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About Lugnut -- Patrick Malone

Many of us have come to know Patrick Malone (Lugnut) as a friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and kind individual. He is a frequent and enthusiastic contributor to our analog discussion forum. He has initiated only 17 threads, but responded to 559 threads. I would guess that many, if not most, of us can recall a time when Pat replied with helpful advice to a question we posted or helped us track down a rare recording. I have come to love Pat as a friend, and to respect him as a man, and I suspect many of you share those feelings.

Today I write to share difficult news with you. Pat has been diagnosed with an aggressive stomach cancer. It has yet to be determined whether surgery will even be worth it. If surgery is performed, most or all of the stomach will be removed, and Pat would face a difficult and long post-op period in the hospital. The medical course is still uncertain, but will be determined soon. Whatever is decided, it will not be easy or pleasant.

Something may be planned in the future to assist the family. For now, Pat could use some of the friendship he so often and willingly showed us. You can email Pat at: lugnut50@msn.com. You can also mail cards, letters ... or whatever. You may email me for Pat's mailing address. My email is: pfrumkin1@comcast.net.

I hope to spend a few days with Pat in Idaho or Nebraska (from which he hails) soon. Between this news, my legal work, getting ready for family arriving for the holidays, Audio Intelligent, and trying to make plans to visit Pat, my head is spinning. If you email me and I don't respond, please understand that I am not ignoring you, but rather simply do not have time to reply.

Pat may or may not have time to respond to posts here, to emails, or to cards mailed to him. But he has asked me to convey to each and every one of you that he has cherished your friendship, your comradery, and sharing our common hobby on this great website.

As we prepare for our holiday season celebrations, and look forward to -- as we should -- enjoying this time of year, I ask that you keep Pat and his family in mind ... and softly offer up, in quiet moments in the still of night and early morning, prayers for Pat and his family. God bless.

Warmest regards to all,
Paul Frumkin
paul_frumkin
nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,111 posts
 
I was amazed on several occasions when Pat told me that he would not trade away his experience for his waning health. So many hang onto what they cannot keep.

Jim Elliot once said "He is not fool who gives up what he connot keep, to gain that which he cannot loose." Jim Elliot was murdered by the Auca indians in South America that he came to help. He and his friends had guns and could have defended themselves, but for the benefit of the killers, they did not.

Pat has blazed a trail that everyone eventually follows, but few of us have really considered. He did it with bravery and dignity, through the grace of God. He will never see these words, but nonetheless, I offer my thanksgiving, for living and dying like a man, a great man. I will miss Pat, but I plan to see him again!
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
An Irish Blessing that puts me in mind of what Pat might be thinking right now:

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Everything remains as it was.
The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no sorrow in your tone.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort
Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again.

RIP, Pat.

Best to you always, Barb.
David Finnegan
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,550 posts
 
When I was visiting Pat & Barb a couple of weeks ago, Pat said that he'd spoken with God shortly after being diagnosed, saying, "Please use me up. Use my life to give life to others." And he did just that. Ironically, not only did Pat take us to an appreciation of our own, individual lives, but he courageously elevated this experience to a whole other level. Sitting here, grateful as ever for having met the man, I'm clear that what Pat gave us through this experience--and will CONTINUE to give us through this experience--is a much larger, more loving and vulnerable perspective on life itself, of which humanity is just one component, and into which each one of us has been so delicately placed. He openly embraced his life, so that we all could come to know life itself.

Thank you, Pat & Barb, for being who you are. And thank you all, for being so loving.
jadem6's avatar
jadem6
1,071 posts
 
As I read the news of Pat's passing to a new life, I find myself tearing up. I know he is at home now and has found the love we all will find, yet my sadness persists. I will miss the spirit we have all gained insight from.

I can only imagine the hole in Barbs life. The friendships developed over this past year will help to fill the loss, but replacing such a great soul is not possible.

Thank you Paul for inviting us into this magnificent mans life. Thank you Barb for allowing us to stay and share your growth. And above all, thank you Pat for your immense unselfishness and your incredibly bright guiding light. We have all gained.

Amazing...
tobias
1,534 posts
 
Thank you for the news of Pat's passing. May he rest in peace, and his loved ones be well and happy.

Paul says Pat thought this thread saved him from feeling alone. Well, Pat wasn't the only one. I realize that, through Pat's thread, "Pat's loved ones" includes me... as it does so many. I am very grateful indeed for that.

God bless us all.
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