A Team Member Passed Away Last Weekend

[Rocketboy]

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.

[Petey]

Originally Posted by Tuba4

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

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

[Rocketboy]

Originally Posted by Petey

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

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...

[Conor Ryan]

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

[Derek Bessette]

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.

[team66t-money]

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

[Digo]

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).

[phrontist]

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.)

[M. Hicken]

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

[Goobergunch]

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.

[Carter]

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.

[xFlashbacksx]

I am terribly sorry to hear this. On behalf of team #168 [The Flashbacks] we give our most sincere apologies. We will of course pass by team 63's pit if we make it to nationalsp of course.

[KORN_lover_2007]

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.

[Ashley Weed]

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.

[Greg Perkins]

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...