From Mr. T's daughter:
Dear cw
I am writing because over the past years you have occasionally sent several emails to my father, who you knew as "MrT", to say that his friends at TMLfans were thinking of him (I obtained your e-mail address from one of those mails on his computer...I hope that's okay). It is with great regret that I must inform you that he passed away in mid July after an extended battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Perhaps you could convey this sad news to any of the other members there who knew and have enquired about him.
I know that dad greatly enjoyed reading and participating in discussions at TMLfans and that for some time it was one of the few things he truly looked forward to each day. It provided him with the ability to communicate with others (I believe he was already house-bound at the time he became a member), share his longtime passion for the hockey and the Leafs, and was a wonderful distraction from the increasing difficulties he experienced in everyday life. Dad found it extremely frustrating when his condition worsened to the point where he could no longer participate on the forums, although for the next year or two I (or sometimes mom) would occasionally read a few threads to him when he felt up to it since he remained keenly interested in both the team and the exchange of your members' opinions and ideas (I've even started to read TMLfans occasionally myself...I guess some latent hockey genes combined with having spent a few years watching games with him has awoken an appreciation for the game). I know he was deeply touched when I told him I'd seen that the "Man of the Match" thread bore his name this past year. While his Leafs didn't manage to win another Stanley Cup in his lifetime, he was aware that they finally returned to the playoffs this spring and expressed the hope that perhaps they are now on the right track again. Who knows...perhaps they are?
On behalf of my mother and I, thank you for the enjoyment you and the other TMLfans members brought to him during his time there, and for remembering him fondly after his departure.
Most sincerely,
Daughter of "MrT"
This was her followup granting me permission to post her email:
Thank you cw, and you may certainly post my email if you feel it the best way to let the members know. Dad, while unrelentingly outspoken on subjects about which he was passionate, was also very quiet and almost reclusive when it came to his own situation. He disliked it when people made a fuss over his condition or, worse, treated him differently because of it. As you say, I've seen a number of posts where people have mentioned him (many of which I read to him) and I did urge him some time ago to allow me to pass along a message to explain why he was no longer able to participate on the site. While at that time he adamantly refused, I think he would understand and agree with my decision to do so now (and my mother concurs).
Thank you for your well-wishes, and I will pass them along to mom as well.
Daughter of "MrT"
Personally, I am crushed by this news even though I knew for some time this was the likely eventual outcome. Like MrT, I've followed the Leafs for a long time - long enough to recall them winning four Cups when I was a little kid. Of all those from that time to this who wrote about the Leafs, MrT was the best in my opinion and my favorite. He provided wonderful, well thought out, meticulously prepared and unique, original insights. He was also a great asset behind the scenes for helping this site as RickC can attest. I regard him as a dear internet friend and will really miss him as I think many will and have already on this site.
I do smile at the notion that he might be somewhere up in heaven making his thorough case to God on why Leafs fans deserve a parade soon. If true, Leafs fans couldn't ask for a better advocate in that role.
My deepest condolences go out to his daughter, wife and family along with gratitude for their efforts in extending his stay with us that I treasured.
I will email a link to this thread to MrT's daughter.
Dear cw
I am writing because over the past years you have occasionally sent several emails to my father, who you knew as "MrT", to say that his friends at TMLfans were thinking of him (I obtained your e-mail address from one of those mails on his computer...I hope that's okay). It is with great regret that I must inform you that he passed away in mid July after an extended battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Perhaps you could convey this sad news to any of the other members there who knew and have enquired about him.
I know that dad greatly enjoyed reading and participating in discussions at TMLfans and that for some time it was one of the few things he truly looked forward to each day. It provided him with the ability to communicate with others (I believe he was already house-bound at the time he became a member), share his longtime passion for the hockey and the Leafs, and was a wonderful distraction from the increasing difficulties he experienced in everyday life. Dad found it extremely frustrating when his condition worsened to the point where he could no longer participate on the forums, although for the next year or two I (or sometimes mom) would occasionally read a few threads to him when he felt up to it since he remained keenly interested in both the team and the exchange of your members' opinions and ideas (I've even started to read TMLfans occasionally myself...I guess some latent hockey genes combined with having spent a few years watching games with him has awoken an appreciation for the game). I know he was deeply touched when I told him I'd seen that the "Man of the Match" thread bore his name this past year. While his Leafs didn't manage to win another Stanley Cup in his lifetime, he was aware that they finally returned to the playoffs this spring and expressed the hope that perhaps they are now on the right track again. Who knows...perhaps they are?
On behalf of my mother and I, thank you for the enjoyment you and the other TMLfans members brought to him during his time there, and for remembering him fondly after his departure.
Most sincerely,
Daughter of "MrT"
This was her followup granting me permission to post her email:
Thank you cw, and you may certainly post my email if you feel it the best way to let the members know. Dad, while unrelentingly outspoken on subjects about which he was passionate, was also very quiet and almost reclusive when it came to his own situation. He disliked it when people made a fuss over his condition or, worse, treated him differently because of it. As you say, I've seen a number of posts where people have mentioned him (many of which I read to him) and I did urge him some time ago to allow me to pass along a message to explain why he was no longer able to participate on the site. While at that time he adamantly refused, I think he would understand and agree with my decision to do so now (and my mother concurs).
Thank you for your well-wishes, and I will pass them along to mom as well.
Daughter of "MrT"
Personally, I am crushed by this news even though I knew for some time this was the likely eventual outcome. Like MrT, I've followed the Leafs for a long time - long enough to recall them winning four Cups when I was a little kid. Of all those from that time to this who wrote about the Leafs, MrT was the best in my opinion and my favorite. He provided wonderful, well thought out, meticulously prepared and unique, original insights. He was also a great asset behind the scenes for helping this site as RickC can attest. I regard him as a dear internet friend and will really miss him as I think many will and have already on this site.
I do smile at the notion that he might be somewhere up in heaven making his thorough case to God on why Leafs fans deserve a parade soon. If true, Leafs fans couldn't ask for a better advocate in that role.
My deepest condolences go out to his daughter, wife and family along with gratitude for their efforts in extending his stay with us that I treasured.
I will email a link to this thread to MrT's daughter.
