Club Obi Wan

Thank you Yvette. Sounds like it was a beautiful celebration.

I met Walt for the first time at the ‘08 Summit. I introduced myself after dinner, and we had a lively discussion about whips and whip making. I mentioned I had an ‘89 Morgan in very good condition and a Karaka synthetic whip from New Zealand. He was intrigued by both.

After closing out at the Observation Bar, Walt, Matt Deckard, Floatin Joe, my date and I stopped by my room and I showed Walt the whips I mentioned earlier. He seemed to really appreciate that.

Hearing all your experiences, I feel honored and privileged to have spent that brief time with him.

Never met him.
Only ever read his words here on these boards... which, as many have already said, will live on for some time.
You'll feel him here in this forum for many, many years to come.
Rest well, Sir.

Lion Tamer,

Those are absolutely wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing them!

Dejah

Agreed, those pics are an apt memory of Walt - an impeccably dressed gentleman at the QM, in the company of fine people, and in his element examining unique whips in great detail, a connesuier (sp?) enjoying new treasures with a trained eye.

There is no way to describe the loss. Walt was one of the most generous and gracious men I have ever met. I remember the first QM gathering, I was relatively new to Indygear and Walt's genuine manner made me feel like part of the community from the get go. Now more than ever I'm glad I was able to attend the 08 QM in Nov. and talk with Walt. I can think of no better tribute to Walt then to live "Celebrating Life". My prayers go out to his family.

very sad [']

Jim Markell and I met Walt quite a few years back at the WWAC convention in Vegas. While we only hung out with him for a brief time, it was very clear that he was nothing but a gentleman and one heck of a nice guy. Truly a great loss, and not only to the Indygear community...

~Jace

This topic is a great testimony to a pillar of society here, a society that goes on more the richer than when he set up working with it.

I was moved to register and say thank you to the folks who wrote to my dad David with the moving news of Walt's passing.

Walt and David had exchanged a goodly amount of correspondence over the years, and had enjoyed meeting in person. We looked over some emails and pictures together and David thought it well that I post his respects here.

Good onya Walt.

Jeez. I'm so unbelievably saddened by this. So so sorry for the loss. For all of us.

Good night , sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

-Rabittooth
Celebratin' Life

John, Thanks for posting those pictures. I had been looking for the picture of Walt, me and Matt to post, but I couldn't find it. That really was a great night. Walt will be missed.

Mike

I caught this thread yesterday and was so sadened and shocked I could not respond at that time. I had cooresponded with Walt behind the scenes a few times and was always impressed with his easy going approach to things. He as well as some of the other long standing members I wanted to meet some day. It does hurt to see that one of our most respected members is gone and so suddenly. My deepest sympathy to his family during this diffcult time.

Mike

Now that the Bullwhip Section is now offically "Sergei's Place" - we've also tweaked the thread showing "Bullwhip usage" by adding a small tribute to Walt in there as well (cut and pasted from Walt's Staff Bio on Indygear.com). It used to be a Sticky, but now it's an Announcement, and should remain as the top post in this section now.

Oh my,I've only hit the forum briefly over the past few weeks and completely missed this very sad news. I only met Walt in passing once,and obviously a wonderful man. My best thoughts and prayers to his family and many friends.............
~Steve

I've been absent from the forums as well, and was shocked and very saddened to read this. I never met Walt in person, but I had some good forum discussions and exchanged a few PM's with him... a great man, very kind and gentle... as someone mentioned above, he was indeed one of the pillars of this community.

He will indeed be missed.

While I was not honored to know Sergei as well as many of you I can recall several email exchanges in years past that showed what a great gentleman he was. He was always willing to answer questions honestly and share his candid opinions. I can only imagine how great a friend he was to many of you.

The music listed above at his funeral does not surprise me...I had some great conversations about the Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov I was performing at the time; he relayed that the Rachmaninov 3rd piano concerto was a particular favorite of his. He seemed to be a bit of a renaissance man, and incredibly patient and generous with his time. I'm sure he is greatly missed and celebrated by his friends and family.

Eternal be your memory, Sergei!

Illinois

I never met the dude,we passed a few PMs back and forth moons ago.He seemed like a pretty nice dude.

Prayers for his family.

I was once a denizen of this fine forum, years ago. Sergei was kind enough to help me purchase a fine Australian eight foot whip and instructions on how to get started. I had some experience as a child growing up next door to Roland Meyers who was known as Whip Wilson in the movies, but that had been many years past.
Not long after 9/11 when my favorite nephew was leaving with the Marines for Iraq we had a going away party for him. Of course, I was in my Indygear and I gave him a twenty one crack salute with my whip, in his honor. I related this on the forum and Sergei got such a kick out of it he posted a big sign here advertising my services in performing this salute for others at their special occasions. It had lots of colors and flashing words if I remember correctly. I was honored that he had taken the time to do that.
Soon after that, I got recalled myself, back into the Navy for Iraqi Freedom for two years, and part of that time, being a Corpsman, I was stationed in San Diego involved in the delivery of medical services to returning Navy personnel with ongoing war related injuries. Sergei offered several times to meet up with me, but I was pretty busy. In fact, I thought I was the busiest sailor in the whole Navy, but I wish now that I had taken the time to meet this really wonderful man. In retrospect, he always found the time to respond to everyones posts and questions, and lend his expertise, I wish I had found the time to return the favor, and at least take him out for dinner and a cigar. It is my loss. At my age you think I would know better. Life is short, and the end is almost always unwelcome and unexpected.
I haven't been here for years but something compelled me to drop by and I'm glad I did, so I could pay my respects to this fine man.
Sergei, I'm glad I knew you. I enjoyed your knowledge, kindness, and sense of humor. I never heard you say an unkind word to anyone at this forum. Even when they might have deserved it, myself included. And rest assured, tomorrow as the sun is setting here in Missouri, I will dust off my whip and render you a twenty one crack salute in your honor.
All the best my friend.
Indiana Philip

Just dropped in to check the forum, and saw the terrible news.

My wife and I met Walt on the Queen Mary. A great guy. We're both crying now in Walt's memory.

I'm glad to have known such a great guy. Our condolences to his family.

A sad time now, but We'll meet again.

John D

Boy, is this ever sad news. Sad, because selfishly, I won't get to speak with Walt again for awhile.

I spoke with Walt just before moving to New Zealand. He told me that he was very envious, because I was setting off on such an adventure, and living life for the sake of the experience. Over the years, I've phoned him a few times to talk about random stuff. Walt was always great to speak with.

Walt, you are sorely missed. Please save me a spot!

Your Friend,
Paul

Holy cow, I came to this thread very late. I am very saddened to hear about this. Not even sure what to say...

RIP old friend, here's to your next adventure!

I am coming to this thread late too. I had to do a double take to make sure I read the title correctly.

I wish I could have known Walt more. He was so very friendly in person.

Here is a YouTube link to Walt's instructional video on how to set and attack a popper. This was shot at an IndyGear summit...I don't recall the exact year.

Here is a YouTube link to Walt's instructional video on the four basic bullwhip cracks. Sorry for the low quality clip. I'll find the source tape and recapture it in high-res.

I heard about the news when it happened (thank you Minnesota), but have just recently made it back on COW. It was utter shock when I found out. Walt was a great guy and I feel blessed to have known him.

Walt, here's to Celebratin' Life!

I too saw this late (due to rarely coming on the Bullwhip section) and regret not having known Walt. He seemed like a great man and that's all one can hope to live up to. He really seemed to know how to live life. I will think of his motto when times are tough and "Celebrate Life."

YNWA

Posted by Jersey_Jones in the vendors section, and quoted here for the record:

I have been out of it so long that I missed Sergei's passing. In his memory, I will try to get back to "Celebratin Life" instead of slaving away at this grind day by day. I miss you sir, who welcomed me here so long ago. My prayers go out to you and my fellow COW Folks who miss you. I certainly do.

Regards! Michaelson

I guess it's never too late to say I'm sorry and sad about this unbelievable

This is a real bad news.
I am truly sorry
I haven't the pleasure to know him personally but I think that I had learned many things.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Dear Sergei, I miss you
Thanks all
Giovanni Celeste

I met Sergei once in 2000 by happenstance. He gave me great advice on a problem I had. It is great that his memory is being honored here. He had a lot of class and I miss him to this day. I don't know if any of you remember, but he had a really cool Jaguar.