In Memory of James K Mattis - Please leave your thoughts here.

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I've had the priveledge of speaking with James several times. I have always looked forward to his posts and scans and wit. This forum will not be the same with him.

After one year, I am finally going to do something James asked of me. I purchased the two #153 CR/Al Mar knives from him that had scans up on his site for some time. He told me one thing when I bought them, 'Just cut something with them, will you?' Until today, I have not. I will go find something to cut in honor of him.
 
Like everyone else, I am stunned, actually beyond words at the moment. I never met James, except over in the Himalayan Imports Forum. It was obvious that James loved the Spirit the Kamis put into their work, just as it was obvious that he took great joy in being able to help out those in need. I only heard of his passing a couple of minutes ago, and I miss him already. Otherwise, please re-read Vampire Gerbil's post. He says it better than I can, especially now.
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Tom
 
Every once in a while you get to know a person that has a positive influence on your life. James was one of those people who spread his kindness, humor and intelligence with humility and always with an attention to others. Mike and Spark built this place, but James was the glue that held us together on the occasions when we would start to splinter.

When I heard this tragic news last night, I went into the chat room and would venture to say there were not many dry eyes in there. I went to bed crying and woke up the same way thinking of his family.

We have lost one of the finest members of our community. What he left us with in my mind is a model of the way we should treat people not just the people in our lives, but all the people we have contact with.

Toni, no words can ease your loss, but when you read this thread look at the way James touched so many people (even ones he has never met) for the better. He has left this world with a legacy that all of us can aspire to in our everyday life. May the memories of James be kept eternal in our hearts and in our actions.

With the love of a friend,
Gus
 
James will be missed by everyone whom he touched. I also had fairly impersonal contact with him on the bladeforums channel on IRC, but he was always the courteous and knowledgable gentleman that i had heard him to be. moderating these forums, he was always fair and seemed to always know what and where things belonged. i am not a religious person, but I hope for the sake of this great man there is indeed a greater place where he is at right now. my sincerest condolences,

jonathan sun
 
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. Mattis. I have only been a forumite for a year and never met him, but his postings were always the ones I was most interested in reading. His wisdom will be missed, but not forgotten. My prayers are with his wife and family.

Chris
 
Chai Guy once told me that he didn't think that the Creator was unfair... but rather had a sense of fairness that we mere mortals could not understand.

James is a bigger man than I, for I feel that all of Humanity has had a valuable treasure stolen from it. A person didn't need to meet James in person to benefit from his Presence, and anyone touched by his Presence was always bettered in some way. He will always, in some subtle way, moderate this forum.

Nite James
 
To the Mattis Family,

We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Jim. We are better people due to our contacts with Jim. You have my sincere condolences and prayers. Jim lives with God in a much better place.

Respectfully,
John
 
Very sad news.

Have not met the man in person but spoke to him twice by phone after Toni directed me to his other phone number the first time. Enlightening phone conversations with a gentleman who loves what he's doing while helping others.

Big loss to everyone.

My condolences to Toni and Mattis family.

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2d_edge
 
I just got an email from Greg (Kodiak PA) informing me of the news. How saddened I am. James was the ever-calm voice of reason. His wit and wisdom were a favored treat to visiting these forums. I know I will often think of his Gollum impression that he would do whenever the "What knives do you have on you" thread would arise; his proverb that "trial by internet always ends in mistrial"; his quoting of Jabberwocky, and many, many other things. He always seemed to know much more about the stuff that interested me than I did!

I can think of no more pleasant man that I have ever met than Jim. I will miss him.

My condolences to Mrs. Mattis and her children adn grandchildren.

We will miss you, Jim. The place will never be the same without you.

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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
Toni, may the Lord comfort you and your family. James will be greatly missed.

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"A knifeless man is a lifeless man"
-Nordic proverb
 
I too would like to offer my condolances to the family and friends of Mr. Mattis.

Although I never spoke to him, I did enjoy his writings. His humor, wisdom and passion were always in evidence. To have been able to touch the lives of so many is truly the greatest legacy of all.

Jay Neal
 
It's amazing how much you can get to know someone just from reading posts on a bulletin board, or words on a website.

Gentleman. Man of faith. Man who knew the value of the tools he loved, and dispensed his wisdom freely. Absolutely THE source for any CA information. His website was an enriching experience, not just a commercial enterprise.
 
What terrible news to wake up to.
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James Mattis was a true gentleman who always had something valuable to add to any conversation. We are all going to miss the man that could bring a bit of wit and wisdom to even the most vitriolic threads.

Not to mention the postings containing references to medieval artwork, tuvan throat-singing, jabberwocky, "vorpal daggers" and the people at his post office, and <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~jkmtsm/index.htg/catscan.jpg" target="_blank">fluffy kitty underbelly pictures.</a>

I'm guessing he is somewhere nicer right now, and probably carrying a slightly bigger knife, since it won't frighten anyone...

We'll miss you, James. You were truly one of the best.
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Jina
 
Jim showed his special joy of life on these forums.

More than that, he made that joy contagious.

I hope his memory will continue to influence the forums for the better as he always did.
 
OH No!
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Sad , sad news.

I did not know him personally but have become to regard fellow members as family. A great loss to all of us, more so for his family.
I'm sure James and God are discussing the perfect knife.
My sympathies to the family for their loss of a husband, father, friend and to most of us a gentleman.

If possible please replace his forum so that we may remember his words of wisdom and his beautiful pics.

Hilton
 
I did not know James long, but to me he was voice of reason in the often quarrelsome world of bladeforums.

I met James for the first time last Friday and I found him to be just as pleasant and knowledgeable in person as he was in the forums and chat.

Now, one week later, he is gone.

I wish I could have known him longer, but I feel fortunate to have known him at all.

My condolences to his family.

-Mike Burnett
 
I don't know what to say, I learned so much from him on the forums. He was always kind, informative and witty. Although I've exchanged only a few emails with him, me always asking something, I have appreciated his presence on the forums alot. The scans were always beautiful. My sincere condolances to the Mattis family.

Wouter
 
when I saw this thread I immediately thought of the Bob Dylan song about Lenny Bruce, and the line "I once rode in a taxi with him" . I met him last Sat and had a short chat.I only wish that I had stayed talked with him for a few hours...I corresponded with him on many occasions.. first because I liked his sense of humor, because he loved knives, and also because he was from Glendale, the same town as Glenn Hornby was from....my knife mentor and very best friend...I will miss him...He was a good man.....Aloha Brother.. You left too soon!

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http://www.mayoknives.com




[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 09-16-2000).]
 
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