The wife and I were talking earlier and she mentioned that he hadn't been on facebook for the past few weeks. I went to send him a message and apparently he had a heart attack at a friends house after work last month. The family is not releasing any information, and so far is attacking anyone online who asks for information because (as they are saying) we were not Johns real friends.
I know I had a lot of long, late night talks with John, and quite a few laughs.
John Hegedus AKA Gecko 1-2-72 ~~ 7-10-12
You will be missed man.
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01:29 AM
PFF
System Bot
E.Furgal Member
Posts: 11708 From: LAND OF CONFUSION Registered: Mar 2012
Sounds to me like they are just lashing out in a time of emotional distress. I can't think of a reason why those here who have befriended him through the years would not be qualified to know based on the family's arbitrary assignment of what they believe his "real" friends were and were not.
Seems to me John believed Brad to be a friend, as they both accepted friendship status online.
I didn't know him well, but it always stinks to lose another forum member. I do remember his posts, and it's always shocking to think conversations permanently saved online are sometimes between someone alive and gone. Thanks for the heads up, Brad.
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02:08 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
I am absolutely shocked. And dismayed. Looks like I shall be keeping a few more special emails and PM's along with the one I treasure from David Pendergast, and a few others from some very kind and special people I have met here, and who have passed on. I am so sorry to hear this. And I am also very sorry his family are so upset and lashing out like that. RIP Gecko.
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03:18 AM
Raydar Member
Posts: 40912 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
The 'family' wanted nothing to do with him at one time, when he really needed them; now they want to slag off friends who DID step in. I regret the passing of their relative sincerely, but their behaviour now regarding people whom HE considered friends, and they now consider NOT to be, is reprehensible, IMHO.
A loss of a forum member is always important to all of us here. We are like family and every member we lose to the great beyond, even though I don’t believe there is a beyond is important to every one of us. I personally have contacted several members when they aren’t here for some time just to make sure they are OK.
Just remember he will never be truly gone and as long as his posts remain here on PFF he will always be a member here and a good friend to all.
I will ask Cliff if it is possible when we lose a member to change their avatar to a picture of the real person and a little info about their passing. You know sort of like a tombstone with their birth and death date so that we all know. Is it so wrong for people who knew him to be informed of his passing.
I like 99% of our members and would buy any of them a beer anytime they wish to stop by.
RIP John and may your Fiero in the sky never run out of gas.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
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09:59 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
John had made a purchase from me last year, and I had some interaction with him here and there in O/T. He was never mean-spirited or nasty, but funny and a little ornery and thats how I like them. He was only 3 years older than me, and this is a healthy reminder that if you guys have not had your health screenings and are approaching 40, perhaps its time? This is a terrible thing that happened to someone so young, a member of our little family here.
I will be making some appointments in short order to get my heart and other vitals checked out, I have put this off long enough. I knew when i was 23 years old I had high cholesterol and heart disease runs in my family. The time to ignore it because I am young is over, this is as much of a wake up call that I could hope for. I am sorry for Gecko going, and what his family must be going through. RIP fellow traveler, see you on the next road.
He's gone home.
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 08-13-2012).]
The family never said nobody could be told. When asked what happened, where the funeral is/was, or where John is buried people are told that they were not his real friends and don't need to know any of that. (In much more derogatory terms)
I did not break the families wishes in any way. Everything I posted came from his Girlfriend, who has no problem with people knowing.
Brad
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10:41 AM
84fiero123 Member
Posts: 29950 From: farmington, maine usa Registered: Oct 2004
Just realized he was one of my FB friends and posted the Mary Frye poem on his FB page, just after your post Brad. I never go there very often so I didn’t even realize he had passed. Thank you Brad for posting the loss of a good friend.
He was a good man who will be missed.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
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11:06 AM
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
You know, I read halfway down before I realized it was THAT Gecko! I knew I reconized the face. Man, that is sad.
I suspect the family are more angry with HIM and his choices in life then they are with his "non-friends". It's just easier for them to face, that way.
RIP my friend.
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 08-13-2012).]
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11:19 AM
Toddster Member
Posts: 20871 From: Roswell, Georgia Registered: May 2001
Man, poor guy... I really hate to read about this stuff. I didn't know him like some of you guys did, but pretty much everyone on here, even in O/T is a "doer"... not the Monty Python kind, but the kind of person who likes to get their hands dirty to fix things... and I have a lot of respect for people like that, regardless of their situation.
I hope it's not too innapropriate to discuss, but my brother had a "heart attack" also when he was 28. My parents responded in a similar fashion to the way it appears his family has. Unfortunately, for my brother's case... he was using drugs which caused the heart attack and he died. I've learned that people can do some pretty dumb things, but that shouldn't define who they are as a person... just like whatever the situation caused Gecko to end up the way he did, shouldn't be cause for a family to be disturbed. When the dust clears... most of us will only remember the positives of people.
Poor guy...
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03:02 PM
Patrick Member
Posts: 37641 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
I was looking through the archives, re-reading a few threads where John and I had conversed. This thread, dating back to 2006, is unfortunately probably an early indication of what may have led to his untimely death.
I was looking through the archives, re-reading a few threads where John and I had conversed. This thread, dating back to 2006, is unfortunately probably an early indication of what may have led to his untimely death.
(I've cleaned up this thread out of respect for John. Before I get accused of censorship, you can read the entire original thread here.)
Thank you Cliff. Sometimes ones indignation can overcome discretion. Sometimes self censorship fails. I certainly do no want to disrespect the departed.
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01:42 AM
Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
I was looking through the archives, re-reading a few threads where John and I had conversed. This thread, dating back to 2006, is unfortunately probably an early indication of what may have led to his untimely death.
