Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

The night before kickoff, our team's President Tony Shafer was about 1/4 mile from his home, when he lost control of his car, spun out, and rolled over into a ditch.

He was killed instantly.

I am the Vice President of our team and my dad is President of our Parent advisory committee. Tony's dad called my house at about 12:10 AM to inform us of the accident.

Right now, the entire team is pretty devastated and are taking a few days to recuperate. However come Wednesday, Robotics will truly begin.

The news article can be found here: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont..._1m7poway.html

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. We hate to see these losses.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of team 1629, I'd like to extend condolances to your entire team and his family. I'm very sorry such a horrible thing happened at such a usually happy time.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Team 375's prayers and condolences go out to the family and all of the team.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Thank you all for the kind words.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Teamm 1662 extends its condolences to your team.

Just 2 months ago our team lost he person who put up the money for us to have a team. He was an inspiration to the whole team.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

What a terrible tragedy to befall your team.
Team 191 sends our thoughts and prayers to your team.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

on behalf of 703, I extend my condolences. You will be in our prayers.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of team 304, I extend my condolences. The family and your team are in our prayers.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

on behalf of team 1189 I extend my condolences. His family and you team are in our prayers

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

What a terrible tragedy. Team 829 extends our condolences.

You all will be in our prayers.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of team 2021, I extend our condolences. We will keep him and his family in our prayers. We wish the team the best of luck in this years season.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

We are so sorry for your loss. You will find renewed purpose this year and there will be great days to come.

In that spirit, we wanted to share something with you that we were going to keep secret until the Championship. This timing seems better. A coach on our team, Bette Bridges, participates in geocasching. She found a "travel bug" in Mahspee, Ma. that asked to be returned to team 1622 at the Atlanta FIRST Championship. Your bug made it all the way to the East coast! We will take good care of your bug til then. See you in Atlanta......our best thoughts and wishes are with all members of your team.

Liz Calef, Team 88

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

That's awesome. Thank you so much!

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

wow im so sorry to hear this, im saying this on behafe of TR-X 145.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of 1620, we extend our condolences and send our prayers to his entire family and team

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

I am sorry for the loss to your team as well as the loss to the first community. There has been too many losses of team members this past year in the first community.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

My sincere condolences to the Shafer family, friends and the team. We lost our oldest son in late January of 2005 in the middle of the build season. Fortunately, the team was there to support us. They hung out at the house with my younger son (a team member) and we continued to build. It gave us something to hold on to. Reach out to his family, and honor him.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of Team 75, we extend our condolences and send our prayers to his entire family and team

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

1923 sends its thoughts & prayers to the team and the family.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of Team 195, we extend our thoughts and prayers to the Shafer family and the team that Shafer was so passionate about.

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The entire community suffers when there is a loss to any member of the community.

From Team 47 we send our thoughts and prayers.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Team 2175 extends our condolences to the robotics team and the family. While this is a sad event I am sure his wishes would be for your team to forge ahead and construct your best robot ever in his memory!

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

1712 extends our condolences to the family and your team.
It's a hard time to face this.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

As a fellow member of Team San Diego, I offer my condolences, and if your team needs help in ANY way, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

My condolences. I hope that your team can recover and go on to kick some butt this season.

Once again,
My condolences.

Todd Rosenblatt - Team 4

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Team 1983 wishes to also add that it's prayers and thoughts are with the family and your team at this time.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Thoughts and prayers from team 1108 are with the family and your team in your loss. It really lets you know what is important in our lives. Peace.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Thoughts and prayers from team 1108 are with the family and your team in your loss. It really lets you know what is important in our lives. Peace.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of Team 1322 please accept on prayers and condolences. We are all 1 big family and it is so hard to lose somebody. Please continue in his honor that would be what he would want. Be there for each other and his family.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of Team 1089, we offer our thoughts and prayers in this time of loss. We're so sorry for your loss.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Danny here from team 816. We are really sorry to hear about your loss. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

I'm sure I speak for all of 1676 when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with your team and the family. It's always a terrible thing to lose a FIRST member, but at such a critical time of the year, it's even worse.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of Team 4 Element, deepest and most sincere condolences.

good luck this season, and im sure your team will make him proud.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Team 476 from Ponca City, Oklahoma would like to send our thought, and solemn regards to your team, and to the students' family.

Tragedy is difficult to overcome. I'm sure that your team will find a very meaningful way to remember your beloved team member.

You and your team are in our thoughts through this build season.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Team Wildstang will keep you in their thoughts and prayers.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of team 599, we send our condolences to the family and are sorry for the team.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of Paly Robotics Team 8, we send out sincere condolences to each and every one of you guys. We wish the family, friends and team a quick recovery, and hope that you recover in time to build some amazing robots (and friendships) in his memory.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, my thoughts, as well as PantherTechs, and prayers go with your team and his family.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of team 1002, I would like to send my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and team. I know how hard it can be losing a friend, but remember his passion for robotics. And win it for him!

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of team 222, we send our thoughts and prayers to your team and his family. I'm sure you will make him proud this season!

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On behalf of team 1930, we are sorry for your loss. From the article, he sounded like a truly good person.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of our team, I want to express my sympathy for your loss. May Tony's family, friends, and team find comfort and strength as you mourn this tragedy.

Deepest sympathies,
Synergy Robotics, Team 975

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On behalf of GRR, our thoughts and prayers are with you!

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On behalf of Team 1743, we send our deepest regards to the members of team 1622. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. On my behalf, I wish the best of luck to you this FIRST season.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Team 384 "Sparky" extends its condolences to the family and friends of this fine young man.

I copied this from the newspaper article, for those who would like to make a contribution :

"The family requests that donations in Anthony's memory be made to the Robotics Club, Poway High School, 15500 Espola Road, Poway 92064."

Mine will be in the mail tonight.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Thank you all for your support and condolences. It really means a lot to myself, as well as his family and team mates.


This is another example of the robotics community, exemplifying "Gracious Professionalism"

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

One final Article: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007...4_251_8_07.txt

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I'm sorry, Matt, I am. Keep building, and build that thing for Tony!

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

I am very sorry to hear of your loss and my thoughts will be with your team and Tony's family.

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Team 1595 offers its condolences. Do it for Tony this year.

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Team 1126 SparX sends their sincere condolences to the family, friends, teammates, and community of this awesome young man! and would like to let u know that we are praying for everyone in that area, and all that knew him.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

From Team 240 and a fan of the greatest musical ever...

There's a grief that can't be spoken, there's a pain goes on and on. Empty chairs at empty tables…now my friends are dead and gone.

Here they talked of revolution, here it was they lit the flame. Here they sang about tomorrow, but tomorrow never came.

From the table in the corner, they could see a world reborn, and they rose with voices ringing, and I can hear them now! The very words that they had sung became their last Communion on the lowly barricade…at dawn…

Oh my friends, my friends forgive me, that I live and you are gone. There's a grief that can't be spoken…there's a pain goes on and on.

Phantom faces at the window, phantom shadows on the floor, empty chairs at empty tables, where my friends will meet no more.

Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me what your sacrifice was for! Empty chairs at empty tables, where my friends will sing no more...

We share your pain. Lest we forget.

Carpe horas.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

My heart goes out to the Shafter family and anyone who knew Tony. May peace be will all of you during this tragic loss.

Sincerely,
Andy Baker

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of Team #1610 in Franklin, VA, we express our sympathy to your team! We had a loss at our school earlier this year--though they were not on our team, they were a part of our school family. Your team will be in our thoughts through the season!

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

All of Team 116 sends their condolences to Tony's family, friends and teammates. We had a similar loss earlier this year, and understand the reactions that you must be having now. Know that you will all remain in our thoughts and prayers as the season progresses.

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I'm so sorry to hear that your team has faced such a terrible thing. 1147 sends its prayers. and let this tragidy be a reason to work a hundred times harder.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

The thoughts and prayers of the entire "TnT" 280 team are with the family and the team, this loss is felt by the entire community. May his spirit live on in your team.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

I'm going to go ahead and let this thread move its way out so its space can be used for season activity, but I want to go ahead and thank you all on the behalf of Myself, My Team, and Tony's Family for all the kind things said here. You all are wonderful examples of the FIRST community coming together as a whole and helping each other out.

Tony meant a lot to myself personally, as well as my team and of course his parents. Speaking for myself, the compassion of others makes the grieving process much easier.

I wish you all the best of luck this season, as well safety and health.

Regards,

Matt Howard
Acting President - Team 1622

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

This is a sad thing to happen to any team. On behalf of team 118 I would like to extend condolances to your entire team and his family.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

dude that sucks Team 1372 - Mira Mesa - Lambda Cubed has got your back. i want to say more but cant think of anything to write, i mean you guys are part of team san diego and that could of been any of us this is just deep thats all. its just now you guys have another inspiration to build. in memory of your friend good luck poway

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of Team 1251, we share you loss and send our thoughts and prayers.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

Matt:
I'm very sorry. We grow to cherish the students on the teams and it comes as a blow to all of us when something like this happens. Peace be with you and with the team. My thoughts are with the family and the community.

Jane

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

On behalf of team 1124, we extend our condolences. Best of luck in the upcoming competitions.

Re: Terrible loss to the Robotics community.
 

MORT Team 11 extends our condolences