Sorry to hear about your loss Brian. My deepest sympathy to your family and friends.

I'm at a complete loss.  Twenty-nine.

Brian, I appreciate your coming in here to let us know.  Please know that the thoughts of many people you've never even met are with you and the rest of your family.  I only "knew" Gregg through this forum, but he was always engaging and friendly and funny.  I will miss his contributions, and I'm sorry that the Chicago get-together didn't happen time for me to meet Gregg in person.

This may be totally inappropriate to suggest, since I never met Gregg personally, but the fact that I live less than 30 minutes from the funeral home prompts me to ask if the JBF members would like me to go to the Friday service on their behalf and, say, deliver printed copies of their condolences, or something.  I'd feel strange going just for myself, since I was just words on a screen to Gregg, but it seems like several people here knew the man fairly well, and I haven't gotten the sense that everyone is booking flights (especially this week, of all weeks!) to fly to Chicago for the service.

Brian Allinson, if you're still reading, and you think this is a bad idea, please say the word and I'll retract the offer.

As for the rest of you:  if this is something you'd like me to do, I'd be happy to act as your local representative.  I really did enjoy Gregg's presence on the forum and in the chat room, and I'll miss seeing his words floating around this place.  He was, as has been said, a good egg.  There aren't enough of those in the world, and we just lost one.

If you have thoughts that you want to share with the Allinson family, but don't want to post publicly, my e-mail is franklauro@comcast.net.  You have my word that I will print them, put them in envelopes, seal said envelopes, hand-deliver them to Gregg's family, and delete the files from my system the moment I get home from the service.  Private is private.

If no one is interested in this idea, then I probably won't attend the service for the reason mentioned above.  If even one JBF member asks me to go on his/her behalf, though, I will do so...unless Brian Allinson asks me not to.  He has final say.

I'll need to know by Thursday night.

I am very sorry about your loss.

My sincere condolences to the Allinson family and to those here who are affected by this loss.  29 is far too young.

A bit strange that this is how many of us picture him, but it's an avatar i'll miss seeing.  Iosing someone you know online has a strange unreality of it's own, and i'm sure it'll be a long time before we stop expecting/wishing we could 'see' what Gregg thinks on so many differant threads.  A sad loss.

Brian -

My heart felt condolences to you and your family.

As you can tell, we thought very highly of your brother and will miss him in the community.

I am truly shocked...

Heart-felt condoleances and my prayers to you and your family, Brian.

Franck, your offer is very generous. I chatted with Gregg several times. Seems a nice guy. I don't know him too well. But if you do go, tell his family my condoleances. I really appreciated his presence on this forum.

He will be missed.