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Fletcher
Trad climber
The great state of advaita
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:12pm PT
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Well said, Russ. Thank you.
RIP Blitzo. Really looking forward to the web site. An excellent and worthy legacy.
Peace,
Eric
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WyoRockMan
climber
Flank of the Big Horns
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:13pm PT
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There is always sadness at the passing of a loved one, much in fact. However, the amount of love shown on this thread gives one hope that all is not lost and the sadness will be replaced with gratitude for being a part of his life.
Condolences to those close to Blitzo. His art will resound with those of us who didn't personally know him for a long time to come.
Jason
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chez
Social climber
chicago ill
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:15pm PT
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RIP Billy!
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:18pm PT
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Tan Slacks
climber
Joshua Tree
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:26pm PT
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Our dear friend passed away last night. He lived a life so full of adventure and thoughtfulness. For the last few days he lay in a bed surrounded by his friends. We drank, told tales and remembered our friend. It was amazing to see all the people brought together to join in this celebration of Walter. I got to thinking about this quote I had seen a long time ago and I thought how fitting it was to our old friend.
He was the candle that lit so many others and yet he was always there to light another, never diminished. He always brought laughter with all that light. What could be better?
"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."
Buddha
Rest in peace dear Blitzo.
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ElCapPirate
Big Wall climber
Reno, Nevada
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:27pm PT
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Thanks for the update Russ.
I'm glad to know he isn't suffering anymore but very sad that he is gone.
Looking forward to his site, as well.
We will all miss you, Blitzo. I will drink some beer tonight in your honor and celebrate your life and what you have left behind for us. Thank you!
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:28pm PT
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I have spent alot of time w/Blitzo over the last 15 years or so. Everytime I saw him I was happy to see him, and every time we went climbing we had fun. Everytime;...that was the sort of dude Blitzo was.
Blitzo didn't have any kids;.....and for this reason I think he felt a strong and close connection to my three children;....he always asked about them and seemed facinated by them from the day they were born. Blitzo was one of the poorest ($ wise) people I knew;..he always struggled with "getting by".....but he always did. I know he had some $ at one time, and I understand he "blew" it on concerts, CDs, climbing trips, and top end beer;....but that was Blitzo;....Personally, I applaude that sort of life style;...and in the end, it looks like it was the best thing to do;...that is, live life to the fullest, do your own thing, and don't look back or have any regrets about it.
Blitzo was a talented, strong, and experienced climber. By the time I started to climb with him alot, he was already 45 years old, and even though he was still strong and talented, he seemed like he didn't want to "pull too hard" and give it the maximum effort, even though we all knew he could climb 5.11s if he so desired.
He always, always liked to explore, and relished the new route, the new place, and the new experience.
The last few years, Blitzo seemed to enjoy soloing, climbing near the road, and hanging with his homies, but didn't seem too interested in hiking "more than an hour"....which is what we often did.
Blitzo housesit for us a number of times;......when Blitzo was here,....you knew he wouldn't screw things up;...he was smart and reliable, trustworthy, and honest.
At one time we were thinking about moving, and Blitzo did a ton of work over here at our house;.....always cheerful and happy to have work and never complained about the crappy jobs I gave him or the serf wages I paid him.
He was an amazing photographer, as most of the climbing community is aware of. Funny thing is, he oftentimes took those amazing photos with a cheap point-and-shoot. He wasn't the "in-your-face" type of photograper either....no posing, no fanfare, no staging, no rehearsing;....most of the the time you never knew he was even taking pics.....he would whip out his camera, take the pic without saying anything, and then put it away and get back to his beer.
Blitzo had run ins with the law, and did spend time in the slammer;...I recieved long, detailed letters from times when he was incarcerated;.....they were very insiteful and good reads;...mostly about interpersonal relationships with friends he made "in the can".
His car was always breaking down, which seemed to be a constant issuse with him this last decade.....I think he finally gave up on it and started to walk or bike everywhere, which seemed to suit him quite well.
After his first round w/cancer, he was down in Palm Springs and needed a ride home;....my wife and kids went to pick him up. I was afraid he would look sick, frail, and sad;......but just the opposite;...Andrea said he was upbeat as ever, fit as can be, well fed and beefed up, and perky and "Blitzo-like" as ever.
Blitzo loved his beer;....it wasn't just beer to him, but something much much more. It was his communion, his passion, and a big part of his life.
He never really was a drunk, for he was always really too poor to buy enough beer to become one. He did tell me once that if there was beer to be had, he would stay put until it was all gone;...no matter how much beer there was or how long it took to drink it.
I've only seen him drunk a few times, and the real drunks around here will drink any slag beer;...Blitzo liked the good stuff.
Blitzo and I shared many friends, and it seemed everyone liked Billy. Yeah, he did do alot of hallucigens "back in the day", and he did the commune thing, and some would say he had loose "morals"....but he never stuck any of that in anyones face. He had friends that were old, young, super-strick Christians, military, rich, poor, educated and ignorant;.....he somehow touched all these people in a way that allowed them to get very close to him, no matter who they were or where they came from;...it was sort of Blitzo's "magic"......
He loved music, and was big fan of Zappa, live music, and at one time in his life, was a fanatical concert attendee.
For someone not big on school and academia, he was smart and knew more than most of my educated friends (including myself)....he knew about the world, about people, about life.....
When I was putting together my joshuatreeclimb.com website, Blitzo gave me many many many very awesome photos;....and he charged me $0.00 for them....(not that I could have paid him much anyways....);....he always shared what he had and what he could offer;...and did it cheerfully and gladly..
It's been tough these last few weeks;.....Blitzo was very very very sick and not gonna get better. Blitzo was a care-giver for his father for over a year, and knew the procedure all too well..........
Russ and Susan have been seriously awesome friends to Blitzo during this last year;...Locker too;.as well as many many other that have helped him out before his sickness and during.....but it's not just because it was his "hour of need".........before he was sick, if you needed to find Blitzo;..he was at Russ's house or out climbing with Locker and his other dear friends, or doing work at someone's house for sub-minimum wages.
I'm a big Blitzo fan,....always have been, and always will be. He had a great sense of humor, a grand, wonderful, and facinating outlook on life, ...and smile and a great story, a wild adventure, and a kooky adventure always unfolding.........
Sorry if this is a bit long;.....Blitzo was a big part in my life and the life of my family.
He will be missed, and we will often raise our glass to Blitzo in appreciation and very wonderful memories of many many days spent together at the crags. I am glad he can finally rest peacefully after a long tough battle with cancer. Sleep well, my friend.........thank you, Blitzo...
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snakefoot
climber
cali
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:35pm PT
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never hung with blitzo, but have followed this thread continuously and appreciated many of his pics. We have truly lost a good man. RIP. Russ, check your mail in few days as i would like to add to this foundation for photography..
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:44pm PT
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Those tributes are really wonderful to read.
He wanted a foundation type thing to be funded by future print sales from that site to help out kids that had an interest in photography
That is an awesome legacy.
Condolences for the sadness so many close to Blitzo are feeling at his transition. The one thing I have found hardest to deal with in regards to my feelings of loss with Teddy is that inability to know - to really KNOW - that though the body couldn't contain the life energy any more, that energy can not be dissipated. Why CAN'T we KNOW!!? Even those who have their faith, can't really and truly KNOW. Just have to believe. But belief is a powerful tool for living.
I imagine that many here are going to have some moments as they go about their days, climbing, enjoying the types of nature that Blitzo found so compelling in his photos, and feeling his presence. May those times be a comfort.
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:54pm PT
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Todd, your heartfelt tribute brought a tear to my eye, and I never had the pleasure of meeting the guy.
You all seem like a great tribe. People should be so lucky as to have friends like you folks.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Aug 17, 2013 - 01:57pm PT
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I will remember with much fondness those few times we had been together climbing with the Wyde Crew down at JT.
More importantly, I look forward to getting together with all of Blitzo's friends, an amazing group of caring people, who I am honored to know.
“It's better to have something to remember than anything to regret.”
― Frank Zappa, The Real Frank Zappa Book
I've no regrets… and thanks to you all, Billy too, I have many memories.
Can't wait for a JT Seminar on Bluotonium this autumn.
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10b4me
Ice climber
Wishes-He-Was-In-Arizona
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Aug 17, 2013 - 02:19pm PT
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sorry that he is gone, but at least he is not suffering.
that is a very nice obituary, Todd.
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ATS
climber
Mountain Project
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Aug 17, 2013 - 02:23pm PT
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Met him for the first time at Gordo-Fest last year. Glad I did. Life is short....and he lived it every day! Thanks Susan and company for being by his side.
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Brian in SLC
Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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Aug 17, 2013 - 02:25pm PT
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Whew...what a process you guys...great tributes.
I don't think I've been to Joshua Tree in the last few years without seeing Bill or getting a friendly bit of advice on where to get a fine malt beverage. Was always great to run into him. We traded a few emails over the years...heavy sigh...
RIP. Quite the journey.
Russ, over at your place for turkey a few years back...Bill says, "Russ is my best friend" with a tear in his eye. Its strange the things that stick with someone but I remember that moment with clarity.
We should all be so fortunate as Bill...helluva run...
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Finessa
Social climber
Yosemite
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Aug 17, 2013 - 02:26pm PT
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The letter I wrote to Blitzo last week to say goodbye. This wasn't an easy letter to write and although it is quite personal and heart-wrenching, I thought I should share it on here as an ode to my dear friend, especially since so many people on this forum love Blitzo so much.
Dear Unckie,
Lately I've been thinking a lot about this extended family that I was fortunate enough to be born into via Yosemite and the climbing community. Now that I am older and have seen the world I realize just how special this community truly is; how many resilient, brilliant and completely exceptional characters I have been exposed to. You are the archetype of this world for me and so many others Billy. Watching the way this community has rallied to support you, I can only hope that I am loved and revered as much as you are later in my life. I have so much gratitude for all of our times together...from you coming into my life as a baby, to being your roommate for a summer, to climbing in Tuolumne, riding roller coasters in Vegas, road tripping to Colorado and all the laughter in between. Having you as my best friend as a young adult taught me to be genuine despite other people's fears, to live the life I want despite what is "expected", to notice the subtle beauty in the everyday, and most of all, to have a sense of humor. Thank you for teaching me so much early on in my life. You have left a lasting imprint on my heart and my mind dear friend. I will love you always, Chelsea AKA Biter
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Aerili
climber
SLC, Utah
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Aug 17, 2013 - 02:28pm PT
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Sitting here on a rest day in the French Alps, one of the most beautiful places ever....does it make me feel better to have sad news in a surreal place? I have no idea...there isn't a barometer for things like that.
I've been re-reading many of the emails Blitzo and I exchanged in the last year and a half...so many emails, so many things which make me smile. Blitzo was a great writer, actually; he would often email me stories of his day and they were whimsical, amusing, sometimes disjointed, sometimes insightful, often sounding stream of consciousness. They are little gems in a cyber mine, existing somehow yet without any physical reality-- only an emotional reality which I will never erase.
Not long after we met, he wrote me an email and he said: "I've been really good lately, only getting smashed once a week. I was such a mess when I met you. For some reason meeting you has made me think a lot about how I'm just destroying myself. You have inspired me to change for the better!"
I felt this couldn't possibly be true...I wrote back and said "Did I really inspire you to change for the better? Maybe you were just ready all along."
Then he wrote: "Yes, you did inspire me to start getting my sh#t together. Thanks! I normally don't hang with good influences. You never said a word, but you definitely were the catalyst."
I had forgotten all about these words he wrote to me til I re-read things now....how meaningful and precious they become. I still think he gave me far too much credit for his own choices, and I also think he had lots of other, more important, good influences in his life.
He also wrote not long after we met: "I did the math and came to the conclusion that we are of the same Chinese sign of the snake. That explains a lot, I guess, if you're into hocus pocus. I'm actually not, but I find this stuff interesting."
Then this February, he sent me a one line message one day: "It's the Year of the Snake!"
And I replied: "Dude, I KNOW!!!!!!! It's gonna be OUR YEAR!!!!!!!"
Yes, Blitzo, it's our year.....how did this happen in our year??? All your written words to me sound so alive and vibrant. It feels like I could just write or text you and you would get right back to me like always.
Today is a rest day for me. I'm going to go to a bar on the river here in Cham and I'll have a drink for you, my friend. You told me once I "made you free" ... I never made you free .... I just got to fly along side for a while. But you got the wing upgrade now, bud. I'll miss you so much.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Aug 17, 2013 - 02:30pm PT
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Rip Blitzo! Thank you to all those that were by his side when he passed. The support he received was simply amazing and inspiring.
Todd: awesome words. I especially liked this:
He wasn't the "in-your-face" type of photograper either....no posing, no fanfare, no staging, no rehearsing;....most of the the time you never knew he was even taking pics.....he would whip out his camera, take the pic without saying anything, and then put it away and get back to his beer.
This exactly how i try and shoot. Capture the real moment rather then some staged pose.
Blitzo's spirt will always be with his friends. That much is certain!
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ninjakait
Trad climber
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Aug 17, 2013 - 02:33pm PT
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I personally only met Blitzo a handful of times, the last being a climb with the "old guys" (Locker, Blitzo, Dwain, Cosmo and my Dad), almost too far back to recall; but what I remember about him most were the stories that my father shared. He had known Bill for some time and needless to say there was never a dull moment when they were together. I'm sure my Woody is waiting for him with a rope and harness. Climb on!
Thoughts and prayers to all of Bill's family and friends.
Tia
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Chinchen
climber
Way out there....
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Aug 17, 2013 - 02:35pm PT
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RIP bro.
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