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.
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.
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
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
I will look for you in toronto and maybe in atlanta if I’m there. My regards.
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.
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…
oh behalf of 1403, and the rest of all the FIRST teams, I would like to express our deepest condolences.
-Conor Ryan
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.
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
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).
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.)
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
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. 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…