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We Lost a Friend and Fellow Coin Collector Today

chiefbobchiefbob Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
It's with deep regret that I have to advise that my friend and fellow forum member, "Bigindie", passed away today. His real name is Mike, and he would have been 30 in 2 short months. I met Mike at work 3 years ago, and we became fast friends. He was one of the coolest and nicest guys you'd ever meet. He was employed as a copywriter for a large hobby dealer, writing dynamic ad copy like no other.

Although I am 56 (and still think I'm 21 at times), we had a lot in common, not the least of which was our love of coin collecting. He posted quite a few messages on this board in the short time he was a member, and felt like you guys and gals were part of his extended family. His wife, Heather, surprised him with an 1884-CC NGC MS64 Morgan for his birthday last year. It was as if he got an 1804 silver dollar! He got his hands on every coin collecting reference he could find, and was not only a collector but a true student of numismatics.

Mike had a lot of challenges from infancy, being diagnosed with Spina Bifida and wheel-chair bound for his short life. That didn't stop him from enjoying his family and life, though.

Those of us who knew him have a deep void in our lives right now. He leaves a beloved wife and a little boy. They were the shining lights of his life.

image
Retired Air Force 1965-2000
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
«13

Comments

  • 1jester1jester Posts: 8,637 ✭✭✭
    I remember his posts. I'm so sorry.

    imageimageimage
    .....GOD
    image

    "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9

    "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5

    "For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
  • TrimeTrime Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭
    Truly sad news. My condolences to his wife and family.
    Trime
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,714 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The loss of any of what I consider my extended family (the members of this forum) is a great loss indeed.

    Sort of feel a bit empty inside right now.

    My condolences to his family and friends.

    Sorry to see you go Bigindie
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,660 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am really really sorry to hear that, please express our condolences to his wife and son. I remember bigindie as one heck of a nice guy, and am actually having trouble typing this through the tears. Rest in peace, Mike

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    What heart breaking news - Mike was always extremely friendly and upbeat in his posts and messages. I hope Heather will be able to see how much he will be missed here.
  • JohnZJohnZ Posts: 1,732 ✭
    Very sad news indeed.

    Is there a way we can forward condolences or gifts to his family?

    We ARE watching you.

    image
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Sorry to hear about it.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • Cam40Cam40 Posts: 8,146 ✭
    I am truely saddened to hear of this loss of a fellow member.
    My condolences go out to his family and close friends.

    image
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,646 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am very sorry to hear this. He will be missed here.
    Tempus fugit.
  • dan1ecudan1ecu Posts: 1,573
    That's sad news. I'm sorry to hear it. My condolences to those who knew him.

    Dan
    Dan McInnes

    mcinnes@mailclerk.ecok.edu">dmcinnes@mailclerk.ecok.edu
  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    What sad news. I also enjoyed his posts, and will miss his upbeat attitude. He was so very young. My thoughts are with his family.
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
  • hamiltonjhhamiltonjh Posts: 1,140
    I never knew Bigindie and I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. He was your friend, and a friend of the boards and it's a loss to the whole community.
    To his family and friends, both close and from these boards who knew him, my sympathies to you all. Your loss is our loss to be shared.
  • jimjim Posts: 167
    I did not know Mike, but whenever you hear something like this it is sad. Life is too short.... God bless...
  • stmanstman Posts: 11,352 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Bigindie's (Mike) family. May he rest in peace.
    Please... Save The Stories, Just Answer My Questions, And Tell Me How Much!!!!!
  • OuthaulOuthaul Posts: 7,440 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I always enjoyed Mike's posts. Please convey my heartfelt sympathy to his family.

    Bob
  • agentjim007agentjim007 Posts: 6,256 ✭
    I don't remember his posts. I do feel the loss. RIP
  • boiler78boiler78 Posts: 3,057 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Very sad news. My condolences to his family and friends.
  • TootawlTootawl Posts: 5,877 ✭✭✭
    image
    PCGS Currency: HOF 2013, Best Low Ball Set 2009-2014, 2016, 2018. Appreciation Award 2015, Best Showcase 2018, Numerous others.
  • FairlanemanFairlaneman Posts: 10,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Very sad.

    Here is hope the wife and child will be well cared for in the future. Tragic at such a young age for all....image

    Ken
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    I'm stunned. I remember his post from a week or so ago where he said he was going to be off the board for a while due to surgery. It's a tragic loss for the community.

    My deep condolences to Heather, his son, and the rest of his family and friends . May God surround them with a spirit of peace and comfort at this time.

    I regret I didn't get the chance to welcome you back here or to meet you in person, bigindie, but when my time comes, I hope to see the collection you are building in heaven.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • LucyBopLucyBop Posts: 14,001 ✭✭✭
    no
    imageBe Bop A Lula!!
    "Senorita HepKitty"
    "I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
  • ClankeyeClankeye Posts: 3,928 ✭
    Truly heartbreaking news. My sympathies to his family and friends.
    I'm just really sorry.

    Carl
    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,781 ✭✭✭✭
    What a tragedy. Life really is too short.

    image
    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • LucyBopLucyBop Posts: 14,001 ✭✭✭
    Bigindie.....

    Your gazing upon Majesty..... the King of Kings, the Great I Am.....

    We have coins, you have treasures of unspeakable splendor....

    We have gold, your out of that wheel chair and walking on streets of Gold.........

    You were/are a strong believer in His Majesty, and now you are being rewarded for your good works...

    You shared the gospel in your signature and in your posts. Your light signed bright for Jesus......

    and now His Glory is shining brightly for you..........

    It is probably you who would feel bad for us...... Because were your are Daddy-o, can't be topp'd........

    No more pain, no more suffering.........

    Your life is a witness to all here, that tomorrow isn't promised.... You pointed the way to Eternal Life... you pointed
    to the Lord............ Everybody has a decision to make about Jesus.... You heard Him knocking on your Heart..

    You opened the door and let the King in..............

    bigindie, how does it feel to get up and run?

    Lucille
    imageBe Bop A Lula!!
    "Senorita HepKitty"
    "I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
  • BigEBigE Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭
    My condolences. Bigindie will be missedimage----------------BigE
    I'm glad I am a Tree
  • JohnZJohnZ Posts: 1,732 ✭
    Well spoken Lucy.

    Now I'm tearing up.

    We ARE watching you.

    image
  • coinlieutenantcoinlieutenant Posts: 9,310 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That is horrible...

    He was always an upbeat, cheerful poster. He will be missed.

    My condolences to his family.

    Very respectfully,
    John

    siliconvalleycoins.com

  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    image
  • zennyzenny Posts: 1,547 ✭✭
    Mike will be missed by those of us who barely knew him, and i can only imagine the loss those who were close to him are feeling... my deepest sympathy goes out to his close friends and family.
  • baccarudabaccaruda Posts: 2,588 ✭✭
    I'm stunned. I remember his post from a week or so ago where he said he was going to be off the board for a while due to surgery. It's a tragic loss for the community.

    I remember too. This is terrible news. God bless.
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  • joeyukjoeyuk Posts: 3,282
    This is a tragic loss for someone so young to be taken. My sympathies are with the family.
  • puffpuff Posts: 1,475
    Very sad news indeed! My heart felt condolences to his wife and family.image
  • paigowjohnnypaigowjohnny Posts: 4,257 ✭
    I hoist a tall frosty one to bigindie image
  • newbiecollectornewbiecollector Posts: 2,992
    image
    Becoming informed but still trying to learn every day!
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  • LakesammmanLakesammman Posts: 17,380 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image
    "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose.
  • PushkinPushkin Posts: 2,029 ✭✭✭

    This is very sad news. image Condolences to his family. Very sorry to hear about the untimely passing of a young board member. May we remember Mike in our prayers.
  • CarlWohlforthCarlWohlforth Posts: 11,074 ✭
    I'd like to send my condolences to his family. My thoughts will be with them.
    Carl's Coins website w/ links to Carl's auctions
  • NysotoNysoto Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A tragic loss. My sympathy for Bigindie's family.
    Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
  • JamericonJamericon Posts: 438 ✭✭✭
    My family's condolences. image
    Jamie Yakes - U.S. paper money collector, researcher, and author. | Join the SPMCUS Small-Size Notes, National Bank Notes, and NJ Depression Scrip
  • LAWMANLAWMAN Posts: 1,274 ✭✭
    Bigindie was a real part of this Forum and his contributions will be missed. RIP man.
    DSW
  • dlimb2dlimb2 Posts: 3,449
    I remember his post also, though it was the only one I recall from him...I looked at the picture and his baby...it's very sad.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,530 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • TrooperTrooper Posts: 1,450 ✭
    God Bless....
  • XpipedreamRXpipedreamR Posts: 8,059 ✭✭
    Such a shameimage
  • gripgrip Posts: 9,962 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Much to youngimage
  • rkfishrkfish Posts: 2,617 ✭✭✭
    RIP Bigindie...........

    My condolences to his wife and child !! You will be missed !!
    Steve

    Check out my PQ selection of Morgan & Peace Dollars, and more at:
    WWW.PQDOLLARS.COM or WWW.GILBERTCOINS.COM
  • StuartStuart Posts: 9,761 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm very sorry to hear about the tragic passing of "BigIndie". Please give my condolences to his family image

    Stuart

    Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal

    "Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
  • CoinAddictCoinAddict Posts: 5,571 ✭
    This is very sad news indeed. My thoughts are with his family and friends during this tragedy. image
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  • orevilleoreville Posts: 11,954 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Let's hope that bigindie is having a ball doing it all in heaven.

    He will have lots of stories for us when we join him one by one!

    Bigindie will indeed only going to be away for awhile.
    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • Jody526Jody526 Posts: 296 ✭
    May God bless the young man's family.
    Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
    Forbid it, Almighty God!
    I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
    ~PATRICK HENRY~

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