In Memorium - just who was Uncle Bill?

Finn said:
On the way to the post office to pick the khukuri up I had the distinct feeling I was on my way to meet an old friend- unusual for a trip to the post office. I told Bill about that after getting back and he understood perfectly.
Click to expand...

I have a couple that I feel exactly the same way about, that call me and feel like an extension of my arm when I hold them. Those I will never part with.

Norm
 
selected from a series of emails from Uncle Bill encouraging me to come to India:

"I'm sorry to hear of your problems. Remember that everything is karma.
I don't see Jigme very much these days but I'll try to contact him and see if
he can do a puja. He can't change karma, tho.
It's bedtime. I have early AM appointment to see if infection is gone.
Sorry I'm so abrupt. Not very strong these days."

"Still not dead and won't be until death day arrives. I'm not worried about
any of this and don't wany you to worry, either.

Take care of yourself and get to India. It will change your life for the
better forever."

"OK. Hang in and soak up the culture and events. This is a time you will
never forget so try to make it as pleasing as possible."

"I'm hanging in -- barely. Health still major problem. All karma.

HI is doing okay. And, hope you are, too.

Stay in touch as best you can. If you need a couple of hundred bucks let me
know and I'll send it."
 
I remember when I got intoduced to this wonderful group. It was in November of 1999. I ordered a 20" Sirupati from Uncle Bill.......for my Christmas present to myself. I called, and Uncle Bill and I talked for almost an hour!! :D He mentioned that he will send the Sirupati asap.... I asked about the payment....he said that I should look the blade over first and I can mail the check later on ! I was very much surprised.

Till this day...I use this special Sirupati to measure both of my two son's growth. Some of the core members will remember the pictures.

I mentioned to Uncle that I did various testing with all my blades using tatami rolls and chunks of meat. He was surprised and asked if I can test out the H.I. Katana. I jumped at this chance.....the sword did perform!!

The last time that I was able to talk to Uncle Bill was last year. I asked him what type of Khukuri should I bring to Iraq to use in my new job as a military contractor (merc). He mentioned that he will send me the surprise. Whne the package came....it was the awesome M43! My co-workers were amazed.

I wish I was able to see Uncle Bill before all of this happend. He wanted to see how my son's have grown....and my new little one.

We will all miss you Uncle Bill !
 
A while back I was beginning to have doubts. Doubts about things like compassion and generosity.

Bah, what has the pursuit of these things gotten you? A hard kick to the face that's what. Look at the people you work with for example, they don't seem to have any moral difficulty in stomping on human dignity or spreading misery to the innocent.

I stumbled across this forum and heard what Uncle Bill had done in his lifetime.
A man who didn't seem to care about driving a BMW M3 or wearing Armani.
A man who tried to do his little bit in this world.

What an inspiration.

How I wish I could have stumbled upon this forum alot earlier.
How I wish I wrote that letter... asking his thoughts on a few subjects.

I feel selfish for wanting those things.

:(
 
Dave, I know exactly what you mean. I think that's probably one of the reasons we both shark so much, in an effort to make up for lost time! :D Imagine being able to take your time like Broken Arrow and Howard Wallace and others, talking to Uncle Bill on the phone, really getting to know him and HI, discussing each purchase in detail, and paying when you can!

At least we got here when we did, and can always be thankful for that.

Regards,

Norm
 
Hey Everyone,

I haven't been at the forum for a good while. I just heard of Bill's passing today and I, well, feel sick to my stomach reading everything. I first met Bill in 1999 online. I was a college student studying computer science. I order my Ang Khola from him then. He asked if I would mine making a web page for him. So, in my spare time, I made him one. Matter of fact, the background image they use today is the original one I put on there. Bill wanted to pay me, but I refused. It was fun and I loved khukuris....not to mention Uncle Bill was one of the best people I've ever encountered. When my AK arrived, it had a hitchhiker. A Sirupati. I couldn't make my mind up between those two. It took me forever to finally choose the AK. Bill sent me both and only charged me for the AK. He was one of the finest men I've ever encountered. I feel numb. I can't believe he is gone. It hurts. :(
 
Spent a lot of time on the passing of Bill and Rusty. A lot of time, trying to straighten out in my heart and mind how I would place these Men in the pantheon of my life. Not sure I have it yet; perhaps I never will, precisely.

Bill seems to me to have been a "realized" man. He lived a full life, and then started another full life, establishing BirGorkha, working through the difficulties, both initially and on-going, of being a service-oriented supplier of quality tools, and doing so in order to elevate the ambitions and standards of living of beings thousands of miles away...in some cases folks he had never and would never meet.

Moreover, he was a teacher through example. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people who chanced upon the H.I. site came to be introduced, most gently, and then to be taught, through Bill's behaviors about love, integrity, friendship, the lending of soul and support, and how what you did had greater value than what you professed to believe; he welcomed all, with equal openess.

Bill was a strong person, and personality. I hated the way he left, but I rejoice in his freedom from pain. I lived with a person who left in that manner, it is torture for the sufferer, and constant anguish for the ones who care for him. I stayed with others, alone in life, who died slowly in similar ways. Odd, they offer compassion to the companions of the end, being sorry that their friends or loved ones have to be so "inconvenienced," as if they are embarrassed by their deaths. I think that is love.

Rusty...well, to me, Rusty was one of my heroes. He was dealt a bad hand in life, and stayed in the game. He was continually given burdens, and little help, yet something in the Man would not stop him from continuing the battles of everyday. Gruff, cranky, and often curmudgeonly...he had a well-spring of love, caring, and integrity which defied being defeated.

Bill's illness and death were the illness and death of an important part of Rusty. He called few "brother" and shied away from attempts at sympathy for himself, but there was a tender spot in Rusty that had a resilience and a life that made him a gentle man within a crust of skepticism. I think he was a lonely man, locked inside himself in many ways. His intelligence forced him to be tolerant, when his instincts tugged the other direction.

Bill has my admiration.

Rusty has my heart.

They are a great loss to me, everydamnedday.




Be well and safe.
 
I just heard today of Rusty's passing- my sincere condolensces go out to all of his friends and loved ones. In my few, brief emails with him and through reading his posts here I quickly came to count him amoung the finest of men.

I have been hesitant until now to post anything involving Uncle Bill's passing as I do not want to accidentally insult any one of you who knew him and loved him best. In browsing the HI website and reading Bill Martino's writings I quickly came to find that one does not need to have met Mr.Martino to know what an incredible person he is. Shortly before his passing on I wrote him a short little note- one I am not sure he read. Over the past few weeks I've decided that it is unimportant whether he read it or not- Bill Martino simply does not need my approval. More (most) important is the way his words made me feel- despite all the years and the miles coming down in between. I give thanks still for that.

Anyways- just as I was compelled to write this note to Uncle Bill I also feel compelled to share it here- I am not sure why really.




Dear Uncle Bill-
As soon as I read this, I felt compelled to respond personally to the man who wrote the enclosed. I hope it is not overly presumptious of me but the words powerfully stirred something deep inside myself. If life is just a song and death a dance I thank you from the depths of my heart and soul for being who you are and doing what you have done.

I hope that in this life or the next you meet that flute player on the roof in Tamang. Just as I hope, in this life or the next, I am able to meet you, look you in the eye and shake your hand with all respect.

"Strange, perhaps, that we never met and that I do not know his name but I remember him vividly -- the Tamang on the rooftop -- and there are times when I think about the wonderful music he made for all of us and I now wish I had taken the time to go meet him and thank him. I doubt that now we will ever meet but I can still thank him. It is never too late for thanks.
So, thank you, Tamang on the rooftop, for all those wonderful songs you played. I can still hear them sometimes in the dark of the night when I lay awake and remember that wonderful and magical life I lived in Nepal. "

If I may steal a paraphrase. Thank you, Uncle Bill for the wonderful music you make. Even without having known you at all, I hear the melodies you may or may not know that you play and they bring beautiful tears to my eyes and a true smile to my face.

That is something I do not feel often enough. With all sincerity, I can not thank you enough.


http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/Sunrise.htm
 
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