I’ve been asked by ToolDoc’s wife, Lynn, to let the Knots community know that he passed away on Tuesday. He was such a joy to share time with here on the forum, and I know I will miss him tremendously. His humor, good cheer and willingness to help others was unfailing. Please do some good work in the shop with him in mind this upcoming season.
Sadly,
Jamie
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Replies
My condolences to all who loved him.
He was only 47 y/o, do you know what happened?
I'm shocked, FG. Totally, absolutely, thoroughly shocked. I felt as if I knew him, and I meant to get around to teasing him about being a "non-member of the knots bandsaw guru club" if I ever found myself replying to one of his posts..... A sad day,...
"His humor, good cheer and willingness to help others was unfailing. " I'll miss his good nature, kindness, and knowledge.
I shall shed a tear for him.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
Fg,
Please let his wife know how much we'll all miss him...such a shocker.
I'm sure many of us will say a prayer ....
hopefully, heaven has some Delta and its not all Powermatic..
F G, I didn't know Tooldoc very well, but reading his posts revealed to me he was only too glad to help any of us with a problem (Especially 'Newbies' and young aspiring wood workers.)
We will all miss him, but we'll long remember our departed TOOLDOC. Ed.
Edited 11/13/2003 6:24:27 PM ET by steinmetz
There's another cyber group to which I belong, sort of like this (under a magazine banner), and we've twice, thru the kindness of the magazine, taken up a collection to make a donation to a cause deemed suitable by the party's family.
What say you?
Give my condolences to his family and I will hold them up in my prayers
Darkworksite4:
Estamos ganando detrás el estado de Calif. Derrotando a un #### a la vez. DESEA VIVO LA REVOLUCIÓN
His presence was appreciated...his absence will be mourned.
My condolences to his family and friends.
tony b.
He will certainly be missed. Our prayers and thoughts will go out to his family.
Miles
Ed,Send me the details and I would pleased to contribute to any cause selected by ToolDoc and his family. ED. aka Stein.
Edited 11/13/2003 10:06:14 PM ET by steinmetz
although an "outsider" of sorts i also would be willing to contribute .his name was always stopped and read here. patient, kind and informative. bless him and his family......b"expectations are premeditated resentments"
Hey, Bear, Thanks for letting all of us know of your concern . I'm sure if you post Ed Harrow, He'll send you details.Stein.
please let me know if there will any contributions , i'd be glad to help....bear"expectations are premeditated resentments"
Hey, I'm just a hanger on here. In my other cyber world an inquiry was made to the party in the magazine responsible for the web site, to see if there was a way that they could/would facilitate a transfer of funds. The magazine's staff created a "product" that folks could "order" via credit card or check, and a cut-off date. The funds collected thusly were then passed to the charity suggested by the family, and a listing of all those who "purchased" the "product", was sent to the family.
I don't really know how things work here, don't spend as much time here, and so I don't think that I'm the party to push this along.
Hello All. I am going to write Lynn via email and ask if there's a charity that she thinks Doc would've wanted us to support in his name. I'll get back to you here with details.
Please keep the good wishes coming -- they support Lynn and all of us who held TD in high esteem.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I just received a reply from Lynne -- she would very much like any donations in Ben's name to go to his Fire Company. Can we each send a donation in individually??? I don't have the address yet, but will post it soon.
What I suggest, because I'm sure his coworkers are devastated, is that we each pick out a condolences card or write a personal note and include it with our donation. Be sure to note that you are from Knots (per Lynne's request). It will comfort them I think to know that he had so many woodworking friends, far and wide.
Thanks to you all.Jamieforestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Lynne has sent the information for donations in Ben's name (ToolDoc). She said "He did love the fire company very much. They work hard to raise money and Ben was always there helping. I would like all donations to go to the fire company in his name." As I mentioned in an earlier post, she would like for any donation from a Knots member to be noted that way. I'm suggesting a note or card of condolence to his fellow firefighters.
Checks can be made out to
Nesquehoning Hose Co #1
953 E Catawissa St
Nesquehoning, Pa 18240
Thank you all.
Jamieforestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FG
Thanks for the address of the Fire-House. Checks in the mail!
Regards..
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I am shocked and saddened. I already miss my "buddy".
Jamie: Just e-mailed Lynn in responce to her e-mail to me.
sarge.. john t
Sarge -
Since I traded a few friendly barbs with him, I feel like I 'kinda' knew him so I'm concerned ... Did his wife indicate any cause?
...........
Dennis in Bellevue WA
[email protected]
I dont come in here all that much but 6 mo. ago he helped me with a problem regarding my uni-saw, he could not have been more helpful, he will be in my prayers tonight.
I'm not sure I know what to say. I didn't know TOOLDOC well. I know that Jamie and Sarge were fairly tight with him through knots. He seemed witty and kind in all of his responses to people. He never let on that he was sick, at least as far as I could tell. He will be missed.
Sarge/Jamie: Send Lynn my condolences as I'm sure everyone here in knots as well.
TDF
I am so sad, give my condolences to his family. I enjoyed many of his responses.
Ken K
FG
Please pass on my condolences, I alway enjoy the banter between ToolDoc, Sarge, and you, alway found it quite humorous.
Scott T.
Jamie -
What a shock!
Please, if you're in communication with T-Doc's wife, pass on my heartfelt condolences.
Thanks for letting us know.
Dennis in Bellevue WA
[email protected]
D - have you checked your email lately? Note to you from Lynn, yesterday. When I replied to mine, I mentioned that you might not see it right away.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Jamie -
I'm having a horrible time managing the junk email lately. I've managed to delete more than a few messages from friends and relatives that were interspersed amongst it all. So not recognizing Lynne's name I may have inadvertently wiped it.
To Lynne, if you log on here again; having lost my father in Sept., I empathize with your lose as well. Doc was an inspiration to people like me, woodworker 'wannabes' who always ask the dumb questions. My best wishes to you in this time of sorrow.
...........
Dennis in Bellevue WA
[email protected]
Jamie,
Please give my condolences to his family for me. I have always enjoyed his posts. While I didn't know him very well, I will miss him.
Sincerely,
Len
Hello all, I am Lynne, Tooldoc's wife. It is 4am and I am unable to sleep so I decided to get on here. I have read all of your responses and I am deeply moved. He enjoyed talking to all of you. In fact, there were times when I would get mad at him because he spent more time with you people than he did with me. I noticed alot of you were asking what happened. Well, the only thing I know is that he purchased a shotgun on Tuesday and shot himself. We didn't find him till Wednesday afternoon. I also read that people were talking about donations. I have enclosed a copy of his obituary so everyone has all the information. If you have any questions, you can contact me at Ben's email address( [email protected] ) or my email address at ( [email protected] ). I miss him so much.
William Nothstein
William "Ben" Nothstein, 46, of 145 W. High St., Nesquehoning, died Wednesday in Nesquehoning. He was the husband of Lynne (Walck) Nothstein. They observed their third wedding anniversary in August.
He was a maintenance man for the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton.
Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late William E. and Margaret Kathryn (Melker) Nothstein, and was a lifelong resident of Nesquehoning.
He was a member of Zion Luthenran Church, Nesquehoning.
Nothstein was a life member of the Nesquehoning Hose Company No. 1, captain of the Nesquehoning Fire Police and a member of the Weatherly Area Sports Club.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, William B. Henry III of Palmerton; and a daughter Jenna, wife of Edward Mokshefsky, and a sister Margaret, wife of Lenwood Hinkle , both of Nesquehoning.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Edward and Joseph Gregory.
The Joseph S. Blazosky Funeral Home, 81 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, is in charge of the arrangements.Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..
A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..
Lynne,
So sorry to hear of your loss.
Wishing you the best at this difficult time,
eddie
I am very sorry for your loss. His contributions here will be missed.
Tom
Douglasville, GA
Edited 11/14/2003 7:40:30 AM ET by Tom
May God hold you in his light.
I have found the following comforting at times of loss. It's by Mary Oliver and called In Blackwater Woods:
Look, the trees are turning their own bodies into pillars of light,Are giving off the rich fragrance of cinnamon and fulfillment.
The long tapers of cattails are bursting and floating away over the blue shoulders of the ponds,And every pond, no matter what its name is,Is nameless now.
Every year everything I have ever learned in my lifetimeLeads back to this:The fires and the black river of loss whose other side is salvation,Whose meaning none of us will ever know.
To live in this world you must be able to do three things:To love what is mortal;To hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it;And, when the time comes to let it go,To let it go.
Lynne, my sincere condolences. Unlike your husband's many helpful posts, this has been a very sad thread to review. We will miss him.
Lynne,
Like all here I will deeply miss him. He was one of the few in the forum that I had marked as a "Friend" although I had never met him. I appreciated his helpful advice to us newbies and most of all his sense of humor. My sincerest condolences.
Jim
So many of the names on internet forums have rather "thin" existences for us--I'm mostly a read-only-member here, and though I recognized Tooldoc's name, I don't know that I ever exchanged messages. The loss is felt, however; his death will diminish us all.
". . .and only the stump or fishy part of him remained."
Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township
Too the many of you that have contacted me personally on e-mail about the loss of Doc, sorry I haven't had time to return a personal note yet. I will get back with those as soon as I can.
I received an e-mail from Lynne this morning and she is the immediate priority at the current moment. Just as soon as my wife and I know Lynne is OK, I will get a personal message back to each of you who contacted me. You have my word as a "Southern Gentleman".
I'm sure each of you understand in this moment of deep sorrow for the immediate family of my "buddy".
sarge.. john t
oh sweet jesus lynne i'm sorry beyond words... if you need to smooth things out on those bad days. please dont hesitate to come around, may peace and comfort to you and your family be speedy. sincerly bear."expectations are premeditated resentments"
Lynne, Sorry to hear this sad news. I had no idea TOOLDOC had problems with which he wrestled. Slainte.Website
Lynne, please accept my condolences for your tragic loss. I am new to these forums and not a woodworker, but I have read several of his posts and want you to know he was always a friendly voice, touched many lives, and will not die in our memories.
If you feel inclined, you can find all his posts and read his words by going to the Advanced Search link (in the upper left area if this link doesn't work)
View ImageAdvanced Search
and changing Anyone to ME in the From box
The folks here, I am certain, will be here for you as long as you desire, or will correspond privately if that is your preference. I hope you can find a support group nearby with others who have gone through this, and there are some online if you search. I tried to link to one but it's not working.
I am so very sorry.
Edited 11/14/2003 7:48:00 PM ET by CTI
Edited 11/14/2003 7:52:29 PM ET by CTI
Lynne,
Very sorry to hear the news. Ben was a great guy and will be missed by all. Our prayers are with you.
Lar
Lynne, So So sorry to hear of your recent loss, I didn't really know Tooldoc but had exchanged some comments in the past year and always enjoyed reading his comments to everyone else. His other family here will miss him as well....
Wishing you the best at this difficult time..
Marsh In Oklahoma
I would like to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Ben loved to spend time here. There were even times where I woud get a bit jealous because all of you here got more of his attention than I did. I now realize how foolish it was to be jealous but I also realize why he spent alot of time here. You are a great group of people and I am glad that he had you all as friends.
I have notified the fire company of your intentions to make donations. I have asked them to keep donations of his "online" friends seperate.
Once again, thank you for all the wonderful things you have said about my "teddy bear" Ben. I loved him so much.
Tooldc's Wife FOREVER
Lynne
I guess I'll keep his signature.
Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..
A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..
Edited 11/14/2003 9:40:39 PM ET by TOOLDOC
Edited 11/14/2003 9:53:19 PM ET by TOOLDOC
I had a recent interaction with "Doc" as I had taken to calling him, and the result was that I bought a lathe, a thing I had been wanting to do for years, literally. Doc helped me find a decent lathe that I could afford and supported me as I was absolutely lousy at it in the beginning. I'm just getting the hang of it now; I think this was all about a month ago.
As I recall, Doc told us that he has a 13 year old son, and that the boy also loved the lathe. I'll think about Doc and his boy every time I turn a piece, and especially when my 4 year old son is old enough to learn, and I can teach him like Doc taught his son. Please send my love to Doc's son, and let him know that he and his dad helped brighten my life, and my little boy's life--my Jamie just loves to watch me run that lathe.
Love and Support,
CharlieI tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut
Lynne,
We are all truly saddened by Ben's passing. His love and dedication to his woodworking and to the Knots community are exemplified by his postings that challenged as well as inspired and encouraged. Even though the heart is heavy, it is uplifted by our ability to say that, yes, we knew him - and because of this, we are better for it.
Please accept my best wishes for you and your family's continued strength in this time of sorrow.Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
there are no words :, (
Daniel
Lynne,
I've been a "sideliner" in the forum for over a year now and have enjoyed TOOLDOC'S threads. i too am deeply saddened at losing him, I can't imagine what you must be experiencing. You are in my prayers.
Lynne,
My condolences. He will be missed.
Don
I am deeply sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Rob
Lynne,
I've been silent for a day or two, mostly due to shock and sadness. While the sentiment is there, words fail. TOOLDOC was a great guy. Always of good humor and generous with help. Thank you so much for letting us know. Look here to "see" an echo of him; we're all sort of kindred. Keep your head up.
Peace,
Greg
Dear Lynn,
My condolences, he will be truly missed in our lives as well.
John
Tonight we had Ben's memorial service. There was standing room only in the church. I know that you all were there with me in your thoughts. Tomorrow we will bury the ashes, and we can all start to heal. I don't know if he ever told anyone that he was soon going to be a grandfather. My daughter came to me tonight and informed me that they have decided to change the baby's middle name. They know it is a boy so they have decided his middle name will be Ben. once again, I would like to thank you all for all of your thoughts and prayers. It is conforting to know that he thouched so many lives.
I'll always be
TOOLDOC'S wife
Lynne
Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..
A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..
Edited 11/17/2003 11:17:58 PM ET by TOOLDOC
Lynne,
I'm crushed!, I am so so sorry to here about Tooldoc. I will be thinking about you both for a long time.
In addition to all the kind words already said about Tooldoc my first thought was here's a guy who joked around alot here but never caught hell for it because his contributions are priceless and endless.
Again, thinking of you both.
Roy
I've only been in here a short time, but I've always enjoyed his posts. Sad to think we won't see them anymore. Kind and sharing people are getting harder to find. We can take lessons from him, and spread that along, and that will become part of the legacy he leaves. My prayers will be for comfort for his family. He will be missed.
FG, What a shock! I had been communicating with him via email because I was buying a grizzly 8" jointer. I had just set it up and wrote to tell him about it on Monday and got a reply on Tuesday! What a blow. Sorry to hear this, he was a friend. My condolences to his family.
Hugh Thomas
I am so sorry to hear this FG.. I am kinda new here and well Any person that I met here are great.. I am so sorry..give(wife) our best wishes....we will pray for her..
words fail me - peace to all - what a difficult time...
I am just absolutely stunned. I know I'm a newbie but certainly, ToolDoc, Sarge and FG were the 3 people on this forum who stood out immediately to me as warm, friendly, accepting and eager to share their great experiences and knowledge. I have had 3 suicides in my family (a father and 2 brothers) and my heart goes out to Lynne. To this day, I still often wonder if there weren't something that I could have said or done to change the outcome EVEN though I'm well aware there really wasn't. Let us all take a little extra time to tell those we love and appreciate that we do - never let it go unsaid - because we never know - for whatever reason - when the last time we see them will be.
Robin Ferrell
I would like to thank all of you, but especially the "newbies" for posting your kind thoughts in this thread. It's wonderful that even those who've been kind-of hiding in the fringes, or who've just recently joined the group are so kind.
Ben and I corresponded occasionally by email and I considered him a "buddy" and a friend. Always looked forward to our banter and jokes, and valued his help which he was more than happy to give.
Will get back soon with address and other details for donations.
Jamieforestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I'm a newbie and am saddened by such a tragic loss.
My condolences and prayers are with his fanily and friends.
Ed
ForestGirl,
Like everyone else I am surprised and saddened. I will miss him. Please pass on my condolences.
Alan
The death of a loved one is like a stone, fresh-cleaved from a larger rock. At first it is sharp, angular, and at best unpleasant, if not painful, to hold.
Over time, however, the sharp edges begin to abrade, and eventually the stone becomes so gently rounded we pick it up, gaze upon it, hold and roll it in our hands, and derive comfort and pleasure from it...
Lynne - there are no words of real comfort, the above is the best I can offer. I hope the collective thoughts of those here bring a bit of warmth to your soul.
What !!
I'm back after a few weeks away to the saddest news imaginable.
Jamie, please pass on my condolences to his wife and family.
Ian Neuhaus
Sydney
Australia
I was away for a few days and came back to this. I'd just gotten to know ToolDoc, and I'll miss his posts. My condolences to his family.
Lynne,
A man's life can be measured but what he leaves behind. TOOLDOC stands tall.
Doug
Ummmm What can one say at a time like this. It's never easy to express what a person wants to say. I had the plessure of talking with ToolDoc on several occassions infact at one time he and I had almost the same nickname on here mine was DocWood and his is ToolDoc so in the interest of curtiousy I changed mine but I remember most how helpfull he was. My prayers are with his family and I hope and pray they will find some peice in time and remember where he is now alls he has to consintrate on is his creating and woodworking.
Sincerely,
James E.Clark
Hello all,
I know it has been awhile since I spoke to you all but I have been very busy. I would like to thank you all for your donations to the fire company. The money will be put to good use. I wanted to let you all know that Ben's grandson was born today at 1:35pm. Haedyn Ben weighed 7lbs 15 3/4 oz and he is 19 inches long. He is absolutly beautiful. Tooldoc would be so proud. I miss him so much as I'm sure you all do too.
LynneProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..
A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..
Lynne
Yep, I do!
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I love the "club" you are a member of!Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..
A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..
Lynne
Just a lasting tribute to "DOC" to keep his spirit amidst the forum. It's part of my permanent signature now. Jamie has "Another member of The I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" in her sign-off now also.
Anything I can do, you have the phone # and e-mail address.
Take care of yourself, Lynne...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Thanks, Lynne, for letting us know of the arrival of Haedyn Ben. He sounds like a real charmer, and I'm sure he will bring joy to his family. Grandchildren are wonderful.
We're here anytime you want to stop by. You have my number too, feel free to call anytime.forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Lynn,
I was in contact with the Tooldoc just about the time of his death. We had been corresponding about my new Grizzly jointer. Although we never met I think of him every time I look at my jointer.
I hope you are doing well, congratulations on the new grandson.
Hugh
Lynne
words are failing me again.
I too miss ToolDoc presence
Good Bless you and your new grandson
Ian
His knowledge and humor will be sorely missed.
Rest in Peace
Bill
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