Story's End

Marc Orchant, former co-worker, and friend, has passed. He died on Sunday, December 9th, 2007, a bit before 3pm in Albuquerque. See Oliver Starr's blog for more details.

I attended his memorial service today, and it was brilliant. I believe he would have approved. There was laughter, there were tears, and there was music. There was love all around the congregation. It concluded with the congregation singing the Grateful Dead's "Ripple". There was this sweet moment about halfway through the song when the trumpet from the quartet that had been playing earlier joined in spontaneously with the Rabbi and his guitar.

I emerged from it floored by the courage and strength of his family. Things have clearly changed for Marc. But surely, for his family and closest friends, the changes are equally abrupt, and it's for them I feel the most empathy. They impressed me today with their dignity and honest demeanor, and I wish them strength and hope as they move on without Marc.

Marc will have a legacy, both personal and professional, that will live on, will endure. As I'm sure will be mentioned many times about him, he was a storyteller. A bard--someone who carries the collected wit of the people and spreads it among any and all who will listen. Now his story is over, but I can't help wondering who now will be carrying his multititude of stories forward--for they will continue to be told.

I saw Marc nearly every day during his tenure at VanDyke Software. Marc showed me, among other things, that not all marketeers are evil. He showed me that you could get great spring rolls in a comic shop. He cut me a copy of a recording from the sound board at a String Cheese concert at the Poalo Soleri that I missed. He enjoyed fun cars, morning coffee, and we shared many friendly, often heated exchanges about the course of "technology", and how, although 16 years his junior, I was the traditionalist, the Luddite.

In perhaps the most poignant tribute, for me personally, I did a curious, almost automatic thing when I returned home tonight. I got a plain manilla folder, my label-maker, and created a "GTD folder" with the label "Marc Orchant" in which I have put the items from today's service. This one act--to me, anyhow--commemerates Marc perfectly. He lived and breathed many things, but as a coda to several of them, you might hear something about "GTD", "Getting Things Done" or "David Allen". Considering where Marc was moving in his career until last Sunday, I can't imagine a more fitting gesture.

Many knew Marc better, but I too have wept, and will miss him, and miss knowing he's out there doing what he did. He was on top of his game. He was one of the good guys.

all stories must come to an end ...but maybe not this one quite yet

Update:

http://owstarr.com/marc-orchant-updates-and-information/

Mark seems to be showing some signs of activity, so the story may not be ending quite yet.

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http://us.blognation.com/2007/12/03/marc-orchant-suffers-massive-coronary/

The continuing news about Marc is not good. I fear he's finished his most important story, and it has claimed its teller.

Marc is a former co-worker of mine, office-buddy, and a giant amongst us (not just his height). I don't really have any words right now, except to say how much empathy I feel for his family. Marc is a friend, and this news has come as a shock, not just to me, but to anyone who comes by it, and anyone who may know him. Marc is definitely one of the good guys. Robert Scoble said it best already: "This news really sucks".

-- ad astra