Ron / McNassty

Friends ....

I cannot believe that I will be the bearer of yet more sad news, and yet I have no choice but to tell you.

Our friend, McNassty, passed away last night, from an apparent heart attack. It is, in fact, a confirmed death, as I spoke to his boss this morning. It's a crying shame that we must hear and make reports like this as being "confirmed", but such is the case.

I just spoke to McNassty at his office yesterday, after I returned from Danboy's funeral. He was a good and important friend to me. In fact, McNassty was the very first person I spoke to online when I was brand new. While I sat trying to figure out what to do with which keys, he gently guided me through everything I had an immediate need of and slowly but most certainly, became a very dear friend to me.

He told me recently that there were people online who did not even know his given name. It was Ron. His name was Ron Fleming. He was 50 years old. His wife's name is Kathy and his 15-year-old daughter's name is Erika, of whom I'm sure you've all heard him speak. The sun rose and set in Erika, as far as Ron was concerned, as I'm sure you all know. I received a Chirstmas card from him this year. He had the most beautiful hand-writing I have ever seen. He included a picture of Erika. Please know that child of his is an angel and he was right to speak of her in such glowing terms. Ron volunteered with the parents who supported the marching band activities that Erika is involved in. He was trying to make Boston feel like home, yet Michigan will always be home to him in his heart.

I do not know any of the information regarding his funeral arrangements yet, as this sad passing just happened last night. I will be in touch with his boss again tomorrow and when I learn anything at all, I will be sure to pass it along to all of you.

There is something more I would like to take the opportunity to say ... Because we are all still reeling from Dan's death, and now this terrible news of McNassty leaving this world too, I would ask that you all take a moment to remember why it is we are all here. We are ALL here to enjoy ourselves and one another. We are here to be friends and to support one another .... We come together under the blanket name of Baby Boomers .... let's use that blanket to warm ourselves, one another, and as a safety net for one another when we need it.

Dunabug1, Sunset164, and LadyAnnne, I will ask the three of you to please forward this, as you all have the most comprehensive mailing lists available. News of McNassty needs to be shared. He was a good man and he will be missed.

I'm sorry to have been the bearer of such sad news. Frankly, speaking for me, I don't think I can take any more ... Please be safe. Blond Dee

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We feel so sad when those we love,

Are called to live in "The Home Above"-
But they have but gone to prepare the way
And we'll meet them again some happy day-
For God has told us that nothing can sever
A life He created to live on forever-
So let God's promise soften our sorrow
For a brighter tomorrow. 

Love, Peace & Light, ~~Sunny~

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Boomers,

At the stroke of midnight, we begin a new year. A year of resolutions, new goals, renewed friendships and personal reflection. Normally, I would share a toast with my family, my friends, my acquaintenances, my boomer buddies......

Not this time. Tonight I toast to Dan and Ron. At the stroke of midnight, I'm gonna take a moment to remember two people who had an impact on so many lives. We may not have been especially close, but they each touched us in their own way. Whether it was a cheerful hello from Dan or playful banter from Ron, they touched us.

They gave us a piece of their lives............shared their moments with us....the boomers. We laughed.....we cried......we celebrated friendship......we found humor in life......we sympathized and empathized with their pains and strife. I am honored to have the opportunity be in their company. Our community of boomers has always nurtured fraternity, good will, compassion and harmony. Ron and Dan were excellent "boomer" ambassadors, representing us well.

Ron, Dan..........you left us too soon and too sudden. But you know, I'm not going to sit here and mourn. I'm going to celebrate your lives. Your spirits will live on thru our memories. You will always be present among us. Thanks, guys, for sharing with us, for listening, for building our hopes, for picking us up when we're down. I only hope we may represent the "boomers" as admirably as both of you did.

Take your places proudly in the Kingdom of Heaven. You've earned that right. Go well, my friends. We will continue to carry the banner and make you as proud of us as we are of you.

Don

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I TOO HAVE LOST A DEAR FRIEND. I USED TO GET UP AT 4 AM JUST TO CHAT WITH MCNASSTY. I WAS THE ONE WHO FUSSED AT HIM TO STAY LONG ENUFF IN THE ROOM TO RECIEVE HIS GOODBYES.

WE LAUGHED . PLAYED & TEASED EACH OTHER AND I LOVED HIM FOR THE HAPPINESS HE GAVE ME.I WILL MISS HIM TERRIBLY,AND I AM SO SORRY FOR HIS FAMILY,AS THEY WILL MISS HIM MORE THAN WE EVER COULD.

I CELEBRATE YOUR LIFE MY SWEET FRIEND MCNASSTY

BOOMER LOVE TO YOU, SUE (SPrin)

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I am in total shock to learn about the death of McNassty, didn't know him as long as most of you but I know that when he was in the room he was always the first one to welcome everyone and he was always so funny and had lots to say. He adored his daughterand he also enjoyed life! He was the first to help me on the computer when I didn't quite know what to do,please send my deepest sympathies to the family and tell them they are in my thoughts and prayers. PHVena

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Words can't express the way I feel right now. To hear of the loss of "one of our own" is always difficult. He will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hawk

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Early morning won't be the same without Mcnassty.I have never met "Mr Yumm" face to face but I feel I have lost my best friend. I sat here with tears in my eyes wondering why He had to go so young? I Wish the best for his family in this hard time,and the means and ways for us to remember him. I just was cutting up with him sunday morning about the ice cube thing. this is very hard.........

Stephen (SJohn)

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I sit here with tears in my eyes, knowing that someone who touched me in a very special way has left us. Ron was warm, gentle, and funny. He always remembered what was going on in your lives, so that he could be there if we needed him. This was not the best year for me, and I am ashamed to say that I wasted a lot of it on resentment, and bitterness. Ron managed to make me smile when the chips were down. As I came into the room, instead of a hug, or a hello he always typed in the phrase 1-900 because I told him I needed to make extra money to support myself after the divorce. I always replied 1-900-domenow. He said he would be my first customer LOL.... and he also suggested that if I took a shower when my house was being shown, it might get shown more often. His sense of humor helped me through all of that, and the move to start my new life. He was always supportive, and interested in what we, his boomer family, were doing. I missed the opportunity to meet him a couple of weeks ago, and brushed that off with the thought that there would be other times. Now there will not be. For that I am very sad. He was very special, and loved the Boomers... he said we helped make the adjustment to Massachusettes easier for him, by letting him now that he had friends he could turn to. We now have one less friend to turn to ourselves.... Ron, please know that you will be missed, very much, and that I for one, am grateful for the time I had to know you.........

Love you all, Maureen (Little Hands)

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Boomer friends,

As most of you know, I don't usually respond to a lot of these mass mailings, but this one hit me so hard...........

You "early morning" Boomers know me best, and that's where I met my dear friend McNassty. We kidded about Michigan football, White Castle burgers, limbo dances in Bermuda, Stroh's beer, all the things he held so dear to him in Michigan. He truly loved Michigan and loved all his boomer buddies and was one of the nicest, sweetest dearest friends I have ever had on AOL in my 2 years here. He truly loved and adored that daughter of his, you could just feel the pride.

I dont know how we go on from here. Mornings will never be the same. I hope the love and support we feel for each other will carry us through this tragedy as well. I love you all.

Barb (BCS)

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TO ALL MY FRIENDS...~~

I FEEL SO SADDENED BY A COUPLE OF DEAR FRIENDS AND THERE SUDDEN AND AWFULLY UNTIMELY YOUNG LIVES~~~

PASSING FROM THIS LIFE AND ON TO A NEW ONE~~FOR I WILL MISS THEM~

BUT THIS IS HOW I PERCEIVE LIFE. IT GOES ON...NEVERENDING..~ YOU ONLY IMPROVE~~NO MATTER THE AGE AND ABILITIES.COLOR OR RICHES..~~WE ARE ALL A MASTER PLAN..~~UNIQUE~

"ONE"~~NEVER KNOWS WHEN THERE "TIME' HAS COME TO RE-DESIGN THERE LIFE FOR ETERNITY........BUT FOR WHATEVER THE PLAN ...I AM CERTAIN..ITS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS....I CANNOT QUESTION THE MASTERS PLAN~~BUT I ACCEPT WHAT IS...WITHOUT EVER A QUESTION OF (WHY)....AT LEAST~~~ ..I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO ACCEPT "LIFE" THE WAY ITS HANDED TO ME...~~ AND IN MY HEART...I KNOW ITS NOT THE END...BUT TRULY A NEW BEGINNING...~~AND SO IT GOES~~~FOREVER~~

THIS IS ONLY A PERSONAL THOUGHT~~LOVE FLUFFY

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We must be strong, m'lady....death is a part of living...we all must face it.
I see death as not an ending.....but a transition to a higher plane...the light
to me the world is a dark place...crowded with people.....and death is door
when we open this there is light and in this light the answer to every question
you`ve had is there....just a simple step...from darkness to light.

God Bless, Gaggled

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Death is a part of life, the best part of those who have gone on ahead of us hopefully have taught us to seek the best in everyone and to make the fullest of what time each of us has here. Passing from this world is not a sad event but a reminder of a greater adventure yet to come...Each day is like a little life in its own right too and that must lived to the absolute highest we can expect from ourselves... In Divine Joy... Arlos (Solsback)

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I think that in the long run sharing tragedy's as well as triumphs make us stronger as a group......HipEChik

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I BELIEVE HE IS ALWAYS ON WITH US AND WATCHING OVER US..BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE OF SEEING HIM THERE...OR GIVE A "HOWDY" TO HIM WHEN HE DID COME INTO THE ROOM....HE WILL ALWAYS BE IN "THE ROOM"!!!

HIS ONLINE PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED, BUT HIS LEGEND WILL GO ON, AND HIS IMPACT AND HUMOUR WILL LIVE ON WITHIN MY MEMORY....AS I CRIED MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SAID TO HELP ME THAT HE IS AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN AND NOW CAN WATCH OVER US ALL....WISDOM IN CHILDREN, LONLINESS IN LOSS.  Opal

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My Prayers are with his beloved wife and the apple of his eye, his "best thing", his girl.......and with us, may we learn from Ron's kind soul and gentleness, his willingness to share, and his always present gentle laugh and smile........May we each love a child today, tomorrow and every day....they are our future, thus our future is up to us...........neat huh, McNassty thought so, and so do I. Each of us is unique, however as boomers, we have a thread that no other generation has had, it has held us together 20 - 30 years later, not by school, city or even State, but by our high ideals and non traditionalist methods, Let us remember not just Ron, but each other, and each others each other and so on....... My love to each of you, and all of those yet to find us, ...

Brat/ Ernee..........deb *:)

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Rest thy weary head...and dream of the forbidden, but...thy dream will be most delicious...and satisfying.  Now rest...sleep...dream...smile...at the forthcoming sweetness ...and let thy spirits soar...how precious the thought.

I smile with thee, a soft kiss to end this night, and foretell of pleasures yet discovered...when we will talk in the orchard and pick the forbidden fruit...and the wonder about the amazement of life and love. Until then, fair maiden, until then, sweetness and thy name are but of the same.  Truth, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder....                                  McNassty 1997

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