ASL Bell Tolls

[Xavier 658]

First time for me happened at a huge breakfast I had ordered while attending ASLOK, in 2007. Sam was already there too and we spent more than an hour talking ASL and such while I tried to eat the monstrosity I had ordered, not knowing the meaning of "huge" on your side of the pond. From that very day, we have been emailing and chatting, while preparing a sequel to LFT Deluxe pack. Sam was a great guy, a very nice player and he will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace Sam.

 

[Actionjick]

First time for me happened at a huge breakfast I had ordered while attending ASLOK, in 2007. Sam was already there too and we spent more than an hour talking ASL and such while I tried to eat the monstrosity I had ordered, not knowing the meaning of "huge" on your side of the pond. From that very day, we have been emailing and chatting, while preparing a sequel to LFT Deluxe pack. Sam was a great guy, a very nice player and he will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace Sam.

Glad to hear that you got to spend some time with Sam over a huge breakfast.

 

[Vic Provost]

RIP indeed to a ASL Comrade and long time Dispatches subscriber. Sam had nice stuff to say whenever we communicated and was quite positive about the hobby in general. He will be very much missed, Vic.

 

[Actionjick]

First time for me happened at a huge breakfast I had ordered while attending ASLOK, in 2007. Sam was already there too and we spent more than an hour talking ASL and such while I tried to eat the monstrosity I had ordered, not knowing the meaning of "huge" on your side of the pond. From that very day, we have been emailing and chatting, while preparing a sequel to LFT Deluxe pack. Sam was a great guy, a very nice player and he will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace Sam.

Do you remember what the huge breakfast consisted of? Very curious.

 

[Jude]

Do you remember what the huge breakfast consisted of? Very curious.

Odd question to ask in a thread about people who passed away...

 

[Old Noob]

Sam was a good trooper, he played with humor even at his own expense.
When we played at Enfilade, it was without bitterness even if I won (which I did not do often).
He was a very proud grandfather, trying to get his grandson and friends interested in ASL.
Play on Sam, play on.

 

[andrea pagni]

I never played with him, but I met him at ASLOK. I sensed a extremely gentle person. RIP

 

[Actionjick]

Odd question to ask in a thread about people who passed away...

Yes I had considered that but felt that since it was the memory that Xavier shared with us about Sam it wasn't really inappropriate. No disrespect was meant. I have been known to ask the occasional odd question.

 

[Xavier 658]

Do you remember what the huge breakfast consisted of? Very curious.

Well, I can't remember EXACTLY what it was, but I had spent part of the day before flying from France and arrived late at night after a hectic transfer at Dulles. With jet lag, I could only rest a little bit and was starving at about 3 am or so... it was in 2007, and in front of the hotel there was kinda restaurant where I went, maybe around 6 am. It was still dark and pretty cold. I think i had to look quite haggard and hungry, because the waitress came straight to me with a cup of coffee, asking for what kind of breakfast would I like (well, this is the way most of the waitresses welcome their guests over there, but I was pleased... and even more starving than at 3 am).

Silly me... I asked for the biggest one they had. A huge one. My own words. She warned me the huge one was just that... HUGE. Compared to several guys already having their meal, I have to recognize that I nearly looked skinny. But I thought to myself, alea jacta est! She went to the kitchen and while some other ASLers came in, Sam Belcher first, she came up with 6 pancakes full of butter, cereals, cream everywhere, half a dozen of cakes, fruit, a jar of orange juice, several types of bread, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages, beans, cheese, yogurts... the list is just too long for me to remember exactly what I managed to see that very morning, not to even mention what I had to leave on the table. I think I only managed to eat one third, maybe only one fourth of all that food. She kept going to the kitchen, and returning with more food... The 6 pancakes are stuck in my mind, definitely.

And all that while talking to Sam, and later on with Alan (Salzman IIRW) and some other great ASL players I had the chance to meet that very morning for my first ASLOK. Sorry if I cannot be more detailed, but it was nearly 14 years ago and the lesson learned is that I will NEVER ask for any HUGE meal in the United States of A

This was how I had the chance to meet Sam for the first time; a very nice, cool guy and true Gentleman.

X

 

[Actionjick]

Well, I can't remember EXACTLY what it was, but I had spent part of the day before flying from France and arrived late at night after a hectic transfer at Dulles. With jet lag, I could only rest a little bit and was starving at about 3 am or so... it was in 2007, and in front of the hotel there was kinda restaurant where I went, maybe around 6 am. It was still dark and pretty cold. I think i had to look quite haggard and hungry, because the waitress came straight to me with a cup of coffee, asking for what kind of breakfast would I like (well, this is the way most of the waitresses welcome their guests over there, but I was pleased... and even more starving than at 3 am).

Silly me... I asked for the biggest one they had. A huge one. My own words. She warned me the huge one was just that... HUGE. Compared to several guys already having their meal, I have to recognize that I nearly looked skinny. But I thought to myself, alea jacta est! She went to the kitchen and while some other ASLers came in, Sam Belcher first, she came up with 6 pancakes full of butter, cereals, cream everywhere, half a dozen of cakes, fruit, a jar of orange juice, several types of bread, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages, beans, cheese, yogurts... the list is just too long for me to remember exactly what I managed to see that very morning, not to even mention what I had to leave on the table. I think I only managed to eat one third, maybe only one fourth of all that food. She kept going to the kitchen, and returning with more food... The 6 pancakes are stuck in my mind, definitely.

And all that while talking to Sam, and later on with Alan (Salzman IIRW) and some other great ASL players I had the chance to meet that very morning for my first ASLOK. Sorry if I cannot be more detailed, but it was nearly 14 years ago and the lesson learned is that I will NEVER ask for any HUGE meal in the United States of A

This was how I had the chance to meet Sam for the first time; a very nice, cool guy and true Gentleman.

X

Thanks so much for a great story!!! That was excellent and hilarious!!

It's bittersweet that it has to be told in such a sad moment but wonderful that you have something to remember Sam by that will likely stick with you for a long time.

Yes huge can really mean huge over here. You don't want to disappoint the customer with something merely large.

Thanks again for a truly great story. Captain Bacchus and I are very grateful.

Good luck, good health, good journeys and Good Eats to you always!

Good Eats is one of my favorite cooking shows. I couldn't resist, just the jick in me.

 

[Actionjick]

Well, I can't remember EXACTLY what it was, but I had spent part of the day before flying from France and arrived late at night after a hectic transfer at Dulles. With jet lag, I could only rest a little bit and was starving at about 3 am or so... it was in 2007, and in front of the hotel there was kinda restaurant where I went, maybe around 6 am. It was still dark and pretty cold. I think i had to look quite haggard and hungry, because the waitress came straight to me with a cup of coffee, asking for what kind of breakfast would I like (well, this is the way most of the waitresses welcome their guests over there, but I was pleased... and even more starving than at 3 am).

Silly me... I asked for the biggest one they had. A huge one. My own words. She warned me the huge one was just that... HUGE. Compared to several guys already having their meal, I have to recognize that I nearly looked skinny. But I thought to myself, alea jacta est! She went to the kitchen and while some other ASLers came in, Sam Belcher first, she came up with 6 pancakes full of butter, cereals, cream everywhere, half a dozen of cakes, fruit, a jar of orange juice, several types of bread, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages, beans, cheese, yogurts... the list is just too long for me to remember exactly what I managed to see that very morning, not to even mention what I had to leave on the table. I think I only managed to eat one third, maybe only one fourth of all that food. She kept going to the kitchen, and returning with more food... The 6 pancakes are stuck in my mind, definitely.

And all that while talking to Sam, and later on with Alan (Salzman IIRW) and some other great ASL players I had the chance to meet that very morning for my first ASLOK. Sorry if I cannot be more detailed, but it was nearly 14 years ago and the lesson learned is that I will NEVER ask for any HUGE meal in the United States of A

This was how I had the chance to meet Sam for the first time; a very nice, cool guy and true Gentleman.

X

Would you say that breakfast contributed to a bourrelet if you have one?

Sorry! Captain Bacchus and I can't help ourselves as that was the ASL Word of the Day!!

I hope I haven't offended anyone with my levity at such a time but I'm fairly sure Sam understands.

 

[Robin Reeve]

When evoking our missed, it is a well-known fact that people speak of light subjects too (anecdotes, even jokes).
It is a way to ward off the pain and also the fear of death.
I am sure that Sam you be gently smiling about the evocation of that breakfast.

 

[Manilianus]

Very nice person as I remember him, and very helpful for ASL newbies and vets alike - no superiority, no impatience, just charity and (mentioned by many people) sense of humour. I feel a regret that I didn't talk with him more.

Guess that Sam's death is an "opportunity" (for lack of better words) to say that I am really happy that I've met here all of you, guys.

 

[Thunderchief]

Well, I can't remember EXACTLY what it was, but I had spent part of the day before flying from France and arrived late at night after a hectic transfer at Dulles. With jet lag, I could only rest a little bit and was starving at about 3 am or so... it was in 2007, and in front of the hotel there was kinda restaurant where I went, maybe around 6 am. It was still dark and pretty cold. I think i had to look quite haggard and hungry, because the waitress came straight to me with a cup of coffee, asking for what kind of breakfast would I like (well, this is the way most of the waitresses welcome their guests over there, but I was pleased... and even more starving than at 3 am).

Silly me... I asked for the biggest one they had. A huge one. My own words. She warned me the huge one was just that... HUGE. Compared to several guys already having their meal, I have to recognize that I nearly looked skinny. But I thought to myself, alea jacta est! She went to the kitchen and while some other ASLers came in, Sam Belcher first, she came up with 6 pancakes full of butter, cereals, cream everywhere, half a dozen of cakes, fruit, a jar of orange juice, several types of bread, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages, beans, cheese, yogurts... the list is just too long for me to remember exactly what I managed to see that very morning, not to even mention what I had to leave on the table. I think I only managed to eat one third, maybe only one fourth of all that food. She kept going to the kitchen, and returning with more food... The 6 pancakes are stuck in my mind, definitely.

And all that while talking to Sam, and later on with Alan (Salzman IIRW) and some other great ASL players I had the chance to meet that very morning for my first ASLOK. Sorry if I cannot be more detailed, but it was nearly 14 years ago and the lesson learned is that I will NEVER ask for any HUGE meal in the United States of A

This was how I had the chance to meet Sam for the first time; a very nice, cool guy and true Gentleman.

X

This was the year I met Sam and Xavier. Xavier was selling LFT Magazine #10 (Spanish Blue Division) and he didn't just want to sell the product, he wanted to talk to everyone. A great introduction to LFT for me. That same ASLOK I played Sam in one of the scenarios from that pack.

The breakfast may have been at Friendly's, which was across the road from the ASLOK hotel at Middleburg Heights. I went there a few times over the years and never left hungry. Good times.

 

[Vic Provost]

I have found the vast majority of ASL players to be kind souls and a pleasure to be with.

I never met Sam in person but my communications with him over the years were always friendly.

I'm sure playing him was also a pleasure, win or lose as he made it a nice and memorable occasion, Vic.

 

[Old Noob]

One thing I remember about Sam, was that he always tried to have prizes for everybody at Enfilade.
If you had cold dice, he'd give you a 'hot pink' die. He give someone who had hot dice, a frost white die.
He also encouraged people to bring in stuff for prize purposes, like extra ASL mags or scenario packs.
I always tried to get in a scenario with him at Enfilade, I will miss him very much.

 

[Actionjick]

One thing I remember about Sam, was that he always tried to have prizes for everybody at Enfilade.
If you had cold dice, he'd give you a 'hot pink' die. He give someone who had hot dice, a frost white die.
He also encouraged people to bring in stuff for prize purposes, like extra ASL mags or scenario packs.
I always tried to get in a scenario with him at Enfilade, I will miss him very much.

Those who strive to advance the hobby and comradeship among the players are a blessing. His seat at the Great Gaming Table in the Sky is assured and well deserved.

 

[BURNTOUTWRECK]

Bryce Buckley died suddenly in August, 2019. He was a great ASL player and we played many games: FtF & on VASL. Bryce, I sincerely hope you were met by 72 black eyed virgins. Good on ya mate. Miss you, Dowd

 

[von Marwitz]

Alas Ed Caswell has passed away last October per this post.




I did not know Ed, but some of you will. It is always sad to hear that one of us has left us.
My condolences go out to his family and friends.

Ruhe in Frieden, Ed.


von Marwitz

 

[davegin]

Jim McLeod of the Winnipeg and CASLO scene.

View attachment 15945

One of my proudest accomplishments was finishing second to Jim at Caslo one year. Great player and a greater loss.