"This is all we are" - Goodbye, Wolof May 27, 2016 1:34 PM   Subscribe

Bassist extraordinaire, author/translator, lover of France, China, Oz, literature and cinema (with a PhD to boot), beloved father, husband, friend, and "big cat of cat family" (to a fluffy black cat), Wolof has passed away.

Late last year, Wolof noticed a fatty growth on his neck. He had it checked out, and one day in November the email came: "Well, I found out what the lump on my neck meant — cancer! Taa-daah!" It was Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

In spite of promising experimental treatment, just before his last round of chemotherapy was set to start in April, an infection sent Wolof to hospital, first for a week, then for three more. He finally recovered enough to go home for a short time in May, where he had made his peace with the end that was likely approaching: doctors had found sarcomas. One was in his spine. The only remaining treatment was palliative; pain sent him back to hospital last Friday. Unfortunately his condition worsened quickly, and he passed away, his wife and daughter with him, surrounded by much love, in the evening.

His family knows of his presence here, and I'll share the thread with his wife, who so very kindly kept me up-to-date across oceans and time zones.

At one point Wolof wrote me about the last episode (season 2, ep 9) of "The Knick": "I keep seeing Thack on his chair with his guts in his hands raving in his drugfucked shaman’s quest that “This is all we are”."

And since Wolof would likely prefer this to end on a lighter note: "Why are violas better than violins? ... You can put more beer in a viola."
posted by fraula to MetaFilter-Related at 1:34 PM (213 comments total) 7 users marked this as a favorite

Terrible news; I'm so sorry to hear this.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:37 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


So sorry.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 1:38 PM on May 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Very sad to hear this. Wolof was a good'n, my best to his friends and family and everyone on the site who will miss him here.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:39 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


He is very missed.

In memoriam, a dream he had on 30 March, during his second long stay in hospital, for which I got the go-ahead to share. It is so Wolof. He was very pleased with it.
Most Esteemed President Xi Jinping
I wish to offer my most profound and heartfelt thanks for the professional and praiseworthy level of care afforded to me during my recent illness by the Chinese health care services. My gratitude is immense, my admiration is boundless, and once again I thank you.

As such, the notion of a suitable tribute can only be apposite. I have given this matter a great deal of consideration, and can only hope that my response meets with your approval.

Initially I thought to calligraph a message, but was sharply brought up against my limitations, both historical and aesthetic. As my own alphabet manipulates a limited number of rather limited and ugly symbols, as opposed to the fluid and infinitely productive pictograms of the Chinese system, it occurred to me that an image may best offer both a neutral ground and a solid basis for communication.

However, as I wished to make this tribute entirely personal, and as it was a matter of bodily integrity that inspired it, the question for me became how to insert something of my physical self into this image with due humility; if a peasant looks at a President with the proper regard, the correct principles are honoured and balance is preserved.

As a symbol of China, I thought the image of an imperial dragon of Xi’an both magnificent and auspicious. And then, while performing my ablutions, the solution to how to represent myself with neither vanity nor equivocation showed itself; what could be healthier, more essential, yet more modest than fresh excrement, in this case my own?

Thus it is that I hope you will accept with pleasure this image of an imperial dragon that I have spent many hours drawing in my own waste.
posted by fraula at 1:40 PM on May 27, 2016 [41 favorites]


Top man, loved him and his words here and in the other place, and will always wish I'd gotten off my ass to see him when in Adelaide. Much love to his family and friends and to the monkeys.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 1:41 PM on May 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Oh no, this is awful news.

I'm about to grab a beer; I wish I hadn't left my viola back home!
posted by ChuraChura at 1:53 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I am not very good at remembering many usernames, but I recognize his which means he must have stuck with me in aggregate. My condolences to all who knew him.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:54 PM on May 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Dammit, I liked that guy. Thanks for the post and the dream message, and I'll have a beer in his honor.
posted by languagehat at 2:20 PM on May 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


That is so sad. My thoughts and condolences to all who loved him.
posted by kimberussell at 2:44 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Wolof was awesome, this is sad news.
posted by clavdivs at 2:47 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh, I'm so sad about this. He was the first Mefite I met in real life, and when I moved to Australia from the US, we ended up living about a block from each other. He was kind and gentle, and my heart breaks for his daughter and his partner.
posted by naturesgreatestmiracle at 2:51 PM on May 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


He is well remembered.
posted by stet at 2:53 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


:-(
posted by Devils Rancher at 2:54 PM on May 27, 2016


This is very sad. Best wishes to his family.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 2:56 PM on May 27, 2016


Thank you, fraula, I will miss him. He was was always one to notice when things on the site were a particularly hard slog on the moderation side, and reach out give an encouraging word, share a bit of wry commiseration, tell a funny story about his day, or just blithely follow any surreal conversational tangent, talk about what the fam was doing, what he was cooking, clinking cheers with a virtual beer. He was sweet and tart, and witty and generous, and it will be a colder night shift without him.

Much love to his friends and to his family, whom he always spoke of with such tenderness and delight. I'm so sorry.
posted by taz (staff) at 2:58 PM on May 27, 2016 [29 favorites]


Bummer. A good'un indeed. His loss will be felt around here, that's for sure.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:01 PM on May 27, 2016


RIP, Wolof.
posted by jonmc at 3:26 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by moira at 3:26 PM on May 27, 2016


Oh no, that's really sad...I've appreciated his thoughtful presence here. My condolences to his friends and family.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:26 PM on May 27, 2016


No :(
posted by nom de poop at 3:30 PM on May 27, 2016


Oh hell, how awful! He was always a well-read and welcome presence in literature threads. I'm glad he had time to make peace before leaving and that he passed away with his family by his side. I will think of him next time I pick up a French novel.

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posted by Kattullus at 3:37 PM on May 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I'm very sad to hear this. I've copied below an email I sent to him just a few days ago.
just wanted to reach out and let you know how much I've valued your cyber comradeship and presence on metafilter.

Reflecting on how many years it's been since our initial memail, I was kind of shocked. You were the first person who ever wrote to me on mefi, and I love that our connection began from disagreement of sorts.

Australians are a small but vocal contingent on the site, and your laconic presence was at once irrepressibly Australian, and yet also counter to so many stereotypes about aussies, with your deep erudition on matters musical, francophonial, and cinematic.

I have missed your wit and insight these last few months, and did not realise how sick you were.

Thank you for your presence in my life and in our shared, and very special online community, I've always valued it.
posted by smoke at 3:40 PM on May 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


Oh, this is terrible. I'll miss his sharp wit and good cheer.
posted by RogerB at 3:50 PM on May 27, 2016


Oh no, how heartbreaking. Thank you for posting this thread, fraula, and my best wishes and heartfelt condolences go out to his wife and daughter.

I've known Wolof since 2003, which as long as I've known anyone online, and longer than I've known most people off it. It is strange that with an entirely online friendship I can know for certain the last time we talked and what we talked about - the writing of children's books; the differing joys of British and Australian summers; a question about whether I was a father (I wasn't) led into him talking of the joys of fatherhood and his wholehearted love he had for his daughter; and, finally, perhaps inevitably, he talked about cricket:

"It wasn't as good as seeing Lillee and Thompson tear your blokes apart in 1975, which I watched square on (best way to see the actual pace), but not much could be for a one-eyed Ozzer. But no shit, at 15 it was spectacular."
posted by dng at 3:57 PM on May 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Oh, no. Wolof would have no idea, but I've been a fan for years. Condolences to his loved ones.
posted by Lyme Drop at 4:06 PM on May 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


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We memailed a little once, because he was curious about my contacting him. He was as gracious and good-humored as he was in his comments (which prompted the contacting, ofc.) Love and healing to his family.
posted by Krom Tatman at 4:40 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by desuetude at 5:09 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by Mitheral at 5:11 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by Room 641-A at 5:28 PM on May 27, 2016


This makes me so sad.

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posted by grouse at 5:41 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by Rock Steady at 5:41 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by peeedro at 6:12 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by soakimbo at 6:24 PM on May 27, 2016


This is a so sad. He was a good mefite, and a good person. My condolences to those of you who knew him, and to his family.

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posted by rtha at 6:31 PM on May 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


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posted by oneswellfoop at 6:31 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by mothershock at 6:39 PM on May 27, 2016


Very sad. I'll miss his contributions to the site.
posted by TedW at 6:45 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by ignignokt at 7:13 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by gudrun at 7:21 PM on May 27, 2016


I am very sorry to hear this.

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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:22 PM on May 27, 2016


This is so sad. I don't think we ever communicated directly, but I always noticed and appreciated his comments.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:25 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by mordax at 7:35 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by blurker at 7:36 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by purpleclover at 7:41 PM on May 27, 2016


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Very sorry for this enormous loss.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:45 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:49 PM on May 27, 2016


A tremendous loss. So very sad. RIP, Wolof (whose nick always made me think of this).
posted by h00py at 7:50 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by NoraCharles at 8:12 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by Songdog at 8:18 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by subbes at 8:36 PM on May 27, 2016


Goddammit, 2016, quit taking the good ones.

All my sympathy to his friends and family.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:57 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by Wobbuffet at 9:11 PM on May 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Thank you for letting us know.

I liked him, and am happy to be reminded to take a few minutes to revisit some of his activity here, and reflect on what a welcome presence he was.
posted by not that girl at 9:35 PM on May 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh no! He was such a good person, will be deeply missed. Thanks for the thread, fraula, and *hugs*.
posted by ellieBOA at 10:10 PM on May 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


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posted by jabo at 10:19 PM on May 27, 2016


Aw man. I knew Wolof from the Monkeyfilter days back when the gates here were closed. I always thought I'd meet him eventually. Dammit.
posted by ambrosia at 10:48 PM on May 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


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posted by mynameisluka at 10:49 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by Iridic at 11:45 PM on May 27, 2016


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posted by misteraitch at 11:53 PM on May 27, 2016


. The loss of one $5 noob affects us all.
posted by Cranberry at 12:06 AM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


smoke: Australians are a small but vocal contingent on the site, and your laconic presence was at once irrepressibly Australian, and yet also counter to so many stereotypes about aussies, with your deep erudition on matters musical, francophonial, and cinematic.

As I also shared with his wife - going through our correspondence, I rediscovered the number of times he dropped "Daddy swore an oath to the Constitution!!!!" in our recent discussions. Usually when we'd been chatting about politics. He said he was also regaling friends with this, as something so foreign to Aussie sensibilities. I, of course, am from Oregon, the state which the quote came from, which also gave him wry amusement.

I have missed your wit and insight these last few months, and did not realise how sick you were.

If it can be any reassurance, none of us did. His treatment seemed to be working well, and he had a great care team. He'd had terrible back pain at the start of the year, which was originally diagnosed as him having had such bad muscle cramps that they fractured a vertebra. (Naturally, this being Wolof, I teased him that he needed to lay off the macho man stuff; breaking your own back is a bit overboard. He replied that the pain was giving him good reason to smoke weed.) They found a pain treatment that seemed to work, then the infection hit... but it seemed to be under control after the first week. It was his second hospital stay that really was a whammy. That was when they finally found the sarcomas. Even then, they thought he had a few months, maybe a year or even two in front of him. Wolof was more philosophe and told some of us he felt his time could be shorter than that, and reassured that he was okay with it. Whatever time he had, he was making the most of with his family. The last hospital stay, they still originally thought he could have weeks or months. Two days later, it was down to days :( it just went so quickly.
posted by fraula at 12:15 AM on May 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


Ah fuck. Ugh. I'll miss him.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:17 AM on May 28, 2016


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posted by Mistress at 12:33 AM on May 28, 2016


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posted by samthemander at 12:50 AM on May 28, 2016


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posted by UbuRoivas at 1:06 AM on May 28, 2016


I've already offered my condolences to his family via email, and came here to find this thread, so all I really have left to say is Fuck Cancer and Fuck 2016 for taking all the good ones.

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posted by romakimmy at 1:18 AM on May 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


I am so very sorry for our loss. RIP, Wolof.
posted by Lynsey at 1:30 AM on May 28, 2016


I'm so sorry to hear this.

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posted by en forme de poire at 1:30 AM on May 28, 2016


Fuck everything about this. Yet another light extinguished in on the beautiful planet we have so determinedly afflicted with all the encouragements cancers need.

Wolof was a man who I never knew personally, yet who unashamedly loved the things that women love and so is my friend. He defended those with less power than he not because he knew that there is little that's funny about laughing at someone's expense:

Yeah, I totally miss the good old days of mother-in-law jokes, my wife went on a holiday, she's so fat, Mr Wong the Ching Chong (inscrutable!), stupid Indians, minstrelsy and all the other great stuff that made all the pain go away.

(Which I do and don't agree with; I think Silverman is generally attempting to perform a meta-commentary on the hideousness of such humor. It's okay that we disagree because Wolof liked when ladies expressed opinions. And if anyone should be aware at just how poorly parody usually works to defeat it, it should be us.)

He loved music and cats and his family fiercely, exuberantly, which is supposed to turn one into a humorless scold but that's not our Wolof. He was hilarious, urbane while remaining humane which in this shitshow of a world is quite the accomplishment.

Another little light shining is gone and that is always something to cry about. But lucky us, here's Metafilter and the record he leaves here of how it's possible to be a loving man without turning into a bowl of silent pudding, which is what so many people think we mean when we say stop laughing at us. We would never, ever say stop laughing. It's the at us part that is emphasized.

Fraula said the family will read this so please: be comforted that Wolof's essential goodness, the love he left you -- he gave it to the rest of us, too. Truly knowing the nature of love means you can understand that it doesn't have to be begged for, nor hoarded once finally safely in your hands. Wolof made our little world here more loving and consequently, the larger one too. And our world needs all the help it can get with that, now more than ever.

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posted by melissa may at 1:51 AM on May 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


Oh crud. What a sad and unjust loss. He could not possibly have known how highly I thought of him, but I feel it's my duty to tell his family how honoured and grateful we were for the time and intelligence and grace he lent to us. There's no doubt they knew how precious he was, but I'm ever so grateful for the joy he gave here as well.

I'm going to make sure I tell all the mefites I adore, how much they mean to me in future. Losing beloved Wolof has inspired me.

Big old hugs and love for his family and all the mefites who loved him and his planet sized brain, heart and humour repository.

(And cancer? You can fuck off forever. I've never met anyone you brought joy to.)
posted by taff at 2:43 AM on May 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


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posted by heatvision at 3:49 AM on May 28, 2016


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posted by BibiRose at 4:18 AM on May 28, 2016


Yeah this was -- let's say -- this was uncalled for.
Echoing Cortex: "my best to his friends and family and everyone on the site who will miss him here." And hugs to The Cats, apparently.
posted by Namlit at 4:29 AM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by marienbad at 4:54 AM on May 28, 2016


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posted by DingoMutt at 5:41 AM on May 28, 2016


This is a huge loss. My love to all his family and friends.
posted by harriet vane at 5:54 AM on May 28, 2016


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posted by valkane at 6:01 AM on May 28, 2016


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Oh man, this just hit me like a ton of bricks. I went back to check my email; we last talked in December, when he sent me a "Cheer up!" note with a lovely photo of his daughter seemingly out of the blue, kindasorta. We had talked the month before after I saw a comment in metatalk about his having cancer. That first conversation was so sweet. Wols was upbeat and said, "Gonna get sick and then I’m gonna get better!"

Mark, I'm sorry I didn't keep up with you very well these last months. We'll have a celebration of your life in the 'firc slack channel. My love to Claire. xo
posted by Stewriffic at 6:29 AM on May 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


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posted by From Bklyn at 6:47 AM on May 28, 2016


I've known Wols from the Monkeyfilter days, and though we have never met in person, I've always regarded him as almost family. We exchanged emails over the years, and he would chat with the firc about mostly Claire. He loved his daughter so very much.

I wish I had kept in touch more. I wish I had made the effort to see him the last time I was in Australia. I wish I had known more about this wonderful, intelligent, loving man. I'm so sorry for his family that they lost him. I'm so sorry that we have all lost him.
posted by Alnedra at 6:48 AM on May 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


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posted by cooker girl at 7:19 AM on May 28, 2016


Yeah, I met him online through Monkeyfilter too. He had that dry antipodean humour and always had something interesting and thoughtful to say. When I was struggling with the job of moderating a rapidly-growing community blog (that job is *hard*), his was one of the supportive, sensible voices that guided me. He adored his daughter and we exchanged many emails back in the day about our growing children and his ridiculous bass guitar collection. We always talked about meeting up for real and then slowly the emails dropped off as we both got busy with other aspects of our lives. I wish we had.

We have lost a truly good person.
posted by tracicle at 7:28 AM on May 28, 2016 [17 favorites]


Never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, or even directly communicating with him, but I know that Wolof was one of those names I noted with respect when I saw it on this site. Definitely one of the good guys, and one who fully lived the adage about leaving the world a better place for having had him in it.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
posted by easily confused at 7:30 AM on May 28, 2016


Sad and terrible news. He will be greatly missed.
posted by Koko at 7:36 AM on May 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


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posted by foxhat10 at 7:49 AM on May 28, 2016


Last comment, in the Darwyn Cooke thread:

As above, get checked and do it early. I'm in a rotten state myself due to an entirely unexpected development, but you people can perhaps get ahead of the game with a little forward planning. This is nothing you want.

He will be missed.

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posted by Artw at 8:12 AM on May 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


This is sad news. He was one of the best here and in the real world.
posted by y2karl at 8:27 AM on May 28, 2016


I'm very sorry to hear this, humanity generally has lost one of its better advocates. I'm glad he could keep his wits and be with his family to the end.
posted by ardgedee at 8:42 AM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by briank at 9:37 AM on May 28, 2016


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posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:51 AM on May 28, 2016


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posted by brujita at 9:57 AM on May 28, 2016


Damn damn damn. He was one of the best, and his words got me through many a bad day.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:59 AM on May 28, 2016


Fuck cancer.

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posted by Fizz at 11:35 AM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by i feel possessed at 11:36 AM on May 28, 2016


Wolof was one of the good 'uns.

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posted by zamboni at 12:16 PM on May 28, 2016


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posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 12:39 PM on May 28, 2016


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posted by thivaia at 12:42 PM on May 28, 2016


So sorry. Will miss his kind, thoughtful, cheerful comments.
posted by rpfields at 1:35 PM on May 28, 2016


I also didn't meet him in real life, living on far away continents does that, but he was so supportive of my cat Halloween costume, then the conversations we had about living in France and Paris were unforgettable. Thank you Wolof.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:46 PM on May 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


I was thinking of Wols just yesterday, and wondering how he was getting on.

We spent hours over the years talking about cricket and his daughter, and like many Aussies here hoped to meet him one day.
I am heartbroken that he won't get to see her play music again, and that she won't have him in the audience cheering her on.

The test summer won't be the same without you, mate.

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posted by coriolisdave at 2:01 PM on May 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


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posted by something something at 2:21 PM on May 28, 2016


This is terrible and I am so sad. I knew Wolof from monkeyfilter days, my heartfelt condolences to his family.

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posted by Space Kitty at 2:38 PM on May 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


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posted by cotton dress sock at 3:30 PM on May 28, 2016


So sorry, he was one of the great voices here. He had done a Master in France (about Jean Cocteau) and later a PhD about film theory (in Australia, but written in French!) and loved the country. For many years I actually thought he was a French expat in Australia, as his spot-on analyses of French politics and culture were so obviously coming from a native, but he was just one of those people who can really understand a foreign culture. I'll miss him.
posted by elgilito at 3:31 PM on May 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


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(I became aware of Wolof as one of the sparse, sane voices in the Charlie Hebdo thread. Through his comments he has often exemplified measured acumen. Il manquera, fort.)
posted by progosk at 3:31 PM on May 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


He added so much light here. My condolences to all who loved him and all who knew him.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:21 PM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by Etrigan at 5:04 PM on May 28, 2016


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posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 5:29 PM on May 28, 2016


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posted by mochapickle at 5:52 PM on May 28, 2016


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posted by slogger at 6:09 PM on May 28, 2016


Godspeed Wolof, a good fellow, you are in my heart.
posted by Divine_Wino at 6:16 PM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by vrakatar at 6:17 PM on May 28, 2016


RIP Wolof.

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(i once noted a fatty growth on my neck, fortunately a biopsy revealed it to simply be my head.)
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 6:23 PM on May 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


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posted by hapax_legomenon at 9:06 PM on May 28, 2016


Oh, hell. Everybody has to go some time, but this feels much too early for him.

Deepest sympathy to everybody who's mourning his loss.
posted by Lexica at 9:13 PM on May 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


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oh no.
posted by dhruva at 9:16 PM on May 28, 2016


Another Monkeyfilter. Another one who will miss him. man.
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posted by zenon at 9:21 PM on May 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


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posted by Defying Gravity at 10:18 PM on May 28, 2016


Always was a decent person to me on this site. I wish him and his loved ones peace.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 10:36 PM on May 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Saw this last night, cowardly didn't want to comment until some Fircers and Monkeys said goodbye first. Another person lucky enough to have had the chance to chat with him on a regular basis, regretting that I let life and dumb brain shit from keeping up that relationship - however slight it may have been for him, it meant a lot to me. I admired and envied his generosity, erudition, wit. He didn't suffer fools, but he was patient with this one.

Sent him a MeMail a few days after his last comment - I kept writing it in my head trying to come up with something that wasn't too mawkish and about how I felt. Finally said "Fuck it, he knows you're a clumsy narcissist, send the damn thing." No answer, told myself it was probably too maudlin or overreacting and he was being kind and cool and just let it slide.

I think of him whenever I hear In Christ There is No East or West or see Sean Connery in a red thong diaper, and probably always will. I think he'd get a chuckle out of that.

Condolences to his family. I am so sorry. You're so lucky to have him. We're so fortunate that you shared him with us. Thank you.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:55 PM on May 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


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posted by Trivia Newton John at 12:20 AM on May 29, 2016


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posted by minsies at 5:05 AM on May 29, 2016


Oh, no. :(
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posted by forza at 5:42 AM on May 29, 2016


I'm very sorry to hear that, and my deepest condolences to his friends and especially family.
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posted by hazyjane at 12:03 PM on May 29, 2016


So sad to hear this. Had the pleasure of meeting Wolof and family when they passed through Beijing and we kept up a regular off/on correspondence. More off recently so I hadn't even heard he was ill. A lovely man with a lovely family and my condolences to his wife and daughter.
posted by Abiezer at 12:07 PM on May 29, 2016 [10 favorites]


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posted by Michele in California at 2:15 PM on May 29, 2016


How awful. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends. I've gone back and looked through his comments, and his participation here was always smart and sharp -- he had a talent for wry, surprising humor. These are all things I value and envy, and they're in short supply in this world. Shorter, now, and the world can scarce afford the loss.
posted by maxsparber at 2:22 PM on May 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


Oh no. Wolof was a great and special guy. Damn it.

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posted by homunculus at 3:36 PM on May 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


I'm very sad to hear this....I had feared to ask how he was doing. We were bass friends here and had been exchanging some mails......rip, Wolof.
posted by thelonius at 5:31 PM on May 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


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posted by sarcasticah at 5:51 PM on May 29, 2016


So very sorry to hear this.

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posted by Mchelly at 6:12 PM on May 29, 2016


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2016 has been brutal. I thought he was taking a break, like we all do.
posted by jadepearl at 7:27 PM on May 29, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by limeonaire at 8:19 PM on May 29, 2016


My condolences.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:34 PM on May 29, 2016


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posted by djinn dandy at 9:51 PM on May 29, 2016


This is so sad. He will be missed.
posted by motdiem2 at 10:32 PM on May 29, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by Chrysostom at 10:43 PM on May 29, 2016


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posted by gomichild at 12:00 AM on May 30, 2016 [1 favorite]


Very sad news, my condolences to his family.
posted by carter at 5:23 AM on May 30, 2016


Bad news for us.
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posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:46 AM on May 30, 2016


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posted by kisch mokusch at 7:20 AM on May 30, 2016


I still can't believe this.
posted by Stewriffic at 10:03 AM on May 30, 2016


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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:08 AM on May 30, 2016


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posted by peagood at 12:56 PM on May 30, 2016


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posted by Faint of Butt at 2:16 PM on May 30, 2016


Yeah, a . from me. I didn't know him, but for a good long time he listed me as one of his contacts while his profile pic was Connery in Zardoz, which always gave me a smile. And his contributions were always thoughtful. (Much more thoughtful than mine.) I hope that his family take some solace from how well thought of he was on MeFi.
posted by Len at 4:07 PM on May 30, 2016 [4 favorites]


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posted by allthinky at 7:07 PM on May 30, 2016


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posted by EvaDestruction at 7:11 PM on May 30, 2016


I am an stunned. I had no idea. We used to talk regularly on IRC. My thoughts are with his wife & daughter.

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posted by goshling at 9:22 PM on May 30, 2016 [3 favorites]


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cya mate
posted by peacay at 10:50 PM on May 30, 2016


Dammit, no!

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posted by MexicanYenta at 11:29 PM on May 30, 2016


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posted by billiebee at 1:56 AM on May 31, 2016


Like a lot of people here, I knew him from way back in the MonkeyFilter days when memberships were closed here. He was a deeply intelligent, thoughtful, loving man with a hell of a family.

I've seen him take the piss out of people in five words or less more times than I can count. He was and is still for me a model of the power of economy and brevity in communication, in making your words count. A thing I am not doing now because fuck it I'm going to take a minute to honor my friend.

I normally stay out of MeTa and only dip in for a quick scan once a week or so because I often find it exhausting. And so now I'm sad that he's gone and sad that I'm only now learning of his death.

Hugs to tracicle and all you monkeys in here. Let's all raise a mug of cockpunch to our dear departed Wolof.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:34 AM on May 31, 2016 [13 favorites]


I never met him, but his online presence taught me a lot. Smart, funny, and deeply humane. I didn't know him, but I miss him. Fuck cancer right in the fuckin eye.

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posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:47 AM on May 31, 2016 [4 favorites]


I'm so sorry.

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posted by klausness at 5:50 AM on May 31, 2016


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posted by IndigoRain at 6:03 AM on May 31, 2016


As many of his friends here have noted: Wolof (as befits a man paid for his words) was a master of intelligent, witty and complex brevity (on this site).

(As befits a musician) I went looking for some of Wolof's hits to share in this thread - and I am happy to report that his artful concision was no match for the infodumpster, from which I summon some of his longer comments - no less intelligent, witty or complex.

I particularly enjoyed reading or re-reading his wise words concerning the state of Australian arts journalism from a practitioner thereof; bass-playing and the Alexander technique; Peter Greenway; Camus' mum; Bradman and Messi; an older man's hope; and some good advice to fathers on internet arguments.

If I read the Adelaide Advertiser right, I'll raise a beer in his direction on June 6 (and always).

I'll miss you, mate: you taught me a few things I won't forget, and I wish I had the chance to learn a few more from you.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 7:32 AM on May 31, 2016 [13 favorites]


Thank you quid. Been missing his wit too.

This comment had me chuckling at the last part: "If you show up in a tux like everybody else, your responses will likely be just as encoded as your clothing. Unlike, you know, my tie dyed T and my totally free military surplus trousers, because they have a lot of pockets and I can store an opinion in each one and never run out, so sweeet."

If anyone's curious (and bilingual in English and French), you can also read his awesome PhD dissertation online: Penser l'écran sonore : les théories du film parlant.

*son de chin-chin* (for raising a beer)
posted by fraula at 8:49 AM on May 31, 2016 [5 favorites]


His memory will most certainly be a blessing.
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posted by Sophie1 at 8:52 AM on May 31, 2016 [4 favorites]


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posted by running order squabble fest at 10:04 AM on May 31, 2016


awful news - grateful to hear that he was surrounded by a loving community (including mefites).

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posted by jasper411 at 12:37 PM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by naju at 3:02 PM on May 31, 2016


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posted by SillyShepherd at 4:46 PM on May 31, 2016


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posted by rhizome at 10:19 PM on May 31, 2016


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posted by Stynxno at 6:44 AM on June 1, 2016


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posted by crumbly at 6:57 AM on June 1, 2016


Oh no, this is horrible news. I liked him quite a lot and I will miss his humor and wisdom. Ach, this is really shitty.
posted by OmieWise at 9:37 AM on June 1, 2016 [4 favorites]


Aww, man. That sucks. Even when I disagreed with him, he was smart, witty and generally fair.
posted by klangklangston at 1:39 PM on June 1, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by Smart Dalek at 7:26 PM on June 1, 2016


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posted by mygothlaundry at 7:43 PM on June 1, 2016


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posted by Ashen at 4:56 AM on June 2, 2016


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posted by stagewhisper at 1:29 PM on June 2, 2016


gaaahhhh I miss my friend, silly thread about our strikes and protests here has set it off. wishing for his spot-on acerbic wit and knowledge of France and he's gone, there will be no Wolof posting in it. putain merde, pourquoi tu es parti si tôt, c'est trop tôt, il fallait voir grandir ta fille
posted by fraula at 2:11 PM on June 2, 2016 [16 favorites]


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posted by but no cigar at 2:22 PM on June 2, 2016


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posted by Splunge at 3:56 PM on June 2, 2016


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posted by trip and a half at 11:25 PM on June 2, 2016


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posted by wheek wheek wheek at 4:28 AM on June 3, 2016


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posted by ocherdraco at 5:41 AM on June 3, 2016


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posted by not_on_display at 9:02 AM on June 3, 2016


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I'm shocked and sad. I'm glad he was surrounded by loving family and friends.
posted by gt2 at 10:20 PM on June 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by dr_dank at 7:14 AM on June 4, 2016


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posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:17 AM on June 4, 2016


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posted by chicainthecity at 11:16 PM on June 4, 2016


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posted by maryr at 9:35 PM on June 5, 2016


I'm very late to this thread, but wanted to say that I admired wolof immensely for his erudition and humanistic spirit.

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posted by spitbull at 5:46 PM on June 6, 2016 [3 favorites]


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I also knew Wolof from the smaller pond of Monkeyfilter. He was always so much smarter and more well read than me. He will be missed.
posted by jb at 8:37 PM on June 7, 2016 [4 favorites]


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Always noted the Wolof comments, they stood out for their sanity and good nature.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:12 AM on June 9, 2016 [2 favorites]


He emailed me a month and a half ago. To say hi, mentioned the cancer, said it was "manageable." Spent more words on how his family was doing, making jokes about us both being bald.

I have no idea what to say about this. I'm absolutely shocked. He was a gentleman.
posted by UncleFes at 9:27 AM on June 9, 2016 [5 favorites]


This is a punch to the chest. We used to chat on #mofirc back in the day. Of all the conversations we had (Claire, literature, beer, bass) there are two that come to mind. One was when Claire got her first chance to play on a kid's drum kit--it was that kind of perfect moment of being a father where he was proud of her and awed at the potential of this tiny person he loved. The second, oddly, was that he was jealous that he would never get a chance to see a hummingbird.

I'm going to get drunk and watch the hummingbirds tonight.
Hugs to all the monkeys and to his much loved family.
posted by mrcrow at 11:58 AM on June 9, 2016 [5 favorites]


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posted by solotoro at 6:34 AM on June 11, 2016


One of those folks I noted that I would note and notice in threads. I am sorry for this severe loss. I will endeavour to remember and not forget the ripples made, even upon my distant pond, nor to let them fade.

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posted by infinite intimation at 6:32 AM on June 13, 2016


Non ? Merde. Merde !

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posted by nicolin at 2:03 PM on June 23, 2016 [1 favorite]


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