Seibertron wrote:Hey guys,
I'm sure this is especially tough for those of you who are here. This website and this community really meant a lot to Bill. I feel guilty that I have not finished working on integrating Transtopia yet per Bill's request. He had a lot of really great ideas that he had shared with me and I will continue to work on them to make his ideas live on. I can't imagine how difficult this is for Lauren and their son Racheal. I'm so thankful that I had an opportunity to befriend Bill last year at Botcon. So many thoughts ...
Ryan
I try to keep up with TF news daily, and ever since I got into this subculture [kitbashing] of Transformers, I have really made a diligent effort to keep up with each of you guys and your work. "Good" or "bad" are subjective to me with this method; I just care about each of your works and to offer my help when I can.
This is how I initially got in contact with TFM. We started talking through IMs and e-mail. I was glad to ask for advice and he was glad to share. I tend to stay pretty busy, but if and when he had anything he needed done, I was more than glad to do it. I made the "Kitbash of the Year" sig for him and the site and I ran several errands on a graphic design level for him personally. I was always (and continue to be) glad to help.
As I said, I try to keep up with TF news daily and each of your work. This kind of news is the sort I don't want to learn. I was hoping to be able to meet him at a future Botcon (as we talked about this in our conversations). We had thrown around ideas of getting T-shirts made for a "Team Transtopia" type thing for Botcon . . . like Ryan said, TFM had a lot of great ideas for Transtopia. TFM was very glad to have befriended you, Ryan.
Many of us here at Transtopia were skeptical of the integration of this site to Seibertron, but TFM convinced me early that it would be a good thing. I still believe that. When TFM came to me and offered me administration privilages on the site, I just felt honored. I know my contribution to the actual site has been minimal (mostly due to time and other obligations), but my commitment to do what I can for this site will still stand. This site and community/subculture of Transformers
was very important to TFM. TFM's contribution to this can
not be understated. Not only was TFM committed to TF kitbashing and the subculture/community, but he was committed to the idea that TF kitbashing is ART. This idea in itself is one of the reasons I feel he and I had a respect for one another.
My tribute to TFM will come in each of my future customs beyond this point. His work continues to inspire me (as you all do). I'm very thankful and blessed to have been able to call myself his friend. Bill, you will be missed by us on many levels. My expression of that will be to continue my customs work, to grow and learn from it, and to continue to contribute to the TF kitbashing community.
Lauren and Racheal: I will be in prayer for each of you and also as you continue as a family. May God confort and hold you though this difficult time.