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Showing Original Post only (View all)I'm afraid I have to be the bearer of some very bad news about The Magistrate [View all]
We have received word from the family of The Magistrate that he has had a sudden and devastating heart attack. I've been asked to post the following on behalf of his family:
The Magistrate has had his last heart attack.
This week, days after seeing his cardiologist (who gave him a clean bill of health), The Magistrate had a severe heart attack that doctors say would result in permanent brain damage. He is totally unresponsive and will not survive. Tomorrow doctors will remove him from the respirator. Our extended family will be there along with friends.
DUers have been so generous in the past with their tributes and best wishes that the family would love to read the replies at the funeral. Please post your condolences and memories of James, aka Papa, aka The Magistrate, a kind, caring, funny, very very smart and loyal man who was considered very special by everyone who knew him. We will miss him forever.
This week, days after seeing his cardiologist (who gave him a clean bill of health), The Magistrate had a severe heart attack that doctors say would result in permanent brain damage. He is totally unresponsive and will not survive. Tomorrow doctors will remove him from the respirator. Our extended family will be there along with friends.
DUers have been so generous in the past with their tributes and best wishes that the family would love to read the replies at the funeral. Please post your condolences and memories of James, aka Papa, aka The Magistrate, a kind, caring, funny, very very smart and loyal man who was considered very special by everyone who knew him. We will miss him forever.
The Magistrate has been a fixture on Democratic Underground for nearly 23 years, almost since the beginning. He joined in October of 2001, less than a year after the site was founded, and his sardonic wit and playful, unique posting style quickly made him a favorite of many DUers -- and occasionally drew the ire of others.
But as much as he sometimes raised the hackles of the folks with whom he loved to verbally joust -- and he wouldn't have had it any other way -- nobody could ever claim that The Magistrate did not care about this country and its future.
Sir, you were a great Democrat, and a great DUer, and you will be greatly missed.
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I'm afraid I have to be the bearer of some very bad news about The Magistrate [View all]
EarlG
Aug 31
OP
Thank you so much, my dear EarlG, for posting about The Magistrate. He was one of a kind.
CaliforniaPeggy
Aug 31
#9
I am so sorry for your devastating loss, and extend my sincere condolences to the family.
LiberalLoner
Aug 31
#14
A very dear friend, age 54, got a clean bill of health from her doctor on a Tuesday.
niyad
Aug 31
#190
that sucks. my uncle lost his wife at 60. but she snmoked like a chimney after their disabled daughter passed away.
pansypoo53219
Sep 1
#291
Oh my dear Magistrate, cross easily & peacefully. On many occasions you brought a level of much needed decorum to DU.
AnotherMother4Peace
Aug 31
#41
This is just crushing news. The Magistrate had just posted a short post on August 28--three days ago
hlthe2b
Aug 31
#42
Oh No. So sorry, enjoyed being addressed as Sir as he set me straight. I'm sure he was just
Silent Type
Aug 31
#44
I'm in shock. I've never come across anyone else like him on the internet, or in real life.
Dem2theMax
Aug 31
#55
DU is like a town with many neighborhoods and The Magistrate was a prominent citizen of this diverse town
Kaleva
Aug 31
#61
What a shame. The Magistrate always wrote with intelligence and had an unique way of wording his
sinkingfeeling
Aug 31
#69
Sir, this is awful news. My condolences to his family. What a terrible loss for our community.
Self Esteem
Aug 31
#72
Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this. I will sure miss him, and send his families my thoughts and prayers.
JohnSJ
Aug 31
#73
Dear The Magistrate. I will miss your topics, your courtesy, and knowledge. Rest in peace, Sir. You will be missed.
debm55
Aug 31
#76
I always liked reading the Magistrate's posts. He was clearly a good guy, and sharp. n/t
PatrickforB
Aug 31
#104
I amso so sorry to read of this sad news. In glory and honor rest The Magistrate.
irisblue
Aug 31
#123
Sir, you had a good style. One final salute to you and sympathies to your loved ones.
Lucky Luciano
Aug 31
#129
The Magistrate has always been one of my very favorite DUers, from the first time we met in 2002
Hekate
Aug 31
#131
There are friends you've never met in person. DUers fall into that category.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
Aug 31
#134
Oh, no. This gentle, well-spoken, intelligent, and unfailingly polite man will be deeply missed.
11 Bravo
Aug 31
#147
Oh. no... I'm so sorry to hear this. I loved his posts, and he'll be missed so much. Thank you for telling
highplainsdem
Aug 31
#150
I always read his posts, for both their wisdom as well as their presentation.
BoomaofBandM
Aug 31
#157
Thank you Sir Magistrate for your wisdom and wittily written posts. Cross softly.
c-rational
Aug 31
#162
I have interacted with the Magistrate many, many times over the years, and I have always found him to be a gallant and
WhiskeyGrinder
Aug 31
#176
To Stardust We Return, May your journey take you beyond the Great Hereafter
MagickMuffin
Aug 31
#182
A Death in Our Family- we all felt like we knew you. You made a difference. Thank you.
NBachers
Aug 31
#186
Goodbye friend. I can only hope you enjoyed our interactions as much I did.
Think. Again.
Aug 31
#188
A safe journey for you Sir. You were one of the best here and will be dearly missed.
tenderfoot
Aug 31
#189
Oh no! One of my first friends here! A wise and very well spoken man and an incredible long time DUer!
Rhiannon12866
Aug 31
#209
Very sad indeed. I was just reading posts from him in the last few days.....
Jack Valentino
Aug 31
#211
This is terrible news. When I would see a post from The Magistrate I knew I was in for something
Liberal In Texas
Aug 31
#219
Thank you EarlG for letting us know this sad news. DU is people, with good hearts...
FailureToCommunicate
Aug 31
#223
I am so, so sorry to hear this. He has always been very entertaining and insightful.
chowder66
Aug 31
#224
Intelligent, witty, hilarious snark when deserved, excellent judge of people and issues, had a unique style.
betsuni
Aug 31
#226
Yes - one of the few people of whom I could truly say, "There is no one else quite like him"
Sparkly
Sep 1
#286
Very sad to have a dear friend leave so many who deeply love and respected The Magistrate
Deuxcents
Aug 31
#249
He's been part of my DU experience for as long as I can remember, and I remember basically back to the beginning
fishwax
Aug 31
#260
Dear Sirs and Ma'dams at first disturbed, then moved by constant courteous clarity.
Festivito
Aug 31
#274
The Magistrate's posts were always (in my experience) measured, thoughtful, and served to elevate the community...
xocetaceans
Sep 1
#281
I always looked for his posts -- they were insightful, cutting, funny, or all at once.
Hermit-The-Prog
Sep 1
#285
I always loved his acerbic wit, and was grateful that I was never on the receiving end.
GoneOffShore
Sep 1
#294
Terrible sorry to hear this, and I would like to offer my deepest condolences.
GeoWilliam750
Sep 1
#295
To the family of The Magistrate, I extend my deepest condolences. You will be in my thoughts.
HeartsCanHope
Sep 1
#298
Sir, your humanity and kindness were evident in every single one of your posts. You touched all of us here on DU and
LaMouffette
Sep 1
#323
'I'm so, so sorry to read this. He was also so kind to me and, well, to everyone here on DU.
catbyte
Sep 1
#337
I've not been here long enough to know The Magistrate, but based upon the accolades here, he will be greatly missed.
surfered
Sep 1
#350
I can't believe I'm reading this. There are just some people you can't imagine not being here, and The Magistrate is...
Tarheel_Dem
Sep 1
#352
The Magistrate's last two comments were "Good for them" and "Well said, sir."
Pacifist Patriot
Sep 1
#365
The family said they would try and post some of the memoir once they can access it.
Lithos
Sep 1
#381
Always such a shock when one of the "Greats" passes. So sorry for your, and our, loss.
ratchiweenie
Sep 1
#367
Tears in my eyes, my favorite DU'er ever. A true patriot, he'll be sorely missed and DU is poorer without him.
emulatorloo
Sep 1
#370
I am so deeply sorry to see this. Peace and strength to his family and friends. Swift journey, brother.
mucholderthandirt
Sep 1
#377
So sorry to hear of the passing of The Magistrate. I always liked his posts and his responses.
akbacchus_BC
Sep 3
#391