Average Joe - On Eternal Patrol

Tweak · 07-30-06, 12:23 AM

Some very sad news arrived in my email today - fellow Subsimmer Matt "Average Joe" Chandler passed away on March 20th, 2006.

I first met Matt in the mid 90s on GE's old GEnie online system after becoming intrigued with the Digital Integration/Microprose sim Tornado. Matt was a member of the "Dirty Twisters", a small group who had developed a method of flying a mission in Tornado's single player campaign, writing up an after action report, and passing along the saved mission files to the next member to continue the campaign. Flying this way gave a whole new life to the sim, which had no online multiplayer mode. The real heart of the sim wasn't just the game, it was interacting with the articulate and fun bunch of guys who made up the core of the group. Their after action reports made that old sim come alive, and I was soon a part of the "DT" round robin email list. Our last mission in Tornado was played out long ago, but we've been exchanging emails over the last decade about other games, our jobs, families, and life in general. We must have sent thousands of messages during good times and bad over the years.

The volume of our correspondence would ebb and flow with happenings in our lives. It wasn't unusual for us to sometimes go weeks without emailing one another, then have a sudden flood of messages coming in so fast that it almost seemed like communicating in real time. Given those circumstances, having a message bounce from Matt's mailbox after sending out a group mail after a long dry spell wasn't too surprising. Matt was probably as busy with his work life as I had been with mine. As the messages continued to bounce, another member of our group tried to contact him via telephone and fax. Both were disconnected. His subsequent Google search turned up this excerpt from an online memorial page:

"Matthew Chandler was a quiet man, with a penchance for solitude, and
enjoyed spending time on his computer. ...

Matthew worked as an embroidery pattern maker, working out of his home
in Coopersville. Although he liked solitude, Matthew did enjoy the
company of his dogs. His latest companion was a lab, named Rufus. Rufus
and Matthew had been together for almost 14 years. When work was done,
Matthew could usually be found at his computer, his favorite pastime. Mr.
Matthew J. Chandler, aged 48, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March
20, 2006."

Many of you knew Matt as avid SH3 skipper and sound modder Average Joe. Some may remember him from various flight sim forums as "Teehole". I knew him as both, and placed a great deal of value on his friendship. Matt was an easygoing, positive guy who was always ready to lend a hand, spin a story that would make me chuckle, and just generally chat about the ordinary things that make up day to day living.

Matt, you'll be missed greatly. You left too soon and too young, and you left many good friends in your wake.

Fair winds and following seas, old friend.

Hartmann · 07-30-06, 01:30 AM

Very sad when a commander don`t return to base and is still on patrol.

enaceo · 07-30-06, 02:05 AM

Loosing friends is one of the worst thing that could happen to you.
I didn't know this person (except from the forum) ,but i express my deep regrets for your loss.May his last eternal patrol be full of glory.

VonHelsching · 07-30-06, 06:00 AM

Rest in Peace, Average Joe.

Dowly · 07-30-06, 06:07 AM

RIP Average Joe.

U-104 · 07-30-06, 06:51 AM

RIP

Gizzmoe · 07-30-06, 08:52 AM

Rip

--

Seminole · 07-30-06, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Matthew could usually be found at his computer, his favorite pastime. Mr.Matthew J. Chandler, aged 48, passed away unexpectedly on Monday,

:hmm: ....not trying to be even the least bit facetious but perhaps there is some sort of message in the above that just might benefit us all. Certainly gave me pause to consider.

gabeeg · 07-30-06, 01:01 PM

God rest your soul Average Joe...

bookworm_020 · 07-30-06, 06:37 PM

Taking my sub to test depth as a salute to a fellow sub simer.

RIP

JSalinger · 07-30-06, 07:35 PM

RIP, Herr Kaleun. May fair seas follow you, and may the Big Man provide you with plenty of Britischers to deep six.

07-30-06, 12:23 AM	#1
Tweak Nub Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 3 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	Average Joe - On Eternal Patrol Some very sad news arrived in my email today - fellow Subsimmer Matt "Average Joe" Chandler passed away on March 20th, 2006. I first met Matt in the mid 90s on GE's old GEnie online system after becoming intrigued with the Digital Integration/Microprose sim Tornado. Matt was a member of the "Dirty Twisters", a small group who had developed a method of flying a mission in Tornado's single player campaign, writing up an after action report, and passing along the saved mission files to the next member to continue the campaign. Flying this way gave a whole new life to the sim, which had no online multiplayer mode. The real heart of the sim wasn't just the game, it was interacting with the articulate and fun bunch of guys who made up the core of the group. Their after action reports made that old sim come alive, and I was soon a part of the "DT" round robin email list. Our last mission in Tornado was played out long ago, but we've been exchanging emails over the last decade about other games, our jobs, families, and life in general. We must have sent thousands of messages during good times and bad over the years. The volume of our correspondence would ebb and flow with happenings in our lives. It wasn't unusual for us to sometimes go weeks without emailing one another, then have a sudden flood of messages coming in so fast that it almost seemed like communicating in real time. Given those circumstances, having a message bounce from Matt's mailbox after sending out a group mail after a long dry spell wasn't too surprising. Matt was probably as busy with his work life as I had been with mine. As the messages continued to bounce, another member of our group tried to contact him via telephone and fax. Both were disconnected. His subsequent Google search turned up this excerpt from an online memorial page: "Matthew Chandler was a quiet man, with a penchance for solitude, and enjoyed spending time on his computer. ... Matthew worked as an embroidery pattern maker, working out of his home in Coopersville. Although he liked solitude, Matthew did enjoy the company of his dogs. His latest companion was a lab, named Rufus. Rufus and Matthew had been together for almost 14 years. When work was done, Matthew could usually be found at his computer, his favorite pastime. Mr. Matthew J. Chandler, aged 48, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 20, 2006." Many of you knew Matt as avid SH3 skipper and sound modder Average Joe. Some may remember him from various flight sim forums as "Teehole". I knew him as both, and placed a great deal of value on his friendship. Matt was an easygoing, positive guy who was always ready to lend a hand, spin a story that would make me chuckle, and just generally chat about the ordinary things that make up day to day living. Matt, you'll be missed greatly. You left too soon and too young, and you left many good friends in your wake. Fair winds and following seas, old friend. Last edited by Tweak; 07-30-06 at 02:24 AM.

07-30-06, 01:30 AM	#2
Hartmann Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Grid CH 26, Spain ,Barcelona Posts: 1,857 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Very sad when a commander don`t return to base and is still on patrol. __________________ But this ship can't sink!... She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Strength and honor

07-30-06, 02:05 AM	#3
enaceo XO Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 401 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Loosing friends is one of the worst thing that could happen to you. I didn't know this person (except from the forum) ,but i express my deep regrets for your loss.May his last eternal patrol be full of glory. __________________ Came back after a long time ...ahoy mates!

07-30-06, 06:00 AM	#4
VonHelsching Ace of the Deep Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 1,025 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Rest in Peace, Average Joe. __________________

07-30-06, 06:51 AM	#6
U-104 Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: United States Posts: 797 Downloads: 187 Uploads: 0	RIP __________________ My heart is steadfast, O God. I will sing and make music with all my soul. Ps. 108:1 Survival of the fittest does not explain arrival of the fittest. we live in a single spoken sentence.. "God said, let there be"

07-30-06, 06:07 AM	#5
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	RIP Average Joe.

07-30-06, 08:52 AM	#7
Gizzmoe Silent Hunter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 3,668 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Rip --

07-30-06, 01:01 PM	#9
gabeeg Helmsman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fresno, CA USA Posts: 101 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	God rest your soul Average Joe... __________________ Kind Regards, Harry J. Miktarian

07-30-06, 06:37 PM	#10
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Taking my sub to test depth as a salute to a fellow sub simer. RIP __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

07-30-06, 07:35 PM	#11
JSalinger Sparky Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Spokane, WA, USA Posts: 156 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	RIP, Herr Kaleun. May fair seas follow you, and may the Big Man provide you with plenty of Britischers to deep six. __________________ J. Salinger King of the House