Wednesday, 2001-10-17, our dear friend and member Michael Graham (aka "Merlin") passed away.

We will remember him as the witty, generous and sharing soul he has been to us.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to get to know you Mike.

Our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences goes out to his wife Dorina.

Bo (Nikonian in the Black Forest/Germany)
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LAST EDITED ON Oct-19-01 AT 07:52 AM (GMT)

Oh NO! MERLIN. How did this happen? This is such a tragedy.
I have never met him but for the short time that i have known him through this site and private emails,he's a person with strong opinion usually expressed with humour and self mockery.His banters with auto everything fans has been amusing on many an occasions on this site.
Most generous with his knowledge and spirit.He sent me some camera repair material all the way to Australia without hesitation and on his own initiative and he offerred me a place to stay if i ever travel to Germany or his holiday home in Hungary.I'm so sad to see him depart in such unexpected manner as i will never get to meet him in person. Our self proclaimed elder Dinasour has left us.I will miss him tremendously

jasper
Melbourne

LAST EDITED ON Oct-21-01 AT 06:55 AM (GMT)

LAST EDITED ON Oct-19-01 AT 09:57 AM (GMT)


I hate it when things like this happen. Changed this post several times on my initial writing and have now come back to correct it again.

I am still very new here and of the established members of Nikonians Merlin and the 'Dinosaur' topics were always a joy to read. He no doubt contributed greatly here and it is a very sad passing of someone who clearly was a great man in the eyes of many.

I too am saddened by the news. Merlin was such a regular contributor to Nikonians and I recall just reading one of his posts about expired film earlier this week.


My deep sympathies to his wife and family.

jin



"Penguins Have More Sense" - A.L Kennedy

ArtemisWorks Photography

"Whatever debases the intelligence degrades the entire human being."
- Simone Weil

This is very, very sad news. Say a prayer for him and his family...

Brian

Brian

Phoenix Nikonian


Fine Art Wedding Photojournalism

LAST EDITED ON Oct-19-01 AT 08:25 PM (GMT)

Damn, that's hardly believable. He was the life of the party. Anytime there was blood-letting over which film or camera was better than another, he could make everyone laugh again. People like that don't come along very often.
---scott

--scott

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

Very sad news. We will surely miss him. Our deepest sympathies.
May he rest in peace.
Have a great time
JRP (Nikonian at the north-eastern Mexican desert) My profile, My Gallery
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I'm am deeply saddened by the news. As one of the Beta users, Mike had a profound effect on Nikonians. I know I always looked forward to reading his posts.

Again, our deepest sympathy and condolences to his wife and family.

Anthony

Anthony

The Moderator Page and My Gallery
The important things in life are simple; the simple things are hard.

This is a terrible day. Mike and I have shared a similar mind set, and besides the Nikonians site, we shared some great off-post e-mails.

I am very depressed.

All thoughts to his wife.

Al

I read this post with a feeling of shock.

Mike's posts to Nikonians showed a man who was helpful, informative, and who could also be wonderfully funny - I'll never forget those bugs in the viewfinder.

My deepest condolences to his wife and family.

Alan.

I don't know what to say. I feel like I've lost a friend and a mentor. My sympathies go out to his wife and family.

Merlin, keep your old Nikons ready to go! You'll have a great vantage point to photograph from, my friend!



Johnny

Johnny

---
"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -Confucius

A sad sad day for all that knew Mike aka Merlin.
His name on the screen always made me perk up and read his posts every time.
Fellow Nikonians are bowing our head in sympathy today.
Cherish each day as if it's our last.

Rest in peace Merlin.

John
Toronto, Canada
http://www.johnriddell.com

John
Toronto, Canada

www.sportsshooter.com/johnriddell
www.torontofirephotos.ca

May I join the group to offer sympathy and strength to the family of "Merlin" as his magic and presence made this list a comfortable and nurturing place to enjoy our passion.
Jeff Markus

JM
The Chicagoan

i sit here with tears in my eyes, not knowing what to say. i always looked forward to what he had to share. i remember we shared a fondness for F2s. i do believe he bought one finally; i'd like to believe he did. naming my F2 "Merlin" is the least i can do. on this site, you meet the most generous, knowledgeable, interesting people. & now, our self-named "dinosaur" is gone. oh, my! my sincere condolences to his family from our "Nikonians" family. we lost one of our own. judy, from sadly sunny northwest

How awful to lose such a one as Merlin. Does anyone know of a way we could, as a group, send our sympathy to his family? My thoughts go with his family.
Jeff Johnson

LAST EDITED ON Oct-20-01 AT 05:01 AM (GMT)

I too enjoyed Merlin's wit and wisdom. We only exchanged a few fleeting electrons here in cyberspace, but it's amazing how much a great personality can come across even these tenuous connections.

Mike's personal website is still up for now if you'd like to remember him. He put a lot of creative work into the site and it's really worth a visit:

http://www.geocities.com/heidoscop/

This drawing he put there really charmed me:



Merlin also was a pilot, and we traded a bit of "hanger talk" via email:



Vayos con Dios, Merlin!

If the family doesn't know how to save the website, I'd be happy to copy the contents to CD for them and make prints of the pages...

BJ

Zenfolio gallery

Wendy L. Folse
http://www.suite101.com/myhome.cfm/wlfphoto

I cannot even begin to tell you how much this news has saddened me. Actually I think I am still in shock and have not yet begun to accept that Mike is gone.

Mike and I worked together for four years. He was one of my mentors and a very dear friend. If you think he could be oppinionated on here, well he was pretty much the same in person. Mike had a lot of patientience and I owe him a great deal. He put up with my mistakes and took the time to explain even the most basic techniques in the beginning. He endured endless streams of "Why Can't I's....."

To me Mike was a mentor, a buddy, a friend, a co-worker, and at times like a brother. I don't know what else to say except that he will be sadly, sadly missed by all who knew him.

Mike loved Nikonians. He honestly did. He is the one that introduced me to the forum and he believed very strongly in Bo and JRP's mission to get this project off the ground. Nothing would thrill him more than to know how much he is missed by all his Nikonian friends.

On his behave let me say thanks for your comments and this fitting tribute to a dear friend.


Wendy

Wendy,

Thanks for sharing your uniquely personal viewpoint. Like you, and Johnny above, I'd like to reiterate the fact about Mike being more than just a Nikonian, he was one of the mentors here that the rest of us learned from. In my email correspondance with Mike he never failed to take the time to answer my questions. And he always displayed that Merlin humor.

The Lord's peace to his family and loved ones.

Jeff

LAST EDITED ON Oct-20-01 AT 08:27 PM (GMT)

Mike was and is a remarkable soul.

Many of you have sent me emails, asking me howcome did it turn out this way. I have told you, that I cannot go into the details of Mike's passing. Just rest assured that Dorina and the other family members will receive our condolences through me. I will also let Dorina know that you BJ are willing to backup the site and the photographs located there for her - A nice gesture indeed.

I feel honored having had the chance to meet him here as well as in person: I met him and Dorina here in southern Germany some months back. We spent some joyful hours at the former Canadian Royal Air Force hangar in Lörrach (located at the longest strip in Germany) and he took me for a ride over the Rhine with his Tomahawk.

I will get in touch with his dear wife Dorina again coming week. If you want me to relay something to the person he loved so dearly, just let me know. You can also send me an email at bo@stahlbrandt.com

He gave way more than what he ever received.

Bo (Nikonian in the Black Forest/Germany)
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I have not been here long but I already knew what a wonderful person and fountain of knowledge he was to everyone. I convey my deepest regrets to all family and freinds of him.
John R
Maple Ridge, BC

John R
Nikonian to the West Coast of Canada
Taking life 2-gigs at a time

Dearest Mike

We never could have dreamed for someone like you. Loving, caring, truthful, compassionate, a gentleman, a best friend.

God has bestowed upon our family Nikonians such an honour for we cannot begin to fathom an appreciation. The grief is felt by all, especially for fellow new Nikonians who still need guidance and advice from you. There is not even the slightest doubt that you were content in this untimely departure, and as time passes, your kindness will forever linger in our hearts and mind.

Mere words cannot express our gratitude for your warm presence, love and kindness. Nothing can alleviate the heartfelt sorrow of bereaving you, but we will take solace in the remembrance of the wonderful times we shared.

Dearest Mike

You will be deeply missed.

Your comrade
Ben
Sydney, Australia

This is quite a shock. Bo, please extend my sympathies to Dorina. Mike's vast knowledge about traditional Nikon cameras, not to mention his playful and upbeat posts will be sorely missed around here. I can't think of an F3 again without it reminding me of "Merlin".

Ed

My deepest condolence to merlin and his family.

My family and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Mike's family for their loss.

My heart and prayers go out to his family and friends, he will be deeply missed... I was so looking forward to the next Nikonian Photo Adventure, he seemed like a true Nikonian, mind, spirt and soul... rest in peace my friend, rest in peace!!!

http://128.241.188.182/images/photoduck.jpg

D

U

C

K

Bryan Duckett Charlotte, NC (USA)

Strange how the internet affords you the opportunity to get to know and like someone without actually ever meeting them. Mike was a self proclaimed dinosaur and proud of it. His wit, knowlege, and comments will be sadly missed by his Nikonian family.

My deepest sympathies to his wife, family, and friends.

With Sympathy,
Rick D

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Later,
Rick D. Õ¿Õ

I'm in shock. My deepest sympathies to the family of this fellow Nikonian.


Doug

--Take only photographs, leave nothing but footprints--

"Take only photographs, leave only footprints"

  

I met Dorina and Mike at the former Canadian Air Force Base in Lörrach, Germany July 27th. We had some beers and a good time.







After Mike had taken me on a short ride with the Tomahawk, they left back for home.






Mike and Dorina taking off into the late afternoon sunlight

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Bo,

Excellent pictures. Its nice to see him smiling. The funeral was today and they said it was a beautiful ceremony with Dorina making a very touching speech.

They said the entire town showed up and there were people everywhere.

I think the pictures add so much to this wonderful tribute.

Wendy L. Folse
http://www.suite101.com/myhome.cfm/wlfphoto

I was also shocked at this news! My heart & prayers go out to him and his loved ones. Think I'll make myself a "Merlin Stick", raise it to the heavens and thank him...what a man!

Chris (Lefty) Taylor

Cheers,
Chris

(Lefty)color="white"]
Taylor
You're
only as good as your last
shot!

Thanks Bo for posting those photos.


Johnny

Johnny

---
"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -Confucius

I read the sad news just today. It makes me so sad. I remember many times when threads getting too hot were easily cooled down by his funny and nice posts. We shared the love for "classic" Nikon equipment, but he had so much more experience than me.

Geo
http://www.infinito.it/utenti/maremmaphoto

The photo of him and Dorina walking away from us towards the plane is so painfully poignant for me at the moment.I'm getting too emotional looking at these photos.
Thanks Bo for conveying our collective condolence here to Dorina.

jasper

I feel that Mike is a big loss to the community of nikonians.
My deepest sympathy........

Cheers!!!!
Heldinson ^_^

http://asia.geocities.com/nlc513/index.htm

Bo, we are all grateful to you for leading us through our mourning period upon the tragic news of Mike's passing. I hope I'm correct in this assumption, but I think he would like it if we all had a good laugh.

Somehow the posts that Merlin started always seemed to lead to some of the most entertaining discussions on the Nikonians and typically brought out the best in all of us. We were all thankful for his advice as a mentor here, but equally important to this site was the humor he brought into our lives. I've taken the liberty of posting a few links to some of his best posts.

One of his more recent posts. On the danger of small, wireform vehicles:
http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID38/199.html#

On another occasion Mike came to us for help with some of his more covert activities:
http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID38/35.html

And the all time classic tale of his little friends:
http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID5/35.html#

To those of us who felt we somehow knew Mike, these are great memories of a departed friend. To the newer Nikonians out there, may this serve as an introduction to a man that always seemed eager to call everyone his friend. As BJ pointed out earlier, Merlin's web site is still up. It's worth a visit if you haven't already seen it.

http://www.geocities.com/heidoscop/

Let's all share a laugh with our friend.
Jeff