Rob Appell-In Memoriam with Much Love

sad

OMG, I had not heard, tears are streaming down my face!!!! I will miss him soooo much!!!!! I wondered why he had not posted for so long!!!!!

Dear Rob, First I have to tell you just how much I love you and how much I will miss you. I know you had to go because you were suffering so much and I hope that perhaps now you have found peace. You were always here for me, always encouraging me to live now, to see the good things in life as I struggled with my own issues. You inspired me, you made me laugh and cry and even get angry sometimes. I miss you now and the tears in my eyes blur the page as I write to you. I have made this space here on gather just for you, so I and all the other gatherers who knew you, or even those who didn't, can celebrate YOU. You were such a wonderful man. I know you helped me and I am sure you helped many others. You were a gifted writer even though you kept saying you didn't think so. We all knew better. 52, huh? I hadn't known you were born in 1957, you kept your birthday so private, but we celebrated it whenever you hinted that it was coming. I wish I had had the chance to meet you in person, meet Shimmer, laugh and giggle with you, have you show me all the places around Rochester that you spent time in. I know you struggled a lot, you got more than your share of hardships, but you always pushed through and found your way to feel pretty okay. I was sorry to hear from Scott's article (Yes, your best friend Scott, who you adored!) that you had been so depressed and so unable to respond to any help before you left us. I wish I could have been there to help. I think all of us here at Gather wish that. But you were Rob and you did everything with determination. Perhaps this was your way of saying, "Enough!" and then you snuck out before any of us had a chance to say good bye, or so you thought. Ha! Now we are gathered here to do just that. I know that a bit of your spirit will live with in all our hearts. You will always be remembered here at Gather. With so much love. Yes, yes, I know, you had those people you called your enemies, but you will still be remembered here with so much love because enemies or not, you have countless friends here, who grieve today and will grieve for a long time to come. I love you Rob, I have since the first email you wrote me in which you, in your ever endearing way, said, "Get up and get your butt (I believe you used a more choice epithet) out in that world and live". I know your family wasn't, wouldn't, and couldn't be there for you, but we, your gather family, we may not have been able to give you all that you needed to keep going, but we loved you deeply and we grieve your death with tremendous sadness. I hope you have finally found some peace and maybe some other "cosmic beings" to hang out with. Lots of love and huge hugs to you Rob. Your friend now and always, Audrey

Your wrods have started the tears flowing again. HEhis words helped me through my pains of this year more then I can ever say.

So very sad.

rob would probably want us to all be here - so I'm here - love you Rob A.~

Yeah, and he'd be chiding us for not bringing cookies to the party.

Sigh.....I'll miss him.......

You're right about the cookies, C.A.
I'm going to miss him, too.

Thank you for your thoughts, but you're right Rob would thank you more for the cookies.

Hi Scott, if I knew how I would fill this page with as many virtual cookies possible!
I hope you have good support here and beyond Gather.

I hope Rob has finally found the peace that was ever elusive.

Love you always Rob!

He will be missed.

he will be missed and i hope he is in peace

He is missed! It's sad that he's gone.

I am so sorry for your loss. Gather will truly miss Rob.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Oh god ... I havent logged on in a few days so this is the first I have heard of this. What in the world happened??

Hi Katie. Yes, it's what you think. Rob died on Tuesday of this week. He had a heart attack. Many posts have been published about him with more information, particularly those by his best friend, Scott L. If you type Rob Appell into the search function, you will find them. I am struggling for words today, so I will just leave it at that. Be well.

Wow, I had no idea. Perhaps it was medications he was taking for his leg?

wow I haven't been on gather in a long time and I find that the people I hope to enjoy their company, aren't able to share. Be at peace, Rob.

Oh Rob,

I just found out. I will miss you but I know that you are in Heaven. Whole, pain free, happy and surrounded by cookies! Be at peace and know that I considered you a good friend.