hazelchaz | And the days grow short... Michael Mason, RIP

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Michael Mason found dead in his apartment tonight, 04-Jan-2005. Now you know as much as I do.

EDIT: Memorial service details (Sunday, 23 January, 6pm) are in a follow-up comment.

Michael was in charge of the LASFS library for many years. Not a trained librarian, he did what he could, and he had a love for the LASFS Library nonetheless. LASFS used to purchase its NESFA Press books by way of Bruce Pelz, and when Bruce died Michael Mason joined NESFA expressly to continue that arrangement. Now who will buy our books?

Michael was a habitual Worldcon attendee, and his collection of Worldcon t-shirts was one he was proud of. He had enough to wear a clean Worldcon t-shirt every day. He chaired Loscon a year ago, and "helped" with the Loscon program most recently.

He was also one of the people I'd talked TAFF strategy with, and helped me convince myself I wanted to run.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

hazelchaz

Jennifer Waltzer writes:

I apologize for having to send this in an email, but the last few days have just been a bit too overwhelming to call everyone. For those of you who have not heard, my brother Michael died some time last week, most likely of a diabetic coma. He was 44. He was found in bed in his apartment by some of his friends on Monday night. We will not have the final coroner's report for a few weeks.

For those who would like to attend the funeral, it will be held on Sunday, January 9 at Mount Sinai Los Angeles Memorial Park, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, at 11 am. (near Griffith Park) Here is a link to directions if you need them: http://mt-sinai.com/basic_info.html.

Following the service and burial you are welcome to join us at the home of my parents, Jean and David Mason, 811 Wellesley Ave, Los Angeles 90049. We will provide maps with directions to those attending the funeral.

My parents and I want to thank everyone who has called with their condolences and offers of help and support. It is a great comfort to know that Michael was well loved by so many. We are still somewhat in a state of shock, and there is still so much to do to wind up the affairs of someone who was in the middle of his life.

Anyone who wishes to may share their memories and thoughts of Michael during the funeral service, or otherwise with us at another time. We welcome any knowledge of his life as he lived it. His co-workers were kind enough to give us a photo of him from their Halloween party last year.

Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone you feel would want to know. I know I am missing a lot of email addresses.

Thanks.

Jennifer

Chaz adds: you want photos? Have I got photos...

From:

esprix.livejournal.com

Chaz, I think I speak for everyone when I say thank you over and over again for your photos. I learned the hard way when my father passed away in 2003 that you can NEVER have enough photos of the ones you love, and when something so tragic and unexpected like this happens, we are grateful that we can rely on you to be able to provide us with some happy memories.

So thank you, thank you, thank you.