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charley
Trad climber
nw pa.
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Aug 24, 2009 - 09:56pm PT
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My condolences to his family and friends. You have lost a fine man. I spent a month with my sister a cpl years ago when she was suffering with final stages of cancer. I am glad that his pain and suffering has ended. I hope he is in peace now. I will miss him.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Aug 24, 2009 - 10:00pm PT
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bvb - I think you hit on two things that are very valid. There are more of us and we're closer because of sites like supertopo.
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10b4me
Gym climber
Happy Boulders
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Aug 24, 2009 - 10:11pm PT
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sorry to hear this.
best wishes to his family, and friends
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The Mad GIO
Social climber
vestavia, Al
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Aug 25, 2009 - 12:55am PT
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Please excuse my interloping on your site but I am trying to connect Curt's many groups of friends as best I can. My name is Dale, I was a friend of Curt's in high school and have had the priveledge of spending much of the last few months with him. I was with him untill about 45 minutes before he died. He was stubbornly in controll till the end, refusing to die with us gathered around him despite the nurse saying he only had a couple of hours left that morning. His father was the only one in the room.
Brian: his friend Wayne spent days with Curt struggling to get his music recorded to Curt's exacting standards. I believe they recorded the final track 2 weeks ago. The CD is called "Over and Done" after one of the tracks. We hope to distribute it as widely as possible and his family has requested memorial donations go to his Hospice or to maintain the local Boulderfields that many of you know so well. We have sent this request with the announcement:
Friends of Moss Rock Preserve
attn:Curt's Ascent
c/o Kenneth Wills
2253 Rock Creek Trail
Hoover, Al 35226
I hope naming it "Curt's Ascent" isn't a butchery of "tribal" terminology but it sounded fitting to me. If you approve, I propose naming his favorite (face?) in the Boulderfield Curt's Ascent. As a map geek I think I can get it added to the digital park map the city distributes. Also I don't know if there are any climbing areas in the 40 acres the Preserve recently acquired but the Friends of the Preserve plans to work closely with SCC on any expenditures. Any SCC members reading this - keep us honest.
A non-chapel memorial will be held this saturday at 1:30 in the audio visual center of his parents church. Elizabeth, another old friend and brilliant film editor (google Obama McCain dance-off on Utube) is preparing a photo montage set to Curt's music for the event. I will try to make that available to anyone who requests it - somehow. The memorial location is:
Canterbury Center
Canterbury United Methodist Church
350 Overbrook Rd.
Mountain Brook, Al 35213
Could someone make sure this is posted on the SCC forum? Thanks. Again, no flowers. Lets build him a rock memorial. As tough as he was.
One of you came up with the best closing I can imagine.
Peace out, Curt. You'll be missed.
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Bill Mc Kirgan
Trad climber
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Aug 25, 2009 - 01:07am PT
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Farewell Curt. Sending out prayers of comfort and healing to your friends and family. Thankful for your time here on the TacoStand. RIP.
Bill Mc Kirgan
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Aug 25, 2009 - 01:12am PT
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Curt fought hard and suffered plenty these last few years. He will certainly be missed by our community and others that he visited, but I'm hoping he has found a meaningful peace.
Ed
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murcy
climber
San Fran Cisco
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Aug 25, 2009 - 01:25am PT
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Dirt, I blame you and your recordings for rekindling a passion for playing fingerstyle guitar. You had a great ear for tone and musicality, and a sappy celt's knack for heartstrings. I figured, if this so-and-so can sound so good, what's to stop me from trying? I had hoped to record something for you, to show you what a mess you'd wrought and to get some tips, but you seem to have slyly dodged that bullet.
We fill to you the parting glass; good night and joy be with you.
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Redwreck
Social climber
Echo Parque, Los Angeles, CA
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Aug 25, 2009 - 01:45am PT
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Dale/Mad GIO: thanks for the information about the memorial, and about Curt's music.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Aug 25, 2009 - 02:20am PT
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Peace.
JL
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Jennie
Trad climber
Elk Creek, Idaho
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Aug 25, 2009 - 07:03am PT
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Unforgiven
Mountain climber
Dirt
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Aug 25, 2009 - 07:31am PT
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RIP Curt
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WBraun
climber
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Aug 25, 2009 - 01:15pm PT
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Now that's a great photo of Curt.
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Dick_Lugar
Trad climber
Indiana (the other Mideast)
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Aug 25, 2009 - 03:08pm PT
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I was thinking the same thing Werner...have a good journey Curt, and thanks for the music.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Aug 25, 2009 - 04:24pm PT
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RIP you crusty old bastard.
That was a tough go to be sure.
There was a spell, while I was working and taking a long walk commute through Boulder to the office, where Curt and I would talk on the phone for a good half-hour at a pop.
On certain threads here on the Taco we tag teamed with giddy enthusiasm; and for a while we had a common check-in point about both getting well enough to do the Left Side of the Hourglass in Yosemite.
I figured the chances were slim to none for the unlikely partnership to see its plans to fruition; yet I must say I applaud his enthusiasm for the vision.
Thanks for the flower pictures, the sweet guitar playing, and hold that whisk broom tight to your side...
Hang 10 Brother!
Roy
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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Aug 25, 2009 - 04:27pm PT
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Werner is right, Jennie, that's a wonderful photo.
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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Aug 25, 2009 - 05:44pm PT
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+3...
Dirt was knott bad looking!
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 25, 2009 - 05:45pm PT
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Yes, a lovely, evocative photo.
Not sure about the tie, though. :-)
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GOclimb
Trad climber
Boston, MA
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Aug 25, 2009 - 06:51pm PT
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Curt and I mostly got into it back on rc.com, before he decided to hop over here. I always enjoyed the banter he and I had, and I think he did too. It got heated at times, but he liked to get scrappy - he was a fighter. While I didn't know him personally, I bet that fighting spirit really served him well as he fought the good fight against his cancer. Whenever he got really angry, I often suspected it was really just a reaction to his health problems taking a turn for the worse, and I didn't take it too personally.
I will always respect and admire the good fight he put up lo these many years. If I'm ever in his place, I hope to do half as well!
I also appreciate how, despite all that, he was so good at appreciating his blessings - particularly the climbs he got to do, and the people he did them with. His writings on the subject always helped me appreciate the same in my own life. That's damn cool.
Anyway, Glad he no longer has to suffer, and I wish peace to his friends and family.
GO
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TYeary
climber
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Aug 25, 2009 - 06:54pm PT
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Godspeed, Curt.
We talked many times about this. My inlaws family is riddled with this umentionable afliction. I have buried many over the years to Colon Cancer. And now I say goodby to you. Thanks for being my friend. Thanks for your courage and sensabilities. As I write this I have tears, perhaps it's dirt, in my eyes.
Peace to all.
Tony
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nutjob
climber
Berkeley, CA
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Aug 25, 2009 - 08:31pm PT
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I like how his crusty responses would still make me smile :)
Good luck in your next adventure, Curt.
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