Community Run Forums for Starship SF
http://sf.theboard.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl
Passenger Information >> Medical One - Storage Bay >> RIP Radioactive Rich Macchi - brother marathoid
http://sf.theboard.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1399645327

Message started by Frank on May 9th, 2014 at 9:22am

Title: RIP Radioactive Rich Macchi - brother marathoid
Post by Frank on May 9th, 2014 at 9:22am
"We few..... we happy few" Rich Macchi one of the original Crusaders of Damnation Alley during the Coolidge years has passed away.  Rich began attending the 'thon during our first go-round at the Somerville theater.  I got to know him during the Coolidge years when our groups would fight to be first on line in order to have the front row and the bragging rights.  It was a good-natured competition that quickly grew into a friendship because we started to arrive so early that the groups had 10-12 hours of waiting until the doors opened. We quickly learned to survive overnight on the cold streets of Brookline.  We slept in tents, we had food, we had portable propane heaters, we knew when the first coffee shop would open for java and a bathroom break.  Mostly, we the fellowship of like-minded people who enjoyed the ritual of meeting in the freezing cold once a year.  We only met once a year, but the bond that was forged in Damnation Alley is a strong one.  Rich was in the center of all of these proceedings.  He always brought something of value to the group.  We would share all that had happened in the year between events.  We would discuss movies, books and all manner of nonsense.  What I remember the most is the laughter and the good feelings generated within this group.  Again, Rich was at the center of this. He was the real deal.  A warm and decent man with a great sense of humor and arms stretched out not to take but rather to give.  He did not attend the last 'thon and he was sorely missed.  His absence will be felt at all future 'thons.  He will aways be one of the front row crew. I wish my friend were still here.  I know that I am going to miss him terribly.  Go easy into the either, brother            

Title: Re: RIP Radioactive Rich Macchi - brother marathoid
Post by L.A. Connection on May 10th, 2014 at 10:30am

Frank wrote on May 9th, 2014 at 9:22am:
"We few..... we happy few" Rich Macchi one of the original Crusaders of Damnation Alley during the Coolidge years has passed away.  Rich began attending the 'thon during our first go-round at the Somerville theater.  I got to know him during the Coolidge years when our groups would fight to be first on line in order to have the front row and the bragging rights.  It was a good-natured competition that quickly grew into a friendship because we started to arrive so early that the groups had 10-12 hours of waiting until the doors opened. We quickly learned to survive overnight on the cold streets of Brookline.  We slept in tents, we had food, we had portable propane heaters, we knew when the first coffee shop would open for java and a bathroom break.  Mostly, we the fellowship of like-minded people who enjoyed the ritual of meeting in the freezing cold once a year.  We only met once a year, but the bond that was forged in Damnation Alley is a strong one.  Rich was in the center of all of these proceedings.  He always brought something of value to the group.  We would share all that had happened in the year between events.  We would discuss movies, books and all manner of nonsense.  What I remember the most is the laughter and the good feelings generated within this group.  Again, Rich was at the center of this. He was the real deal.  A warm and decent man with a great sense of humor and arms stretched out not to take but rather to give.  He did not attend the last 'thon and he was sorely missed.  His absence will be felt at all future 'thons.  He will aways be one of the front row crew. I wish my friend were still here.  I know that I am going to miss him terribly.  Go easy into the either, brother            


Very nice tribute, Frank.

R.I.P. to our fellow traveller in the history of the Marathon.

Title: Re: RIP Radioactive Rich Macchi - brother marathoid
Post by Caleb451 on May 13th, 2014 at 9:16am
RIP Rich.

Title: Re: RIP Radioactive Rich Macchi - brother marathoid
Post by da_Bunnyman on May 13th, 2014 at 1:33pm
R.I.P. Radioactive Rich
The first-in-liners are some of the thon's true believers.


Title: Re: RIP Radioactive Rich Macchi - brother marathoid
Post by Caleb451 on May 16th, 2014 at 1:51am
Does anyone have a photo of Rich they can post?
I'm sure I would recognize him and would like to be able to remember him properly.

Title: Re: RIP Radioactive Rich Macchi - brother marathoid
Post by da_Bunnyman on May 16th, 2014 at 5:45pm

Caleb451 wrote on May 16th, 2014 at 1:51am:
Does anyone have a photo of Rich they can post?
I'm sure I would recognize him and would like to be able to remember him properly.



All I can offer are these videos from YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x935Lr5HO0&list=PL475E533E97DA40AE&index=37

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwINdEsGyGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLEUyE58_Cw

If he's there maybe can get a decent screengrab.

Title: Re: RIP Radioactive Rich Macchi - brother marathoid
Post by Metaluna on May 20th, 2014 at 5:06pm
Do we still have a link to the SF photo page? He showed up pretty clearly in one of the crowd shots.

Here is a link to his memorial page on facebook. There are lots of pictures there and a post about marathon memories of Rich.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/richmacchi/

When the last of my old group of marathon-goers had given up I joined up with Rich and his group. He is the one who gave me the stuffed Marvin the Martian that I bring with me. Lately we mostly only had time waiting in line to chat. I thought we would have time for a lot more of those waits.

He was my friend for more than twenty years. He was my roommate for two years. Some of that even overlapped. ;D

He will be missed.

Community Run Forums for Starship SF » Powered by YaBB 2.5 AE!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2010. All Rights Reserved.