Gus Kalanzis aka "Bastid"

Blues

Blues

hovering overhead
Staff member
Super Mod
Joined
Oct 2, 1998
Messages
43,647
I received a text message late last night from Spark Spark informing me that my good friend, and a good friend to many here, Gus Kalanzis, aka "Bastid", had reportedly passed away. The information was gleaned from Facebook. (I do not have an account there, but other moderators who were on the conversation have since reported that it appears to be the case, as more Facebook members have chimed in there.)

I hardly know where to start. Gus and I were original members here, before the site was taken over by Spark Spark from its original owner. We became friends online, spent many hours together at countless Blade Shows, and were co-moderators of the Traditional Forum and other areas of the site before handing off sub-forum duties and mostly acting as super mods.

Gus was one of those special people you meet in your life. A truly good person who rarely had a bad thing to say about anything or anyone. He loved people and dogs, and was beloved by each in return. A kinder, gentler, more generous human being would be hard to find...but if you tried hard enough, you could could get him fired up.

We'd talk knives and makers on the phone for hours at a time, but the knives were really just a way of forming relationships with their makers and the people who collected them. I can count on one hand the folks in 25 years or more who ever had something negative to say, and usually it had something to do with not liking a moderation choice here on the site.

I feel gut punched by his loss. He was, and is, as important to my journey in knifedom, and here on the site, as anyone has or ever will be...and he will never be equaled or replaced.

I hope there is a heaven and Gus is up there with some of our dearly departed friends and knife makers from this site who have preceded him*, some of whom he introduced me to, and some of whom I had the pleasure of doing the same with for him. (*And his dogs. Gus ain't going anywhere without his pack.)

Rest in peace, my brother. I will mourn your loss as I celebrate your life and your friendship with me for more than a quarter century. Godspeed.
 
Thank you, Mike. He was a good friend to us both, and shared in some of our times together back in the day.
 
Such a sad day. I've followed him on here & on Facebook for years. He will be missed. Rest in Peace, Gus.
 
I am so very sorry to just read this post. My deepest condolences goes out to Gus and his family, and also to his many friends too.

I’m so sad for the loss of your good friend, Elliot.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
 
I always enjoyed my limited interactions with Gus, a like minded individual. The knife community has lost another good guy. My condolences to his family and friends.
 
Thank you, Elliott.
When I saw the news on Facebook last night I didn't want to believe it. I never had the chance to meet him in person but we spoke on the phone and I considered him a friend.
Your words said everything I didn't have tge words to say.
Rest in peace, Gus.
 
Mack said:
Thank you, Elliott.
When I saw the news on Facebook last night I didn't want to believe it. I never had the chance to meet him in person but we spoke on the phone and I considered him a friend.
Your words said everything I didn't have the words to say.
Rest in peace, Gus.
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You'd have gotten along famously, though he'd have gone home before the drinking lamp was lit. (I'd have been there with you, though.)
 
Blues said:
I received a text message late last night from Spark Spark informing me that my good friend, and a good friend to many here, Gus Kalanzis, aka "Bastid", had reportedly passed away. The information was gleaned from Facebook. (I do not have an account there, but other moderators who were on the conversation have since reported that it appears to be the case, as more Facebook members have chimed in there.)

I hardly know where to start. Gus and I were original members here, before the site was taken over by Spark Spark from its original owner. We became friends online, spent many hours together at countless Blade Shows, and were co-moderators of the Traditional Forum and other areas of the site before handing off sub-forum duties and mostly acting as super mods.

Gus was one of those special people you meet in your life. A truly good person who rarely had a bad thing to say about anything or anyone. He loved people and dogs, and was beloved by each in return. A kinder, gentler, more generous human being would be hard to find...but if you tried hard enough, you could could get him fired up.

We'd talk knives and makers on the phone for hours at a time, but the knives were really just a way of forming relationships with their makers and the people who collected them. I can count on one hand the folks in 25 years or more who ever had something negative to say, and usually it had something to do with not liking a moderation choice here on the site.

I feel gut punched by his loss. He was, and is, as important to my journey in knifedom, and here on the site, as anyone has or ever will be...and he will never be equaled or replaced.

I hope there is a heaven and Gus is up there with some of our dearly departed friends and knife makers from this site who have preceded him*, some of whom he introduced me to, and some of whom I had the pleasure of doing the same with for him. (*And his dogs. Gus ain't going anywhere without his pack.)

Rest in peace, my brother. I will mourn your loss as I celebrate your life and your friendship with me for more than a quarter century. Godspeed.
Click to expand...
Elliot I don't know what to say..........

Your heart must be broken, I know mine is.

He was such a wonderful man, what a loss for our little world.
 
Older members/staff like him really set the tone of Bladeforums when I joined and people who are now gone like Bastid, Esav, Glockman, really made the place feel like home. I fall on the irreverent side of seriousness and you could see by the way they reminded you of the rules it they weren't doing it to be power tripping jerks. And I am happy that the current staff have kept vibe in place.
 
Steven65 said:
Elliot I don't know what to say..........

Your heart must be broken, I know mine is.

He was such a wonderful man, what a loss for our little world.
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I'm happy that we all had the opportunity to spend time with one another. In many ways, you embody many of Gus' best attributes, and I am fortunate to have you as a friend.
 
Blues said:
I'm happy that we all had the opportunity to spend time with one another. In many ways, you embody many of Gus' best attributes, and I am fortunate to have you as a friend.
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I am deeply grateful and humbled by your comments Elliot. Thank you.
Gus thought the world of you Sir, with very good reason........

I hope it's ok to post this picture of Gus at Blade with the sword Kevin Cashen made him, he was so excited......

 
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