On Tue, 19 Feb 2002 22:00:38 -0800, Kenneth Smith <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>I have been off listing for a while due to business , but thought I
>would add my comments as I have followed this situation from Bob's first
>emails.
>
>I do not know Jeff and my only real association with him has been by
>secondary situation wherein- it was expected that my respectful loss of
>my wager to Bob was to support Jeff for his escape to the next Nedfest
>in Coz ( forgive me if I have the details wrong).

Ken, you have the details wrong, as you did which prompted my offer
of the wager of my $20,000 to your $2000.  Our wager was ENTIRELY
independent of Jeff and UNCONDITIONAL on how the wager was going to
be used by the winner.

>To this end my loss was to be Jeff's gain and knowing that was OK
>with me...

But don't take any credit for it.  I risked my $20K vs your $2.5K.
What I offered Jeff (the free berth on the CAIV02NEDfest) came out
of the same pocket in which the $20K resided, in appreciation of
what Jeff has done for all of us in Scuba-SE.  I used the wager only
as an EXCUSE to make it easier for Jeff to accept my offer.  He
would NOT have accepted my monetary offer otherwise -- which is still
another of my tribute to Jeff!  I know THAT for a fact because I had
made other monetary offers to support his dive trips, which he
declined.

Even before Jeff's current hospitalization, I had already converted
the cost of the CAIV02 trip to a check for Jeff, to be used in any
way he deems appropriate, when it seemed unlikely that he would be
able to make the trip, for reasons other than his current hospitalization.

Jeff fell ill before he had the check cashed, and since his financial
obligations were mounting and his mom was handling his affairs without
being able to cash his check, I converted both my own check and the
deposit Crusty returned (in a check to me) to cash and hand-delivered
the entire amount to Carolyn Kell, which I am sure has been put to
good use on Jeff's behalf.

If YOU wish to contribute something monetarily to Jeff yourself, I am
sure it'll be very much appreciated by Jeff's family, and you can send
it directly to Jeff's mom, to the address given by Richard for all.

But don't confuse the issue of your wager and what was offered to Jeff
by me.  If it makes any difference to anyone, I've spent Ken's lost
wager (which I termed his self-inflicted fine) in its entirety
FRIVILOUSLY for my own pleasure.  I could also say (since it's from
the same pot which doesn't mark the incoming dollar bills) I spent
said lost wager ENTIRELY (and more) in Lost Wages, or Lost Wagers
(aka Las Vegas) last week, NOT at the blackjack tables, but in various
stores there, replacing articles stolen from my car on my preceding
trip.

Sorry Ken, not a penny of your lost wager went to Jeff.  :-)


Ken, I appreciate VERY MUCH your added tribute to Jeff below.  That
will be the ONLY portion of your post that will appear in what I have
started to assemble in a very heart-warming collection of well
wishes and tributes to Jeff that I'll take to Jeff's parents.


> From what I know of Jeff on the list and his person as one of pioneers
>of this medium and by pure virture that he was a diver, as well as his
>accolades from others, I would have liked the pleasure to meet the man,
>the diver and the person. My heart goes out to him and his family as
>this time would certainly be one that all will feel for some time to come.
>and Bob, thank you for keeping the list informed. It is always hard to
>understand the potential loss of one, close or just by association, but
>hard none the less...
>God speed to any recovery that is in the wind, but should the tide roll
>out , god bless Jeff and all that know him...
>
>
>Best regards,
>
>Ken Smith
>February 19, 2002

-- Bob.