The Energon Pub

News Credits: 4 · by **the purifyer** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:01 am

Holy **** dude... TFmaster geez. Can't believe it. What a loss. Such a great guy...through his works and his personality...dammit... My condolences to his family...
"Remember there's a thin line between being a Hero and being a memory."-Optimus Prime. I believe he's definitely a hero for many, including me.
RIP Bill, forever the TFmaster.

News Credits: 30 · by **Josh** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:13 am

Sometimes i wonder to myself how "real" the conversations or friendships i have with people online are. and granted they may not all be. But i'd have to say that without meeting Bill in person, he was one of my best friends whom i talked to daily, given the chance. We shared a lot together and the trust there is...well its rare.

heh, i'm fighting back tears as i type this..

Bill. even though i never had the privelage of meeting you face to face i have to say its been an honor being your friend.

I regret the fact that we wont get to meet up and hang out at Botcon this year like we had planned and talked about [just last week in fact]

You will be missed my friend.
I love you man

by **kary** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:49 am

That sucks. I just lost my Grandfather on my wife's side over the weekend. So I can totally relate. Sorry to hear about your loss. 31 is way too young for anyone to go.

by **DecepticonGAUGE** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:00 am

I never knew BILL but I do know of his great website he ran I enjoyed his great customs... He seamed like a really great guy, It is so sad somebody the same age as I am going to turn this year had to pass away leaving a wife and son of 8 years behind...

My sincere condolances to his family, I have already helped as much as I could in getting the word out on myspace, since there is a great deal of transfans there...

I also run a TRANSFORMERS GROUP called TRANSFORMERS R.I.

I posted the news in as many places as I could...

I hope his wife, son, family and friends get through this tragedy okay I know it will be tough but with all of the support they are recieving all will be well(I hope)

I shall keep them in my thoughts, and send everyone here that I can to help with donations...

GOD BLESS!!!!!!!

News Credits: 1 · by **Optimist_Prime** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:03 am

I too never got the chance to meet Bill, but I thought I would meet the Master at this year's BotCon. Thirty-one years old is just too young to die. My thoughts and prayres go out to his wife and his young son.

:cry:

News Credits: 3597 · by **Seibertron** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:36 am

Professor Smooth wrote:While I can not even imagine how terrible this is for his wife and son, I really feel sorry for those of you who were never able to meet him. While I know this is no consolation, Bill lived more in his 31 years than most people who survive into their 90's.

We sure did have a great time with him last year at Botcon 2006, didn't we? Man, what a crazy guy though. I'm so glad that I got to know him as well as I did last year.

News Credits: 23 · by **Prime Evil** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:00 pm

My thoughts go out to his wife and son. Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things in life to deal with.

We as a community have lost a great member and someone who has inspired many. I've always enjoyed his kitbashes and was constantly amazed at what he did. I had nothing but admiration for him and his ability.

I will keep you and yours in my thought TFmaster.

News Credits: 3597 · by **Seibertron** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:01 pm

Nico wrote:BTW...what will happen to his website? Will it close?

I'm not quite sure now is the time to talk about tfmaster.com yet. I'll let you guys know what I'm thinking so that we can discuss this in a week or so when it is more appropriate.

I took over the ownership of the website back in October to save the site from ending in March 2007 when the domain expired and because Bill didn't want to deal with hardships of running a website. Per Bill's wishes, Transtopia was supposed to be integrated into Seibertron.com. I owe it to Bill to complete the ideas that he and I had discussed. I think it's inappropriate to redirect the tfmaster.com domain to the new Transtopia as Bill and I had originally agreed upon. I think it would be really nice if tfmaster.com became a tribute website to Bill so that his wife and son will have somewhere to go no matter where they are in the world to remember Bill. I think that's the least that I can do for them but I want to discuss these ideas with the Transtopia staff and community before I do anything. Of course, if Bill's wife wanted the domain I would be happy to transfer it back to her but that's something for her and I to discuss in private and obviously a lot of this is up to her and what she wants.

As I said above, these are just ideas in my head that I haven't really had time to discuss or think properly about. I just want to do what's appropriate with this situation when the time is right.

News Credits: 4 · by **SnapTrap** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:19 pm

Wow this is pretty sad news...
My condolences to his wife and family. He was a truely amazing kitbasher and I am sure, person.
He will be missed.

by **Maximal Prime** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:39 pm

WOW... I am absolutely stunned. I've been away from kitbashing for awhile, but I've always checked Transtopia from time to time to see what's going on and what other people along with TFmaster were coming up with.

I remember back when I first started kitbashing a few years ago, his kitbashes were inspiration for me to attempt my own and I remember submiting my first few it was always great to receive feedback and thoughts, heck, even critisism from him. I looked forward to it. He could be a stubborn s.o.b. at times, but he stood by what he believed in and and loved his hobby and family with a mad passion. I respected him for it.

I don't know what his faith was, but my thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and son. I supppose I will remember him best for a post he once made about a time he was kitbashing and his son came up to him and had a Godzilla head on a Transformer or something and said, "Look Dad, I can kitbash too!" And he said he could cry he was so proud. He struck me as a father who loved his family very much.

Transformer fandom has truly lost a creative legend.

R.I.P. TFMASTER
See you up in the great Allspark in the sky buddy.

News Credits: 38 · by **Methusalen** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:39 pm

While I too have never met him, I've had Transtopia bookmarked for years now... His work was fascinating, far beyond anything I could have accomplished even with YEARS of experience. The website and all the user-contributed content was a site to behold (pardon the pun).

I don't have a lot of funds at the moment (ran into some hard times), but I've donated a little towards the memorial fund... I hope anyone who can donate does as well, every little bit adds up! I wish his wife and kid the best, and hope that they stay involved in the community...

It's a shame that we've lost one of the most creative kitbashers out there... I'm sure he'll be missed.

News Credits: 3597 · by **Seibertron** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:13 pm

I just talked to Lauren a few minutes ago. It sounds like they are planning on having Bill's funeral on Thursday or Friday. I will get you guys more information about the funeral details when she has finalized the plans. I'm not yet sure if there will be a wake or not.

by **Darth Screamer** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:50 pm

As a father this brings me to tears. This is a fear of mine every day.

As a trans fan, to hear about someone in the community who dies is hard to take.

As a customizer, though of other things, his talent an desire will be heartily missed.

To his family I pass on my prayers and thoughts, and hope the Bill is in heaven with a smile on his face at peace.

News Credits: 3 · by **Bartrim** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:15 pm

My condolences to his family.

Why do the good die young?

by **tile_mcgillus** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:14 pm

You know what would be great? A Seibertron special gallery of his best kitbashes. You have a knack with a camera and take the best shots around. I know I would love to see his amazing kitbashes in your quality photos. You could set it up to always be up and have a donation link to his family. I think his family and all the transfans would appreciate it. You could post them on his site.

I know tfmaster.com has alot of work. But I cant get enough. Some of his best work isnt even posted there yet. Just trying to think of ways of paying respect.

by **raptor205** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:15 pm

i really didnt know the guy that well, but it is always sad when someone dies, my heart and prayers go to his family and love ones

News Credits: 3597 · by **Seibertron** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:43 pm

tile_mcgillus wrote:You know what would be great? A Seibertron special gallery of his best kitbashes. You have a knack with a camera and take the best shots around. I know I would love to see his amazing kitbashes in your quality photos. You could set it up to always be up and have a donation link to his family. I think his family and all the transfans would appreciate it. You could post them on his site.

I know tfmaster.com has alot of work. But I cant get enough. Some of his best work isnt even posted there yet. Just trying to think of ways of paying respect.

That would certainly be something neat to do though I'm not sure if it's practical. We'll get those galleries featured here just yet per Bill's wishes. Promise guys!

by **Wolfhart** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:45 pm

Darth Screamer wrote:As a father this brings me to tears. This is a fear of mine every day.

As a trans fan, to hear about someone in the community who dies is hard to take.

As a customizer, though of other things, his talent an desire will be heartily missed.

I couldn't have put it any better myself.
With two children of my own, its very hard to hold back tears.

Thank you TFMaster for your contribution to the fandom.
My deepest sympathies to the family.

>Wolfhart<

by **metimoteo** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:18 pm

He looks like a guy who enjoyed life.

I think there's a lesson here for us all.

Till all are one!

News Credits: 4 · by **General Magnus** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:15 pm

.......

RIP

by **Kreepy boy** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:50 pm

My condolenses I'm sorry for there loss

News Credits: 3597 · by **Seibertron** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 1:14 pm

I received an email from Bill's wife Lauren that his funeral will be tomorrow on Thursday, March 15th, 2007. The Services will be held at Uht Funeral Home in Westland, Michigan. Visitation is from 11:00AM to 6:00PM Eastern. The service will be held at 6:00PM Eastern. Please pass this information along to the other Transformers websites or other people that knew Bill.

Uht Funeral Home
35400 Glenwood Rd
Westland, MI 48186
734-721-8555
http://www.uhtfuneralhome.com

Visitation: 11am to 6pm
Service: 6:00pm

Donations are still being accepted for Bill's wife and son. Please click here for information about how to donate funds.

If you wish to mail your donation instead, you may send your donation to the following address:

Lauren Koshorek
8485 Woodcrest Dr. Apt. #6
Westland, MI 48185

This is her current address which she has verified for me. I wouldn't normally post someone's address online but the address is already publicly available at Bill's Transtopia website at tfmaster.com.