Sad news about SF member "Nonk"

[clarinetplayer]

It has been awhile since we have read the erudite and pointed comments by "Nonk", Derek Downey. A quick search came up with this announcement of his funeral:

Derek Paul Downey

Notice | Funeral Arrangements

The University of Leicester has learnt with the utmost regret of the death of Derek Downey on Monday 27 October 2008. Derek was a very popular and talented 2nd Year Contemporary History Student in the School of Historical Studies. He was very committed to his work and research, as shown by his successful funding application for research on the Battle of the Somme in France and Belgium, and in the voluntary work that he undertook for the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust Studies. He was a keen historian with ambitions to attain a high class degree and continue his studies with postgraduate research.

Derek was 37 years old; he had served in the Army for 12 years with postings in Northern Ireland, Germany, Brunei and Great Britain alongside deployments to Norway, Denmark, Spain, Bosnia and Croatia. He then joined the Police and served in Londonderry for six years.

Derek's popularity and commitment were demonstrated in his election to the Staff-Student Committee by his fellow students. His contribution to the activities of the School and University was outstanding, and staff and students alike mourn a great loss. The Welfare Service is offering support to fellow students.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday 11th November 2008

There are family flowers only - with donations going to the 'Stanley Burton Holocaust Centre' - University of Leicester. The department will then set up the 'Derek Downey Memorial Prize for the best undergraduate dissertation in Holocaust (and related) studies' and add a plaque with Derek's name and dates to the board of plaques for donators to the Centre.
________________

"Nonk" was a bright light. How sad.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by clarinetplayer

It has been awhile since we have read the erudite and pointed comments by "Nonk", Derek Downey. A quick search came up with this announcement of his funeral:

Derek Paul Downey

Notice | Funeral Arrangements

The University of Leicester has learnt with the utmost regret of the death of Derek Downey on Monday 27 October 2008. Derek was a very popular and talented 2nd Year Contemporary History Student in the School of Historical Studies. He was very committed to his work and research, as shown by his successful funding application for research on the Battle of the Somme in France and Belgium, and in the voluntary work that he undertook for the Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust Studies. He was a keen historian with ambitions to attain a high class degree and continue his studies with postgraduate research.

Derek was 37 years old; he had served in the Army for 12 years with postings in Northern Ireland, Germany, Brunei and Great Britain alongside deployments to Norway, Denmark, Spain, Bosnia and Croatia. He then joined the Police and served in Londonderry for six years.

Derek's popularity and commitment were demonstrated in his election to the Staff-Student Committee by his fellow students. His contribution to the activities of the School and University was outstanding, and staff and students alike mourn a great loss. The Welfare Service is offering support to fellow students.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday 11th November 2008

There are family flowers only - with donations going to the 'Stanley Burton Holocaust Centre' - University of Leicester. The department will then set up the 'Derek Downey Memorial Prize for the best undergraduate dissertation in Holocaust (and related) studies' and add a plaque with Derek's name and dates to the board of plaques for donators to the Centre.
________________

"Nonk" was a bright light. How sad.


how sad. anybody have any idea how he died? he was a good man.

 

[SpooPoker]

Wow, thats a shame. RIP. I didnt know him, but very sad to hear. I suppose that also answers this question. Nonk's profile and post history Oh man, just scrolling through his posts, he posted in a funeral thread as well.

Originally Posted by Nonk

Rather morbidly, I own a number of 'funeral' ties, and even a black armband. Thankfully I have not had to use them recently. Personally I think solid gray suit, white shirt and a black tie is fine. I do wear a pocket hankie, either plain white or plain black.

 

[AxlJack]

RIP

 

[globetrotter]

preemptive word - there were those members who didn't like Nonk. I would not be happy to see anything nasty said about a dead friend.

 

[in stitches]

did not know of him, but sad nonetheless. g-d bless

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by globetrotter

preemptive word - there were those members who didn't like Nonk. I would not be happy to see anything nasty said about a dead friend.

He had some fights over the Irish question with Conne but that's all I remember.

 

[NAMOR]

very sad indeed. Clarinetplayer, did you know Derek? How were you able to a) find the obit and b) know it was "Nonk"

 

[gorgekko]

Rather sad but if we can take some solace it's that he lived two lifetimes with all his experiences at a young age.

 

[NAMOR]

Originally Posted by gorgekko

Rather sad but if we can take some solace it's that he lived two lifetimes with all his experiences at a young age.
well said. I can drink to that

 

[Holdfast]

It's always a little shocking when a member of a forum you know only by what they type passes away. It reminds us that there are real people with real lives at the other end of the screen, as it were. I remember many of Nonk's posts, especially the ones that touched upon military matters. A sad loss.

RIP.

(thank you for letting us know clarinetplayer. I assumed that he - like many others who just stop posting one day - must have simply moved onto other interests in the intervening years.)

PS. I notice on google that he received an academic bursary from Ede & Ravenscroft. A more fitting recipient there can rarely have been!

 

[jrd617]

Originally Posted by Holdfast

It's always a little shocking when a member of a forum you know only by what they type passes away. It reminds us that there are real people with real lives at the other end of the screen, as it were.
Agreed. Bizarre age we are living in when you compare it to the past. Obituaries notices passed between strangers in the form of coded ones and zeros. And some mention that "one time he got into a fight with Connemara" or that "one time he posted in a funeral thread." I never knew you Nonk, but RIP.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by Manton

He had some fights over the Irish question with Conne but that's all I remember.

that's what I was thinking about - I didn't want to see anything disrespectful coming from the Ahole sector

 

[clarinetplayer]

Originally Posted by NAMOR

very sad indeed. Clarinetplayer, did you know Derek? How were you able to a) find the obit and b) know it was "Nonk"

Over the years, Derek and I passed many PMs and emails about a wide variety of topics--hand gliding, Dr. Who, Bach, clothes, Northern Ireland etc... When I saw the thread entitled "Vets: Did military service effect your sense of style?", immediately I thought of Nonk. When my emails to him were returned, I Googled his name and Univ. of Leicester and found the obituary.

 

[Huntsman]

The greatest honor to pay one who has died is to think of them and speak of them with the same regard as you did when they were alive, and not, as one author put it "smear their lives with the honey excreted by our own fear of death."

I'm sure I am one of those who had little arguments with Nonk at various times, but I always found him to be a decent and honorable interlocutor, as well as one who did not speak of that which he knew nothing of, and as a person who was not petty. We really could do with more like him here. I've often wished that he would return to the forum, and am very saddened that he never will. RIP. Nonk, and thank you.

With respect,
Huntsman