Gary was a good friend of mine, having lived two blocks over from me while growing up in my pre-teen through high school years. He was a very talented artist, and planned to attend Columbia to further his love for art.
Gary was also a gamer. Having introduced him just a week after introducing Dale to Dungeons & Dragons, we soon pulled Bruce and Tony into the fray. The summer before he passed is arguably the best summer I have ever had. We spent almost every day gaming at either his place, or crashing the lobby of the Radisson. Along with his brother Bruce and our friends Dale and Tony, we were nigh inseparable during those killer weeks of nonstop Dungeons & Dragons. We would grab a bite to eat over at Denny's and then head home for a few hours of sleep before the gaming began anew.
Gary put his artistic talent to work almost immediately when I introduced him to gaming. He drew portraits of his characters and the mighty weapons they had wielded. He also drew a few portraits for some of my beloved characters as well, all of which I still possess today.
One of the better memories I have of those days is that of the early conflict between his character and Dale's. They both came across twin blades that were in the process of being enchanted, though only one of them held any magic at that time, with the other having been interrupted. Each claimed a sword, and discovered later that only one of them was magical. So, every time one of them would fall in combat, or become unconscious, or even slept, the other would switch the swords around. This went on for WEEKS. However, I was a stingy Dungeon Master, and my treasure troves were very small for beginning characters, so this sword was just as good as the Holy Grail to them...even though it was only a +1. Heheh. Good times...
Eventually, their experience paid off, they gained levels and magic, and went on to seek their fortunes in every-more-dangerous quests. In fact, I still have every single one of his characters, filed away in a folder and brought out occasionally to reminisce.
Gary drowned while at Miller Beach, not more than a week or two after I started my senior year of high school. Needless to say, it pretty much blew my year. I had the honor of being one of his pall bearers during his funeral. He was a good friend, and I miss him dearly.
Every now and then, I visit his gravesite and spend a little time with my old friend. I also leave behind a 20-sided die on his headstone, in remembrance of the good times we had the summer before he died.
I truly wish that all of my friends today could have known this guy. He was a caring person, full of talent and a love of life. I wish he were here, so that he could have stood up in my wedding and met my wife and kids. And I am positive he would have been a person that made things happen in our gaming community.
I miss you, pal.
Posted by Tom Coster 2/22/06