R.I.P Vampire Gerbil

It's always hard to hear of the passing of a good friend. My condolences go out to Dave's family as well as all of his friends.

Rest in Peace Dave, Prayers sent out.

Jules and Family
 
TJ, thank you so much for having the courage to give us this terrible news. You're a wonderful woman for doing so much for him and for us. We're his friends and we had to know.

Regarding the autopsy, I don't know his wishes. However, a Jewish body wouldn't be autopsied it's against our religion to desecrate the body in any way. I hope the cops know this before doing anything. It COULD be quite upsetting to his parents. But again, I don't know his wishes nor the wishes of his parents.

I'm sure nothing foul is at play, it was simply, unfortunetely his time to go to a better place until Moshiach comes back to earth. I hope they let him rest now. Finally, the end of all that suffering he had to endure, usually with a smile and alaugh so as not to make us, his friends, sad.

That's the kind of man he was, and I will miss him but I'm relieved the pain is over now.

He was obviously a very big dog lover and I remember that well, one of the many many reasons I liked Dave. I hope his dogs are taken care of. I can't speak for him, but I would say the well being of his dogs would have been more important to him than any funeral details.

TJ, can you tell us where we can send condolence cards or flowers or something similar to his parents?

Mourner's Kaddish :

Yit'gadal v'yit'kadash sh'mei raba (Cong: Amein).
May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified (`Cong: Amen.)

b'al'ma di v'ra khir'utei
in the world that He created as He willed.

v'yam'likh mal'khutei b'chayeikhon uv'yomeikhon
May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days,

uv'chayei d'khol beit yis'ra'eil
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel,

ba'agala uviz'man kariv v'im'ru:
swiftly and soon. Now say:
(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein. Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varakh l'alam ul'al'mei al'maya
(Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.)

Yit'barakh v'yish'tabach v'yit'pa'ar v'yit'romam v'yit'nasei
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled,

v'yit'hadar v'yit'aleh v'yit'halal sh'mei d'kud'sha
mighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One
(Mourners and Congregation:)

B'rikh hu.
Blessed is He.

l'eila min kol bir'khata v'shirara
beyond any blessing and song,

toosh'b'chatah v'nechematah, da'ameeran b'al'mah, v'eemru:
praise and consolation that are uttered in the world. Now say:
(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen

Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya
May there be abundant peace from Heaven

v'chayim aleinu v'al kol yis'ra'eil v'im'ru
and life upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:
(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen

Oseh shalom bim'romav hu ya'aseh shalom
He Who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace,

aleinu v'al kol Yis'ra'eil v'im'ru
upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:
(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen
 
David was one of the original "5" of the first informal of get togethers of knifenuts here in the Big Apple. He, 4 others and I met at Ground Zero to pay respect, chat, walk around and have a bite. David was a former NYC Firefighter. A bit odd kind of fellow. But a real funny guy who can chat up a storm. I think his pains have finally settled. RIP Dave. :(

N.

www.dozierknives.com/forum
 
I'm not really sure how Jewish Dave actually is. Biologically, no. He was adopted. I don't know the strength of his faith or that of his parents.

Speaking with his mother tonight, she did mention wanting to know the cause of death and I am certain she is agreeing to an autopsy. I believe it is very important to her to know whether Dave died in pain, alone, or if he possibly died from forgetting how many of his pain meds he had already taken.

I reassured her that he did not die alone. He was with his two best friends in the entire world, Blue and Jake. Each sitting on one side of him, protecting and guarding and comforting him as he passed from this world to the next. Never leaving his side for over 12 hours.

The authorities believe they will be able to find good homes for both dogs and for Dave's cat, Stripe. It was important to them that they find out the names of both dogs and the cat. I was able to help Edith with that information. It is my understanding that they are coming to get the animals tomorrow (Friday). Their priority also seems to be to get Dave's best friends new homes a quickly as possible. I know that this would make Dave very happy.

But he also wants to be laid to rest next to Stacie. He apparently has specific funeral arrangements written out and his mother and daughters will hopefully abide by them.

Edith still needs to get in touch with all 3 daughters. Even though Dave "disowned" Allison and Alicia, legally they are still his daughters and heirs and have a say.

I am pretty certain that Edith will not object to an autopsy. I don't know if religion takes precedence over law. Edith wants to know how Dave died. She is only going to know that by having an autopsy done.

I have reassured Edith that if Dave died from an accidential overdose of his medication, that he would have been in no pain and would have just nodded off to sleep, never to wake up. I told her that I have witnessed him fall asleep as a result of his pain meds many times. That seemed to give Edith comfort - that Dave did not suffer when he died. But she is not going to have complete comfort until she is certain that he went softly into that good night. For softly he did indeed go if he was sitting on the couch as if he were watching TV, per the Sheriff Deputy. You don't sit like that if you are in extreme pain as you are dying. Well, that is what I would like to believe.

As soon as I find out anything about a funeral or memorial service, I will be sure to post it. I know that Edith and I will probably be speaking on a daily basis. She doesn't have too many people she can talk to for moral support. But I am one of them. I sort of inherited Edith when I took on Dave.

I will let you know. Whenever I find out something new, I will post it here. I believe an autopsy can take a few days to a few weeks to a month, depending on how busy the M.E. is at the time of the death. A burial can't take place, obviously, until the body is released. And I am practically guarantee you that Dave is going to be buried, so there will probably not be a memorial service in lieu of a funeral/burial service.

I don't have Edith's address for condolence/sympathy cards, but I will get it from her soon.

Emanuel, thanks so much for the information about the Jewish custom of not performing an autopsy. And especially thank for the Mourner's Kaddish, in the first language (Hebrew?) and the English translation.

Judy
 
A sad day indeed, yet I am relieved that his suffering is over. Thank you Judy for all you have done, and all you have yet to do. Dave has brought many a smile to many a person's face. I can be assured he is once again smiling himself, and is certainly bringing joy to those he is reunited with.
R.I.P. Dave.
 
Totally Judy said:
Emanuel, thanks so much for the information about the Jewish custom of not performing an autopsy. And especially thank for the Mourner's Kaddish, in the first language (Hebrew?) and the English translation.
Click to expand...
The Kaddish is in Aramaic, except for the last two lines, which are in Hebrew. Aramaic was the popular language for many years, as it was a sort of international language during the period of the Persian and later the Roman Empires, and is closely related to Hebrew.
 
RIP VG. I only knew him from when he was active on BFC, when he was a wonderfully odd and humorous addition to the community. It's a shame he hasn't been able to participate for some time. Hopefuly his passing was more peaceful than his recent time has been, no one deserves the troubles he endured.
 
Wow. I just found this thread. It's a tragic loss, but he really is in a much better place now.

I haven't been active on here in a while, but VG used to keep me (and most everyone else here) ROFL. To top it off he was really a good man. It seems as if it's getting harder and harder to say that about people in general, but Dave was definitely one of the good ones.

I hate to hear about this, I really do.

God speed, buddy. See you on the other side.

My favorite VG thread, from many many moons ago.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156371

Maurice
 
Ken C. said:
Dave brought us much laughter and joy. I'm glad I was able to meet him in person and spend some time together in the past. He truly was a unique individual and will be missed by all who knew him.

meallproudandstuff.jpg


I raise my glass and shed a tear for my dearly departed brother.
Click to expand...


Nicely done, KV, and nails exactly how I feel !


RIP VG !
 
No one has matched VG's guided ramblings on BF. I met him briefly at Blade in Atlanta some years ago. Seemed the same in real life as on the forum. Truly unique.
I, as others, will miss his epistles.
Go easy VG.
 
Emanuel said:
Regarding the autopsy, I don't know his wishes. However, a Jewish body wouldn't be autopsied it's against our religion to desecrate the body in any way. I hope the cops know this before doing anything. It COULD be quite upsetting to his parents. But again, I don't know his wishes nor the wishes of his parents.
Click to expand...

I just talked to Edith and asked her about the autopsy. She said that she wasn't given a choice. I think she was told that the body would not be released until after the autopsy.

Maybe there is a difference between a natural death and choosing an autopsy and a death of unknown causes where an autopsy is required. Even though Dave was under medical care, his death is definitely of unknown causes.

Religion aside, I believe Edith would like to know the cause of death and if Dave went peacefully to sleep, that would give her great peace of mine.

TJ
 
Edith has given me her address in case anyone would like to send a card. She has asked that her name and address NOT be posted on the internet or here in BFC.

Please PM or email for her name and address.

totallyjudy@yahoo.com


TJ
 
I don't have words right now.
He is dearly missed.

Judy, what you have done will never be forgotten.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top