Panther's Passing

[PrlUnicorn]

I am saddened to announce the passing of Rob Portinga, known to many in our community as Panther. He served in many volunteer positions including managing the RDI on AOL for years. He was a creative writer, roleplayer, and friend to many. He will be remembered and missed.

The family announced on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mcnee that there was to be a celebration of his life, today, at 3PM PT via Zoom. Apologies for the late notice as I just found out. It's my understanding that he passed due to complications during or after surgery. He was memorialized here by the Obesity Action Coalition.

[Mallory]

Thanks for sharing that.

I'm sorry to hear about Rob's passing. During my first years on Dragon's Mark, I was fortunate for the opportunities I got to play with him. He was creative, kind, and always willing to share about his hobby and inspiration.

[Eden Parker]

I'm so sorry to hear this news. I never knew Panther well, but I know I've benefitted from all he created, from his inspiration and his energy.

[BardGallant]

This news breaks my heart. Panther was a legend, an all around amiable person who was very easy to talk to and had a bright outlook on life. The world is a sadder place without him in it. Thank you for letting us all know, C. May he rest in peace and his memory live on through us.

[Anubis Karos]

A legend has gone WAY before his time. May he rest in peace.

[Sulissurn]

I had the chance first to meet the iconic RDI Panther sometime in the misty centuries of the late, great 90s, and I knew him through all of AOL's ill-fated changes, fading, Dragon's Mark beginnings, and more. He role played with characters I no longer precisely remember the names of (and they were my own!), and I got to know him personally over the years.

Rob was a huge inspiration to keep GR and work on it when I could and often gave me advice on how to run GR and how to deal with unexpected issues in an RP community. He was always easygoing to speak to OOC-wise and had a great and dry sense of humor. When I left Facebook, I lost touch with many people in the RP spaces; unfortunately, he was one of them. I will never forget video-chatting with Rob late at night when he was bored, and I was playing games, chit-chatting about nothing and everything, and his willingness always to lend a hand or piece of advice if asked.

I heard about his passing a bit ago and am unsure what to do with this information still--perhaps like many of you who knew him.

This has been an unfortunate year for many of us old dinosaurs. I hope you are all o.k and doing what you can to get through it. Even though we may go, our stories and words remain for those we've touched long after we turn into star dust.

[Sjira]

I have to say that I will miss him greatly.

I was honored to play alongside him for a while and it was always a great deal of fun. And writing with him in the forums kept me on my toes as well.

So sad he is gone but definitely not forgotten.