A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

One of our team members passed away this past weekend. Not that you all would know him, but his name was Nick Gabel. Nick had been with us for only about six months. Far too short a time, but we valued his presence nonetheless. Nick passed away from complications related to muscular dystrophy. You see Nick had been in a wheel chair for most of his young life. Even though his body was weak, his mind was strong and vital. He couldn't turn a wrench, but he could use his mind and imagination as a member of our programming team.

Several weeks ago I spoke to our school district's director of special needs education. She told me Nick was so excited about being part of our team. She said that he was doing better in school this year than ever before. And it was due in large part to his new found interest in FIRST. Our team gave him a sense of belonging that had previously eluded him. He had found a home.

If any of you are competing in Pittsburgh, Toronto or the Championships in Atlanta, stop by our pit area and learn a little more about Nick. We will have a memory book we would like anyone who is a member of the FIRST community to sign. Perhaps you could also give us one of your team pins. We would like to present the book and pins to Nick's mother as a memento of what the spirit of FIRST is all about. Gracious professionalism. Team. Family.

The Red Barons
Team #63

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

This is horrible. I really didn't expect to hear something like this during any season. On behalf of the chiefdelphi community, our condolence to Nick's family. I will make sure that I stop by team 63's pit.

-Arefin

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I'm so sorry to hear that. I couldn't imagine the build season with this happening in the middle of this.

From my self and behalf of Team 5 (The Robocards) we are sorry for the bad news and give our condolences.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I'm terribly sorry to hear this news. My heart goes out to your team and the family. Our team had a member pass one year too sorta like this. I hope everything goes well with your team this season and every season. I'll be sure to visit. I just know though in my heart that he's now in heaven just watching over us and smiling.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I'm very sorry for your loss. The fact that your team created such a rewarding community for him makes it all the more difficult. Many condolences to your team on behalf of the FIRST community, and I'll definitly save some stuff and some love for your team at Nats.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am extremely sorry to hear this, my sincere condolences to Team 63 and Nicks family. I will make sure to stop at 63's pits at the championship.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Im sooo sory to hear that :( im sitting here at my computer tear eyed. Im so happy he found FIRST to be his home and a great hobby and thing to do. I admire those people who are like that because they know what life is and they know how to live it. They always have a smile on their face and just live life the best they can. That is just so great how there was a part on ur team for him. Im defentitly going to stop by your guy's pits. My best wishes and prays are here.

-Court-

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

My apologies both on my own behalf and on the behalf of Team 1504. I know from personal experience how difficult and challenging of a disease MD is and I send out my prayers to your teammate's family and to your team.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am very sorry to hear of this tragic news. On behalf of Team 1455, I deliver my sincere condolences, wishes, and prayers to Team 63 and Nick's family.

- Fixen

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I'm terribly sorry to hear of your loss. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers. If we go to championships I will be sure to stop by - if not a 571 pin will be sent through another team for his memento.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I would like to respectfully offer my (and my team's) sincere condolences... I'm really sorry that this happened. I am glad he found FIRST....

I am sure your team will not be the same without him. I will definitely stop by your pit to sign his book.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I'm very sorry to hear that. No death is good, but at least we all know that he is now in a good place. Again very sorry to hear and I'll keep your team and the his family in prayers.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf of 229 I'd also like to offer our deepest condolences.
We too have sufferred loss before, and I know how tragic it can be.

Be strong, press on through the season.
Let the FIRST "family" know if you need any support, because believe me -- you've got it.

Take Care,
John

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

i'm so sorry... thats so horrible for something like that to happen, but i am glad that before he passed he had finally felt accepted, and i'm so glad that FIRST touched him, even if it was for a brief time. in Atlanta i'll make sure during my "good morning" rounds in the pit to make a special stop for you guys and give a special Team 233 button for the scrapbook; its the least i can do.

good luck at competition; once again i'm so sorry to hear about the loss.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On Behalf of Team 191, 1126, 1nd 1450 The XEROX FIRST Teams please forward our condolenses to his parents. I'll try to get you a set of the X-CATS Complete 12 button collection.

Ellery

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I'm sure that I speak for all of Team 341 when I say that I am really sorry to hear of Nick's death. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Hi,

I'm very sorry for the loss that your team is experiencing. My heart goes out to you, your team, and Nick's family. I am happy to hear that Nick was able to experience a second family in his team.

Our team will not be going to any of the regionals your team is going to, and we don't have the money to go to Nationals either so unfortunately we won't be able to stop by to visit your team. We don't have a team pin yet, but are working on it as we speak. Can you PM me with an address to send it to if you don't feel comfortable posting it?

Thanks,

Pattie

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

In response to Pattie's post, if anyone not attending the Pittsburgh or Toronto regionals or the Championships in Atlanta would like to provide a team pin to help honor our late team member Nick Gabel, please mail it to me personally. I will gladly see it gets added to the memento to be given to his family.

Tom Albert
2775 Carleton Court
Erie, Pa 16506

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am very sorry to hear about this extremely tragic news. Team 22 sends its most sincere condolences to you guys and Nick's family. FIRST is a family in itself and this is like losing a brother. We will be sure to bring something special with us to Atlanta to give to you guys. once again we are very sorry to hear this bad news.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

My condolences to his family and those who knew him. From the Ammoknights I am sorry. If we meet at a later date I would like to stop by your pit and sign his memory book. If you would permit we could sign a page scan it into the computer and send it to you. Unfortunately we do not have a pin to give him.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am very sorry to hear about the loss... Team 88 will gladly provide a pin and maybe some tie-dye head and wrist bands if interested... I will personally stop by the pit... We also lost a member of our team due to MD... His name was Jake Hagman... He was such a nice kid and it was tough for the team to go to his funeral... Its hard I know... Not only that but our team also suffered a loss to Mike Kulibaba aka Kuli... He was basically what our team was... So much spirit in this kid and he died suddenly in his bed... He had a heart murmur (wrong spelling i bet)... Unfortunately there is not much you can do...

I'm sorry another team had to experience a tradgic event such as this... See you in Atlanta...

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf of Team 1072, we are sorry to hear about this horrible news. Please tell his family that our hearts go out to them. Unfortunately our team will be in Sacramento and Silicon Valley. If we win one of those regionals and make it to nationals we will stop by and add to the memento.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf of 771 and 1353, I am so sorry for your loss. I will most definitely stop by your pits in Toronto, with a shirt and pin for Nick's family.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Team 957 would also like to offer our condolences on your team and Nick's family's loss. He sounds like he was a great kid. In dedication to Nick, I will personally see to it that a special tribute to him is added to our robot that we will take to the PNW Regionals and Nationals in Atlanta. I will also make sure we all drop by your pit at Nationals and add our names to your book.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

:(

Condolences & everything on my own and on my team (1159)'s behalf.. I'm sorry you have to go through this :( As many people have mentioned, though, I'm glad that he found motivation and inspiration in FIRST.. and that he found a "second family" in your team. It's wonderful that he got to experience what he did before he passed away..

Best wishes =\

My team doesn't have pins (haven't for the past 3 years, we're poor), but if we do end up getting something, I'll try to remember to send it to you.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

im so sorry for your loss i don't know how i would ever get through the rests of the year and still be able to work. good luck to you guys and the rest of your season "be strong" tho be strong good luck and ill see you in atlanta g.a. :(

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Team 103 would like to express its sincerest sympathy for Nick's family and team. I hope that everyone will be able to remain strong through this difficult time. I will make sure that Cybersonics will provide a button and any other assistance that you may ask of.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I and my team are extremely sorry for your loss, and would like to offer my condolences. If you are willing to except it in addition to our team pins, i will personally or my whole team will get an extra team shirt made for him. I think a lot of teams should do this. Once again iu am very sorry for your loss.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf of Team 141, I promise in Atlanta to stop by when I make my good luck/morning rounds with extra "Good Luck Fairy Dust" and a set of the buttons that we reserve for special purposes.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

My condolences and from all teams from Brazil.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I'm so sorry to hear that. I'll make sure the Tigertrons stop by at Nationals with a shirt and pin for the family.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I really dont know what to say but thats really sad!!! i think its so sad when a person dies young :( i hope you guys have a good year!!!!
GOOD LUCK
Team 1259

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf of Team 1073, we are very sorry for your team's loss.

We will hopefully see you in Atlanta.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Losing anyone hurts--losing a FIRSTer really hurts.

I send my wishes to the family. I'm sure that 1293 does, too.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I will certainly stop by during Nationals to drop off a pin from team 116.

I'm glad Nick had your team and FIRST and I'm happy you and your team had Nick, however briefly, to enrich your life. It's sad that the rest of us never got the chance to meet him, and it's a shame the world lost another bright star.

Heidi

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

May I also extend my very sincere condolences from Team 415. :( If we make it to Nationals (which is the plan of course), we will be sure to stop by your pit area. FIRST is great in so many ways and doing this small task for your team will be our pleasure. Just remember to look up to the sky occasionally because your friend will be looking down at you.
If you need anything from SC, don't hesitate to ask.

Trish
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care!"

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Team 1258 wishes you the best of luck!

Sorry to hear about your loss, but make sure to win for him!

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

http://www.tribotecteam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54 :)

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Deepest sympathy to Nick's family and team family from Chuck 84. He sounds like a great kid. Nick's 'FIRST family' feels his loss.

You'll get one of the Chuck buttons for your memento.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. It is so sad to hear about someone so young and talented. My condolences to Nick's team and family. Good luck to you all at competition, I will stop by the pits with a button at nationals.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I wish I could say something that hasn't been said, or something poetic and touching.

I can't.

The best I can do is offer you my condolences, and a promise to get you a pin when I see you at Nationals.

Some things in life are far more important than Robotics. It's a shame that the majority of the FIRST community might not hear about this, and that we don't have a way to recognize his passing beyond creating this little memorial for his family.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am sorry to hear about such a tragic loss, not only to the family but to the FIRST family and your team. All my condolences go out to your team and Nick's family. I will make sure to stop by at Nationals with Rabbit222.

-Henry

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I too offer my condolences to his family and friends.
I'll talk to my old team (#350) to make sure they get a pin out to your team for him at somepoint this season.

best wishes

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I will look for you in toronto and maybe in atlanta if I'm there. My regards.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am sincerely sorry for your team and even more so for his family.


Someone should catalog these posts into a collection for his friends and family to share.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

That's rough.

A friend of mine--not a FIRST teammate--died a few days before November in a car wreck at the age of 16. We'd played football together, he was in some of my classes, and he was the singer for my brother's band.

I've never gone through something like that before, and hope never to again.

I wish you all the best.

--Petey

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Wow.. I've never lost a best friend or anything, I simply can't imagine the kind of loss I'd feel. I don't know what to expect...

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

oh behalf of 1403, and the rest of all the FIRST teams, I would like to express our deepest condolences.
-Conor Ryan

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf on the NiagaraFIRST family (1114, 1503, and 1680) we would like to wish you the best through these tough times.

Take pride in the fact that you made his life better by inviting him into the FIRST family.

We will see you in Toronto with all the pins and buttons that you need.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behave of the Willow Run High School Robotics Team (66) I am deeply sorry for your lose and convey our up most respect,and sympathy for the team and his family for going through such a ruff thing in such a tedious process as which we are all going through. I'm his memory when we get to Championships in Atlanta we will have one of all of our buttons.
Sincerely,
Travis G
& Team 66

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Team #383 is very sorry for this sad loss.

There's a Brazilian Machine pin on the way (thanks, Tom, for giving your address. We are not going to the same regional).

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

That is truly tragic. I wish all of you the best.

If we do pins and get to nationals I'll be sure to get you one.

On a side note: How did Nick communicate? Did he require some sort of computer aid? (I ask because I'm currently writing a a single button text interface, the code for which I plan to contribute to Stephen Hawking's open-source project, and I am interested in hearing how people actually use this kind of thing in the real world.)

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

My and team 219's condolences go out to your team and above all, the Gabel family. They will be in our prayers. Is a shame that anyone has to experience such a loss. At least he was exposed to FIRST and the wonderful doors it opens. Im glad that he got to take part. Any part of the team is as important as the next, im glad he got the chance to work with you guys.


Marcus & Team Impact

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf of team 1168, I'd just like to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to your team and the Gabel family. Words are really inadequate here. :(

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

sorry to hear the news. Team 233 sends your team the best of wishes and hope you have a great year. if my team can do anything to help just let me know and i will do everything i can to get you the help. See you at the championship.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

That is so sad, but it is good that FIRST had a chance to touch someone in such a special way. Team 1108 will be sure to stop by team 63's pit and put one of our pins. You will be in our thoughts team 63.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

My personal deepest sympathy to Nick's family, friends, and teammates. So many of the young minds with MD are brilliant and miraculous in such marvelous ways. My little angel, Gracie, at just 3 years old is brilliant in her own marvelous ways fighting SMA (a form of MD).

Once again, endless prayers and love to Nick's family, friends, and teammates.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

MD is such a horrible thing, yet miraculous things come from those who have MD....Take a look at Oprah Windfrey's "friend" the young boy who was a poet, and a philospher on life when he was only 12...Sadly, his body could not fight his illness anly longer and he passed away late in '04.

My thoughts and prayers are with your team, and his family, and may you keep strong through all of this...he is probably looking down right now at you as you progress on your robot...he probably would've loved to seen it before he passed away, but now he can...

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Team 1388 sends their condolences to Nicks family and to your team. Should we make it to Atlanta we will come to your pit.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Team 365 would also like to send our condolences to Nick's family and your team for your loss, 365 will have pins and anyother MOE stuff that you guys would like at Pittsburg and at Nats.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf of team1009, our condolence to Nick's family.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I'm 130% sure my team would love to sign Nick's memory book. I know I will. Team 007s thoughts and prayers go out to Nick's family, and your team as well. We're very sorry of your loss.
God bless to your team and Nick's family.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

My condolences to Nick's family; this story has truely touched my heart.

I'd love to let non-CD FIRSTers at Championships know to sign the book as well.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am very sorry to hear this. A death is hard but when its some one you grow close to its almost unbearable and the pain and loss is great. I will pray for nicks family and for team 0063. I am sorry for your loss.

From Team 234 Cyber Blue

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I´m so sorry to hear about the loss. Team 1382 sends their condelences and deepest sympathies to Nick, his family and to Team 63. I feel truly saddened, because fortunately I've never had any experiences of this sort, and I'm not sure how I would react to this kind of situation...
Best wishes...

Tribotec Team, Brazil

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

On behalf of the mentors and members of Team 204, we would like to send our condolences to Nick Family and Team 63.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

Condolences to team 63, any friends, and especially the family from all of us on Buzz. It must be unbareably hard to deal with.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

im really sorry for your loss. on behalf of BUZZ (175) if there is anything you need during nationals stop by our pit and weed be happy to help out.

Re: A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend
 

I am very sorry for your loss!!!! I will deffinately be stopping by your pit at the Championship to give you one of our teams pins!!! This is such a horrible thing to have happen to a team that is much like a family, and it is hard for any one!!! I feel very sorry for you team!!! Once again!!!