Phil Pidgeon & Azam Khan ) are helping with funeral arrangements and his faimily are flying out this Sunday.

Terry

asimov (John) · #56 30-09-2005, 06:59 PM

Guys, just to explain. I bumbed most of Erwins threads last night as a personal tribute to Erwin & also to pay my respects. At the time, I thought it was a good idea.

Some new guys have come in answering some of the threads, not knowing he has passed on. I have private messaged these guys explaining. I'm truly sorry If I have embaressed anyone with my actions.

I am leaving this small message at the end of every thread that I bumped last night:
'This thread was bumped in honour, & a personal tribute from me. RIP Erwin.' In the hopes of rectifying a potentially embarressing scenerio.

Very Sorry for any trouble caused.

John

cahullian · #57 30-09-2005, 07:53 PM

Very sad day for his family and friends. Life is short and precious each and every day should be grasped with both hands and shaken to it's bones because you never know when it may be your last.

firstlight (Tony) · #58 30-09-2005, 08:53 PM

As with all of you, I am totally shocked and devastated at the news of Erwins passing.

I first met Erwin at a meeting of the Brisbane Astronomical Society, where I was trying to encourage members to join with a group to observe the Leonids in 2001 near Miles. Erwin attended as a visitor then, as he was only holidaying in Australia, and he was enthusiastic of the venture. He returned to the Netherlands to finalise his affairs there, pack a shipping container with the bulk of his equipment, then to return to Australia for a new life here.

Anne-Louise (heavy with child) and I met him at Miles after he had travelled down from Darwin, bussed it out to Charleville, then hooked up with us. For the next few days and nights we watched clouds drift by (at night totally overcast of course) and he showed us some newsletters from his club in the Netherlands. We discussed film, photography and lenses. I was attempting to use a truck hubcap to capture all sky images, and he started rattling off equations and formulae to determine the focal ratio of the setup.

On the night of the expected peak we were treated to an amazing thunderstorm at dusk, and we expected to have the evening clear up for observing... and the skies were fabulous. Until the next band of storms blew through... and the next... and the next. I thought that once again we were going to miss the shower due to the weather, aspecially after it continued to rain after midnight.

Most of us retired to our respective cabins while Erwin remained near the site we had chosen to observe. While Anne-Louise and Brendan, who was sharing with us, slept I was writing the Newsletter article about this trip. Suddenly I heard running footstes splashing down the track toward us... BANG BANG on the door and our excitable Dutch friend was shouting "It has started, I saw a gap in the clouds, I saw two meteors, it has started we must go, we must go now, it has started!!!" Anne-Louise, Erwin and mysel drove down the road about 10 k's, but the clouds didn't lift, ad we just stopped and waited.

In the west, the sky started to break, and Erwin said "Not a Storm... we see nothin now". A few minutes the Leonids made their presence known as meteor after meteor flashed throught the breaks in the clouds. In half an hour we had horizon to horizon of clear skies streaked by hundreds of meteors. We observed to dawn and the sky turned blue and still we saw them. Just before sunrise the sky closed in again.

It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen in my life, and the memory of it will remian with me until I die. All the more special will be my memory of Erwin's voice in the darkness, elated, frustrated, suprised, but always enthusiastic.

I have run out of words at this time.

We will miss him greatly.

Tony Surma-Hawes

Orion · #59 30-09-2005, 11:34 PM

He was so well known throughout the astronomy world for the pictures he took and for the love for astronomy he had. His passing away has touched more people than what he would have known. Rest in peace Erwin.
My condolences to his family.

ving (David) · #60 01-10-2005, 10:04 AM

farewell erwin. you will be sorely missed around here. condolences to his family and freinds.