I am genuinely upset to have to let everyone know about this, but I have recently had an email from Forum member Pijlie with this sad news.
Leon,
Yesterday we said our goodbyes to our dear friend Aart Brouwer. Aart suddenly died last Sunday (2nd June), aged 55. Yesterday, on a beautiful sunny day we paid our respects in the company of his wife, children and a multitude of family and friends.
As he was a rather active and very enthusiastic member of your forum I thought it well to inform you.
It may please you to know that, a day before he died, he wrote on your forum in praise of one of the latest LoA releases which made him -and I quote- happy as a kid. No small compliment to your products, I think.
On behalf of everyone at Pendraken, our thoughts are with Aart's family and friends at this time. It feels really strange that we won't be seeing his posts or reading his emails anymore.
Aart last logged in the morning he died, and this was his final post the night before:
Quote from: Aart Brouwer on 01 June 2013, 07:31:27 PM
These are the best 10 mil figures I've seen so far. Ever. The models are detailed, the poses are lifelike and energetic, the variation is great. I just received my first LoA cavalry order and I'm happy as a kid.
Cheers,
Aart (<-1 happy as a kid >:<)
:(
Speechless!
Condolences to all his family and friends, my thoughts are with you
Oh! My.
Sorry for the loss, he was a really nice guy. Condolences to his family and friends.
:o
It is too sad for words. My condolences to his family and friends.
Alex
I can scarcely believe this, l did not know Aart personally, no more than I do anyone else on the forum, but its still a shock to loose someone whose voice was so familiar, even if only though posts on the forum.
A sad loss for the forum, incomparably more so for his friends and family.
Very shocking and sad.
RIP, and condolences to Aart's family.
Aart was always so cheerful. He will be sadly missed.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Oh dear. I can never find a way of saying exactly how I feel when hearing news like this. I never knew Aart, but I always appreciated what he had to say on the forum, his sense of humour, and fun, and his sheer enthusiasm. I felt I knew him, and can only imagine the impact his loss will have on those around him, those who "really" knew him. This leaves me feeling deeply sad, and I can only offer my sympathy to his loved ones.
Mollinary
A big presence on the forum that will be missed.
Thoughts go out his loved ones
Completely shocked by this! My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
Really sad news. He was a great forum member - always positive and fun. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
What a loss. Very, very sad news.
I'm sad too.
Condolences to his family
I`m stunned. :(
Thoughts and condolences to the family.
A sad loss. My deepest thoughts and sympathy go to all his Family and friends,
Leon, would it be possible to send a condolence card to the family on behalf of Aart's friends on the Pendraken Minatures Forum? As one who recently knew breavement in my own family circle, I have to say I have drawn comfort from the comments and cards of people who knew/interacted with the departed and felt the richness of their life.
Particularly those who shared a common interest and passion.
In our case,we bonded with Aart over our love of little bits of metal 10mm high.
As everyone else - stunned & saddened at this - the loss of one of our friends.
Always sad to hear of the sudden loss of anyone. I'm sure we all wish to convey our condolences to Aart's family, I know my mother was heartened by the messages of sympathy made by many that had had contact with my father over the years.
:o
Don't know what to say.
I googled him, to put a face on the name.
(http://www.groene.nl/uploads/0000/8998/Screen_Shot_2013-06-04_at_4.36.32_PM.png)
Quote from: Sunray on 11 June 2013, 09:43:08 PM
Leon, would it be possible to send a condolence card to the family on behalf of Aart's friends on the Pendraken Minatures Forum?
That's a great idea, and something we've been discussing tonight while we were casting. We'll pick up a card tomorrow and we can get it in the post.
If anyone else would like to put something in the card as well, let me know what message you'd like (either on here or to the Pendraken email), and I'll pop them all in.
I found what I think was his first post
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,188.0.html (http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,188.0.html)
And, of course, his peerless profile signature
Quote"No, I do not have Orcs, Riders of Rohan, Dark Elves, Skaven, Kroot Mercenaries Battle Tech, HeroClix, Gangs of Mega-City One or many-horned f****** genetic-mechanoid arse-faced pigmen from the Purple Pustule of Tharg T bloody M." (Harry Pearson, Achtung Schweinehund!)
Yep, that was his first post on the Forum. I've just been reading through some of the older posts, and realised it was Aart who first put us onto I-94 for the decal range. I found this one as well from back when this place was still new:
Quote from: Aart Brouwer on 22 May 2010, 11:21:13 PM
It just occurred to me that this is a great little (as yet) forum. It has a great crew, great input from all sorts of gamers, almost no spam or flames. And I pick up some useful snippet of info here every day.
Kudos to the team at Pendraken, and may we still have the same atmosphere when membership passes the 1000 mark.
Cheers,
Aart
Very sad to hear this, my condolences to Aart's family, RIP.
kev
Totally shocked and saddened.
Like many others on the forum, I feel I've lost a friend, though I'd never actually met him.
Thoughts and deepest sympathy to his family.
Phil.
What can you say - we lose a valued member.
IanS
OMG!
That is no way to go! Have not much to do with Aart but remember him as a decent chap in his posts.
Most sincere condolences from my side as well. The forum will definately miss him. :(
Roland
It's always a shock when someone goes suddenly - particularly at a relatively young age. Like most members, I didn't know him personally, but hsi posts made him part of the community and we are poorer for his loss. RIP.
Very sad news indeed. I can only echo what others have said.
What can I say?
Like most people have alreday said, I didn't know Aart personally, only through his posts here, but still feel his loss.
Really shocked to read this and my condoldences to his family.
As all of us I am shocked by his sudden death.
I read his last post only yesterday.
Leon, I think the suggestion that a forum condolence message on behalf of all members is an excellent idea. Can you do anything like this?
Sad loss!
Chad
It's a very sad news, Aart was one of the most interesting member of this forum. I never met him but enjoyed his posts. My thoughts to his family. RIP.
Absolutely shocked. 55 is no age these days.
My sympathies go out to his family. RIP Aart.
A tremendous shame. I always liked Aart's posts here.
I think the idea of a card is a really good one to show his family he was appreciated beyond those who knew him face to face.
Regards
Edward
The only other gesture we could offer is to share the existance of this thread with the family and invite them to visit it. If you as a forum agree,the invitation could be added to the card.
I have to say that in reading all previous comments I know why Aart loved this forum. It represents all that is good about wargaming.
Beneath the banter the is a respect for other members as we enjoy our mutual hobby of choice. Aart brightened our lives with his wit and humour.
Nicely done fellow members of Pendraken Forum. Nicely done.
Too sad.
I will miss his comments alot.
As others have already said, my thoughts are with his loved ones.
Cheers Aart.
Paul
I am very sad to hear this news. Aart was one of the first people to welcome me to the forum and he seemed to me one of life's nice guys. I never had the honour of meeting Aart but he was interested in the same periods as me such as TYW and also had books that I have got, so I did think quite favourably of him and would have enjoyed meeting him if the opportunity had arisen.
Thanks to Pijlie and Leon for letting us know about Aart. If it can be of any comfort to his family, please tell them know of the many friends Aart had on this forum who will miss him.
Goodbye Aart,
Rob
Quote from: Chad on 12 June 2013, 10:24:45 AM
Leon, I think the suggestion that a forum condolence message on behalf of all members is an excellent idea. Can you do anything like this?
Yes, definitely. I mentioned further up, if people can let me know what message they'd like including, either by posting it on here or by email, and I'll get everything sorted out.
Leon and other members may I suggest the following:
The members of the Pendraken Miniatures Forum would like to express their shock and sadness at your loss. Although we are diverse group and generally
only know each other via the forum, we like to consider ourselves friends with very similar interests.
As a forum member Art was such a friend and we are all saddened by his sudden loss.
We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Our thoughts are with you at this time.
Chad
I would like to express my condolences too, and as already said, 55 is no age to leave on!
Well said Chad.
Sad news.
Condolences to his family.
Quote from: mad lemmey on 12 June 2013, 07:22:22 PM
Well said Chad.
Agreed....Something along those lines sounds perfect.
Nicely put Chad.
Phil.
Well put and agreed with.
Gets my vote Chad.
Well expressed, Chad.
If someone could translate it into Dutch ?
Quote from: Chad on 12 June 2013, 05:28:51 PM
The members of the Pendraken Miniatures Forum would like to express their shock and sadness at your loss. Although we are diverse group and generally
only know each other via the forum, we like to consider ourselves friends with very similar interests.
As a forum member Art was such a friend and we are all saddened by his sudden loss.
We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Our thoughts are with you at this time.
De leden van het Pendraken Miniatures Forum zijn verbijsterd en verdrietig door Uw verlies. Hoewel wij een groep van verschillend pluimage zijn, en elkaar doorgaans alleen kennen via dit forum, beschouwen wij elkaar toch als vrienden met veelal dezelfde interesses.
Als lid van dit forum was Aart een van deze vrienden, en wij zijn allemaal diep bedroefd door zijn plotselinge heengaan.
Wij willen ons oprechte medeleven overbrengen aan zijn familie en vrienden. Onze gedachten zijn bij U in deze moeilijke tijd.
Quote from: barbarian on 13 June 2013, 08:46:30 AM
If someone could translate it into Dutch ?
Not a literal translation, but it should convey the same message.
IS petercooman not Dutch?
As far as I know Peter is from Belgium, but yes, he could also translate.
But I am Dutch myself, it's just that there is the additional difficulty of finding the right words and phrases when translating such a message. A literal translation wouldn't work.
But if anyone would like to try, or would like to point out improvements, please do so.
Alex
I'm sure we wouldn't be able to Alex.
Very good of you to take the time to do that.
If Leon so wishes....He can always put both English and Dutch versions on the card, I guess ??
Cheers - Phil.
I was thinking a message in both English and Dutch could be a nice thing for them.
Thanks for the translation Alex. I think a Dutch and English version would be good.
Quote from: OldenBUA on 13 June 2013, 11:38:13 AM
As far as I know Peter is from Belgium, but yes, he could also translate.
But I am Dutch myself, it's just that there is the additional difficulty of finding the right words and phrases when translating such a message. A literal translation wouldn't work.
But if anyone would like to try, or would like to point out improvements, please do so.
Alex
Was not intended to diminish your ability OldenBUA. I certainly have no knowledge of Dutch :-[
Only just read this. Always came across as a really nice chap, Sad news indeed.
Jason.
Yes, I've only just come across this too. 55 is much too young. I think enthusiasm came as standard with Aart judging by his posts. A sad loss.
Great idea Chad gets my vote too
I'm shocked and saddened by this news. Although I don't post here that often, I'm regularly lurking on the server incase it needs a good kick. It'll be weird to not see Aart's name appear in the active user logs. Aart made a fantastic contribution to this Forum. RIP
Thank you all for the condolences, I've read them before and I thought they where very heartwarming, I just forgot to react, things have been quite hectic out here. I also received the card, thank you very much for the message (in Dutch and English ;-)).
kind regards of course also from Lucas his youngest (baby)son,
Wendel