In memory of a Great Gator

[alaskanseminole]

As many of you know, my best friend graduated from UF in 1996. He was a member of the Beta Alpha Psi fraternity and Golden Key, Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies at the University of Florida in Gainesville. After graduating, he landed a job with KPMG Peat Marwick LLP in Orlando. Sadly he was killed on September 23, 1997 72 days after marrying his high-school sweetheart (another Gator).

Everyone on here would have loved him, he HATED NOLES and no one gave me more crap than him. He bled orange and blue. He is why I post here.

Today, I'm breaking the rules and wearing his colors and posting a tribute to him!

RIP, brother Gator! You are missed!

 

[GatorGray]

I know you have mentioned him before. I am truly sorry for the loss. He obviously meant very much to you.

 

[alaskanseminole]

I know you have mentioned him before. I am truly sorry for the loss. He obviously meant very much to you.

Thanks Gray...he's truly missed. Throwing it around with you guys keeps his cantankerous, Gator-love'n spirit alive, though!!!

 

[goldmom]

That was nice Igloo. I hope he knew what a true friend he had in you.

 

[alaskanseminole]

That was nice Igloo. I hope he knew what a true friend he had in you.

Just found out last night there is a scholarship in his name at our high school back home...not sure how I missed that one.

 

[TennesseeGator]

Sorry to hear Igloo

 

[EvilWayz]

So he was the Gator version of SemperFiNole. That's alright. Sorry for your loss man, especially since you used the word "killed" as opposed to "died." It's worse when people are taken from us that than from natural causes.

 

[passoverGator]

So sad...a toast to his memory. RIP.

 

[djegators]

Thoughts and prayers to all touched by this loss.

 

[alaskanseminole]

So he was the Gator version of SemperFiNole.

Very much so! He was very much abruptly taken from our lives. His memory lives on in my son, though. We named him after him...just hope he doesn't grow up to be a Gator!

 

[hattongator]

Sorry for your loss, Igloo. Glad you shared on this forum.
From the support I see here, I hope you can tell you are
well respected here. Prayers up for you and your friend's
family.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Sorry for your loss, Igloo. Glad you shared on this forum.
From the support I see here, I hope you can tell you are
well respected here. Prayers up for you and your friend's
family.

Thanks, hat. Ya, there are some good folks here who know most of what transpires is all in good fun.

 

[alaskanseminole]

As it is my son's birthday, I decided to resurrect an old thread for a dear friend who's memory lives on in my son as his namesake. May this be a reminder these rivalries shouldn't run too deep--we're all just people.

 

[BSC911]

As it is my son's birthday, I decided to resurrect an old thread for a dear friend who's memory lives on in my son as his namesake. May this be a reminder these rivalries shouldn't run too deep--we're all just people.

RIP and may God bless his soul.

 

[Sunburnt Indian]

I grew up with the Comanches at Fort Sill. No doubt your friend today sits in his assigned seat at the council fire of the Great Father.

 

[NavigatorII]

As many of you know, my best friend graduated from UF in 1996. He was a member of the Beta Alpha Psi fraternity and Golden Key, Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies at the University of Florida in Gainesville. After graduating, he landed a job with KPMG Peat Marwick LLP in Orlando. Sadly he was killed on September 23, 1997 72 days after marrying his high-school sweetheart (another Gator).

Everyone on here would have loved him, he HATED NOLES and no one gave me more crap than him. He bled orange and blue. He is why I post here.

Today, I'm breaking the rules and wearing his colors and posting a tribute to him!

RIP, brother Gator! You are missed!

Sorry about the loss of your friend Igloo. Tragically young. Car wreck? What really sucks is he missed the 1997 game when Fred Taylor is still gaining yards and Quezzie Green is still "behind the defense" in victory against your then #1 ranked noles. Equally sad was going through collegiate accounting hell before landing a job with a Big Four firm. Never got to taste the fruits of his labor. Damn.

 

[BayouGator1995]

Thoughts and condolences Alaska. I probably would've loved meeting this guy. To be taken out of this world so young is tragic. He's in a better place now. RIP Gator

 

[alaskanseminole]

Sorry about the loss of your friend Igloo. Tragically young. Car wreck? What really sucks is he missed the 1997 game when Fred Taylor is still gaining yards and Quezzie Green is still "behind the defense" in victory against your then #1 ranked noles. Equally sad was going through collegiate accounting hell before landing a job with a Big Four firm. Never got to taste the fruits of his labor. Damn.

I thought about that game and knew he'd have given me hell about it.

And yes, it was a car wreck. Apparently he'd been watching Monday Night Football with his new colleagues, had a little bit much to drink, and fell asleep at the wheel coming home. He flipped his truck and was killed instantly.

It was a bitter sweet day; found out we were pregnant with our first born in the morning and later that day that he had died. Was hoping to name our kiddo after him, but had two girls. It wasn't until my 2nd marriage and many years later we were able to name our son after him.

 

[gator1776]

As it is my son's birthday, I decided to resurrect an old thread for a dear friend who's memory lives on in my son as his namesake. May this be a reminder these rivalries shouldn't run too deep--we're all just people.

Agree 100% except for the part about anybody that’s a no being human because we all know that’s not true.