Andrew blow, our friend.....

[Lilly]

Hello Friends,

For those that aren’t aware, Andrew had undergone surgery Sept. 02 to clear about ten branches that lead from his heart to his lungs of clots. It was a risky surgery with a 10% mortality rate.

This morning at 7 a.m. I received a telephone call from Cat Blow (his daughter) that Andrew passed away last night at 9 pm. UK time. He hadn't been doing well for a few days remaining in a critical state.

After a second round of going back into the operating room to stem the bleeding, the doctors decided to stop the blood thinners because Andrew still kept bleeding. The clots started to form and the physicians realized that they could do nothing to save him. They called the family in together and explained that there was no solution to the problem. Andrew had been placed in a semi-comatose state for the last two weeks after his surgery and was on life support the whole time. The ventilator was supposed to help heal his lungs while a machine filtered out the blood clots. Faced with a no win scenario, the family agreed to have the machines that kept Andrew breathing turned off.

At 9 pm (UK time) September 17, 2008, only sixty-five years-of-age, my dearest friend breathed his last.

Andrew was an avant guard man who realized the risk involved in having this surgery, but he wanted his body to be 100%. He did not want to settle for 50% lung capacity. He was so active that the possibility of having to slow down was unthinkable to him. He was only 65 years young who had survived cancer and a brain aneurism.

Over the last few hours as I have tried to absorb and deal with Andrew’s death, I have had to face what an important and central role he has played in my life. I suspect that many of you have the same feelings. He has been a close and dear friend of mine since 1999. He and his wife Sue visited me in Canada several times over the years.

As I think of who Andrew was, I think of the inexpressible joy in his caring for others. Many other greatnesses of spirit come to mind - moral courage, and that incredible insightful mind - but everything seemed to come together in caring, actively not just in sentiment, but in the incredible joy in being able to care and to give.

Andrew had the remarkable ability to play a central role here on the Russia and Ukraine boards and in many of our lives, to be our close and attentive friend, to give clear-headed advice and to care about us. He helped me and I suspect many of us conquer the past pains of our lives and move to a fuller human place.

Andrew Blow was a man who had a great heart. He loved a good meal and loved to go to the car races. He truly enjoyed every minute of life and was a selfless man. He lived his life as if a candle, burning at both ends.

Andrew was so loving, forever giving, shining, inspiring wildly full of humor. He was a musically talented man who was cheerful and easy to converse with. Oh, Andrew had his quirks, but he was understanding, admired and cherished.

Andrew was the very embodiment of a "good person", a "noble spirit" and “valiant Knight”. Devoutly religious, this beacon of light, this man among men, our English Knight, with so much to offer the world, laid down his sword and breathed his last. Henceforth when I hear a distant roll of thunder, it will be Andrew with his pedal to the metal in his Alfa zooming across the heavens.

He is with God now and we must rejoice that he is looking down upon us with that glowing smile of his. He will be missed.

My deepest sympathy goes out to his family. To say that Sue, Cat, Roger. Tam Finley and Luca are "in" my thoughts now would be an understatement. The loss of Andrew dominates my thoughts, occupying them to the exclusion of all else.


Andrew’s daughter Cat has given me permission to give out her email if anyone wants to contact her. It is as follows:

cat@catb1.f9.co.uk I EDITED THE CONTACT EMAIL AS THE LONG DISTANCE CONNECTION WAS NOT THE BEST. FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO EMAIL CAT WITH STORIES ABOUT ANDREW OR JUST TO SEND CONDOLENCES, IT IS AS FOLLOWS

cat@catb1.f9.co.uk

The funeral and cremation will be held in a few days.





LillyNomad

[Kathy]

I am in tears at the news. I had the good fortune to speak to Andrew, and he was a gentle soul who epitomized Christian values, and he has now returned home.

My heart goes out to Andrew's family and friends.

Thank you, Lilly, for your thoughtful tribute to Andrew.

Vichnaya pamyat, Andrew. May God rest your soul.

[bm-21Lemko]

God rest his soul.

[Lilly]

For the old timers here on the boards since 1999:

I telephoned Bill Ungaro in Texas to notify him that his old friendly nemesis had passed away. Bill was floored. He and Andrew had a love/hate relationship but was based upon the utmost mutual respect.

Due to the bad weather in Texas, Bill and Heidi have been for the last 6 days without electricity and have been running on generator power. He informed me that fuel is at a premium and quite scarce. All power has been out for almost a week. He spoke from his cell.

When Bill is up and running, I believe he will take time from his RV'ng and make an appearance.

Love to all
Lil

[Zbyszek]

Lilly, this news is really sad. Andrew has been with us for years and we remember his as a gentleman in the best sense of the word.
I remember you once informed us on his fragile health but he managed to recover from his previous crisis. This time, it turned out to be too difficult...
Andrew, you will be remembered in our community, along with Johnstruthers-Vanya who I do have in respectful memory.

Zbigniew

[stepanstas]

Rest in peace Andrew. Wish I got to know you better.

[StormAU]

I didn't know Andrew personally like many of you do but I learned alot from him reading his posts in various forums. I was thinking about him the other day and PMed him the day I come back after my absence asking him to keep in touch and letting him know he was in my thoughts and prayers for his operation. I feel deep sadness for his family and friends but I am happy Andrew has gone to a better place without pain or suffering.

Give me another 40 years Andrew and I'll meet you face to face.