Hi all, I just learned on DU that former poster maddiejoan passed away a few months ago. I miss her

[Aloha Spirit]

and wish her family well.

Apparently, she did a lot of really cool things in her life... there's even a wikipedia page!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maddie_Blaustein

I remember her as a strong, thoughtful, and deviously funny poster who took others' (including my) close-mindedness as a challenge, or an opportunity to put critical thinking skills to the test.

Rest in peace, maddiejoan.

[Marrah_G]

1. She is truly missed by her friends here.

[Blue_Tires]

2. my goodness...

is this the first we're hearing of this on the site?

[jefferson_dem]

4. There were a few threads after folks learned about her passing.

MaddieJoan was a treasure. She is dearly missed.

[Marrah_G]

5. No- there were threads on it when she first passed.

She was banned from DU by that time. A victim of the primaries and some anti-gblt stuff.

[JohnnyLib2]

27. The high cost of war......

real or in cyberspace. What a loss!

[Nickster]

3. I just read her wiki page. What a great career she had. I laughed when I remembered the Mike Malloy

appearance as Smegel, I think I have that one recorded somewhere.

[Sebastian Doyle]

29. Here it is.

http://www.whiterosesociety.org/content/malloy/MalloyMemories/Smeagol_announces_his_candidacy.mp3

Great stuff.

[Aloha Spirit]

31. Who do you want for a running mate? "We likes Kucinich. No! We likes Dean."

aw man.

[Nickster]

32. Thanks for the link, that was so great to hear again.

[Adelante]

6. Yes, a very sad loss

RIP, Maddiejoan. We also lost our dear mod, Longhorn. :(

[MoonRiver]

37. Longhorn is gone??

I hadn't heard! :cry:

[Adelante]

41. I know

Such a wonderful person. It's just too sad.

[Zynx]

7. RIP, maddiejoan. She was Meowth in Pokemon?

I watched the show when I was in sixth grade. Considering how highly watched that show was that is an extremely impressive voice acting credit.

[Bonobo]

21. For 8 years.

A cross between Leo Gorcey from the Bowery Boys and a neighbor from L.I...

Funnily enough, voice acting was not Maddie's greatest talent. It was her drawing. She was a brilliant illustrator.

[Bonobo]

8. Thank you.

My sister was a one-of-a-kind brilliant and super-talented person.

Your description of her is very accurate. Thank you for wishing us well. It has been the hardest death I have experienced, including the death of our father and a close-friend of mine that also happened last year(ish).

If anyone is reading this that took our on-line spat during the primaries as indication of a lack of love and caring, they are wrong and should stop teasing me with her death and our DU fights. Some have done so to me even recently. If you are reading this, please do not fight with me in this thread. I will respond to PM's if you wish to talk.

[Celebration]

12. I'm sorry

I am very sorry for your loss. The love among family members is too deep to be affected by political issues. You should not have to deal with people like that when you are mourning.

[hlthe2b]

13. It is usually long after the loss that it all hits home...

It certainly has been that way for me-- with those I still grieve. May you be at peace, Bonobo. :hug:

[Peacetrain]

15. So sorry..

:hug:... Blood is thicker than water and politics. The pain never goes away, you just learn to live with it.

I know, I lost my Dad also, and it will wash over me like a tidal wave at the oddest times.

But to have lost both family members and a friend.. you have indeed had a very hard hard year..

Peace

[Marrah_G]

16. Bonobo

Perhaps you should delete the last paragraph as those posters have no way to respond to your accusations without turning a nice thread nasty.

[Bonobo]

17. I understand and I will edit, but I want that bullying to stop.

It is hurtful beyond words. They have no idea.

[Marrah_G]

19. thanks

Just don't want to see her thread go bad. And I am sorry for your loss.

[sellitman]

18. I cannot understand the loss of a sibling.

Your grief must be so deep. I have 2 brothers, and two sisters and losing any of them so young is an unspeakable tragedy.

May your memories of her be deep and last you a lifetime.

:hug:

[Bonobo]

20. Thank you.

We were also a family of 5 :(

It IS beyond words, unspeakably painful for all of us.

[Aloha Spirit]

23. Oh Bonobo!

Many hugs!

I hope you find strength in the people around you.
That's too much to deal with on your own it sounds like.

Much love to you and your family.

[Barack_America]

34. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Truly and sincerely.

I hope that you're holding up okay.

:hug:

[Born_A_Truman]

35. They better NOT do it in front of me.

Nine years ago yesterday I lost my sister, Sharon. She was my best friend--and co-worker--and on weekends we went shopping together. We shared a room with twin beds growing up and after she left home to get married I kept setting the table for her.

She was killed in a tragic accident a few hours after she dropped me off here at home and I don't think I ever fully recovered from the shock and grief. It has become easier with time but there is a hole in my life now that I never had before. So Bonobo, I understand your loss and send you my most sincere condolences for the loss of your sister.

[jillan]

40. She was one of my favorite people on DU, and other sites.

She always made me laugh.

You should be honored that you had such a great sister :hug:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

43. Once again I am so, so very sorry for your loss Bonobo

My deepest and sincerest thoughts, prayers, condolences and sympathies are with you and your family and all those who knew and loved your sister. Your sister sounds as though she was a brilliant and talented person who contributed a lot to this world in her lifetime. May she rest in peace and my thoughts, prayers, condolences and sympathies once again:hug: :hug:

[Drunken Irishman]

46. Eh, piss on the assholes who are doing that, Bonobo.

My mom wasn't in Obama's corner at first and we fought like cats and dogs, but that didn't change the fact we loved and cared deeply for each other. When she finally came around and supported Obama shortly before the South Carolina primary, I was so happy!

[BlooInBloo]

9. RIP, mj.

:(

[grace0418]

10. Gosh, she was so young! How awful.

A terrible loss. :(

[eShirl]

11. she had a YouTube channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/maddiejoan

("Mince Pie" is her Second Life-based machinima (movie made from footage captured in an animated game) )

[Autumn]

14. Maddiejoan was a rare jewel.

I miss her.

[juno jones]

22. I had wondered where she'd got to.

I didn't always agree, but she brought up some good points.

That frog was unnerving tho.

[Libby2]

24. Rest in peace!

My sincere condolences to her family.

[pecwae]

25. She was a rare person.

Bright, witty, funny, personable, lovable, loving, fair, compassionate and so very accepting of others. Her star is still shining. She is missed.

[JohnnyLib2]

26. I miss her posts, here and elsewhere, often.

Her take on things, and wit, were really unique. sigh.

[960]

28. I miss reading her posts here and speaking with her elsewhere.

She was truly special.

:cry: :grouphug:

[denem]

30. She changed the way I think about the world.

And stood up for herself with a rapier wit. After one brief exchange, I quit using the term 'Mann Coulter' for good. Thanks maddie. You are really missed..

[applegrove]

33. RIP

[Norrin Radd]

36. Peace to her.

Huge animation fan, so I loved her work.

[Danger Mouse]

38. I always liked her, and never even realized how much she had done.

I was very sad to hear she was gone. I wish I had gotten to say goodbye.
I hope she knows how I felt, wherever she is.

[opihimoimoi]

39. RIP She is missed by many.....K&R

[Lilyeye]

42. RIP maddiejoan. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

:-(

[MadMaddie]

44. RIP maddiejoan

[Jamastiene]

45. RIP MaddieJoan

With love always.