Krispy
Premium,VIP
join:2001-12-11
the stix
| VindictiV
It is with the heaviest of heart that I write this message. This past Saturday afternoon a family, many many MANY friends, a company and the world lost a person that was undeserving to leave us so early. His name was Jake but you all knew him as VindictiV  . A tragic motorcycle accident robbed us of one of the best people I have ever had the fortune of knowing. It is impossible to convey on how many levels this loss has affected us but you knew him from his work at Cogeco so I will speak to that.
Some of you may remember Jake's first post November 27, 2001. Jake was the pioneer who thwarted normal corporate convention to speak directly to you, Cogeco customers, and opened the doorway for many more of us Cogeco techs to actively participate in a very non-conventional, blunt, tongue-in-cheek way. As his bio says, he loved his job and he really cared about your feedback. He was proud of the work he did and proud of the services he offered. Jake was an integral part of the team that quickly rebuilt after the @Home dhcp failure of 2000 and if I were to name one single person that helped Cogeco rebuild after the @Home collapse it was Jake and I know that I am not alone in that thought. All the mail servers, proxy servers, web servers, dhcp and dns servers and the team that admin them all are a direct result of Jake's efforts and dedication. Jake actively collaborated with several vendors and individual developers to refine applications that are in use worldwide. Without Jake the emergency transition to a wholly Cogeco platform would not have been anywhere as seamless as it was. If you want to thank one person for your Cogeco service, thank Jake.
He was far more then a co-worker or boss to me and many others and that is not just one of those things you say...MANY call him a best friend and I am personally honored to have been very close to him the past few years. People say 'Remember the good times' and that is your only option with Jake as there simply are no bad times - Jake was one of the most compassionate, intelligent, quick-witted, optimistic, determined, fun smartasses I've ever had the privilege of calling a friend...I will miss Jake more then words can convey and I am not alone. Jake made time for everyone, Jake lived life to the fullest, Jake gave everyone a chance (and two and three and four...), Jake had the quickest wit of anyone I have EVER met! and Jake is truly an unforgettable person.
Internet Systems Engineering is a VERY close team of people and these are very difficult times for all of us here at Cogeco. We would never dishonor Jake's legacy by dropping the ball but please be patient with us over the next while, Jake was so much a part of our personal and professional lives that it seems there are memories everywhere we turn....from the memories of him giving me some smartass comment out back at my firepit last week, to scripts bearing his name on the servers, to the memories of my Counterstrike games with him and even my name here, Krispy - it is hard to not see him in almost everything I do and I know the rest of my team have similar memories. While this makes this time even more difficult, it also makes it better...the memories are incredible and our closeness is helping us deal with this most difficult of times.
I walked through Jake's office earlier this afternoon and looking around all I could do was smile - photos of his early years working with the Canadian Forces, his designations with the Department of Defense, his honoree 'Polar Bear' certificate certifying his dumb ass was dipped in Artic waters, Jake under the Eiffel Tower this past year, his rafting trip in Austria, the underwater picture of him scuba diving and, his scooter and, of course, his signs! Also on his shelf was a little paperweight type thing that has the same quote as in his bio's inspirational text,
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity"
- Albert Einstein
For me the opportunity in this difficult time is the opportunity to learn from Jake the importance of making time for friends and family and living life to the fullest.
He touched so many of our lives that others may want to share their own thoughts but I believe I speak for Icon3 , sheepishSCOT and everyone on our team when I say that words cannot possibly begin to convey how much we will miss you Jake.
Cheers Heywood, put Scooter on the phone. |
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Snickerdo
Premium
join:2001-02-28
Niagara Falls, ON | I don’t exactly know what to say. I’m a bit in shock. Accept my most sincere sympathy for his family and the entire Cogeco team during this time of loss. |
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Bagnon
Snoogans
join:2000-11-19
St Catharines, ON
 ·Bell Sympatico
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to Krispy
First off, I want to give my condolences to everyone who was close to him.
I first met Vinny on the Cogeco CS server when he was in GwG back in 2001. Since then, I've gotten to know him better from this forum. After reading this beautifully written post from Krispy it looks like he was much more then just an IT wizard. I and all of us will surely miss him.
RIP Jake. Thanks for everything.
-Tyler
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----gg's and happy gaming---- |
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Yllzarith
Tech Support minion
join:2002-05-27
Burlington, ON
·Cogeco Cable
| reply to Krispy
An extremely well-written send-off, Krispy.
I offer my condolences to Vin's friends, family, and co-workers in this time of deepest sorrow.
Something to help ease the feeling of pain:
"In one sense there is no death~
the life of a soul on earth
lasts beyond its departure.
You will always feel that life
touching yours,
that voice speaking to you,
that spirit looking out of other eyes,
talking to you in the familiar
things he touched, worked with, loved, or familiar friends.
He lives on in your life
and in the lives of all others who knew him." |
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Advocat
Premium
join:2002-07-21
Ontario
| reply to Krispy
I can't even begin to imagine what his family and friends/coworkers are going through with such a sudden and unexpected loss. Thank you for letting us know of his passing, and for telling us a bit of the man himself.
A very sad loss. My thoughts go with his family and with you at Cogeco who knew him so well.
--
You don't need to walk on water.You just have to be able to float. |
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Keith
Why Ask Than?
Premium
join:2002-10-28
Fort Erie, ON | reply to Krispy
My heart felt thoughts and prayers |
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techie
Premium
join:2003-06-18
Canada
clubs: |  reply to Krispy
Shocking... |
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redEagle0
join:2002-09-02
| reply to Krispy
Well it is very sad when something like this happens... especially to someone whom we all know... we all help each other out on here... so to all of us... it's like a friend has gone... or part of the family... so we do feel the loss... and a bit of the pain... but not as much as Krispy... and the others... who knew him... and were closer to him than a lot of us here... but it does help in a way to share this with the rest of us... and i really do appreciate you sharing this with us Krispy... and sharing your thoughts about how much of a wonderful person Jake was.. |
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chdude3
join:2003-07-29
Oakville, ON | reply to Krispy
My sympathies to his family and friends. It is incredibly tragic to be lost in the prime of life - but as long as you hold him in your hearts, he will never be lost. |
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sheepishSCOT
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-01
Mississauga, ON
| reply to Krispy
My friend VindictiV
In the role of senior manager at Cogeco it was my pleasure to have the customers, staff and services in the care of this simply put, complete person. He taught the organization how to tend to its job and remain on top of the game. Jake had a way of ensuring that what ever was done in our team had a human side and he cared for you customers in a profound way. His participation in this forum was only one small measure of the man I called friend. He was in no uncertain terms the brightest star to cross my sky in many, many years.
Every time you touch your machine when connected to our little network or send an email through the Cogeco severs think of Jake.
Vinny know we will never let you down
sheepishSCOT |
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oldcat7
join:2002-10-31
Ontario
| reply to Krispy
First, thanks to Krispy for her wonderful words. You are a gifted writer.
I don’t know how to write this… I have started a few times and my mind wanders. If I ramble or don’t seem to make sense, you will have to forgive me.
I have worked with Jake at three different jobs over the years. He is directly responsible for getting me the job at Cogeco and saving my post dot-bomb ass. We were both in tech-support more than eight years ago back in the god awful dial-up days. Can you imagine Vindictive taking phone calls?  Damn it was funny at times. He was the type of guy you did not work with, rather you naturally became friends with, it was simply the kind of person he was.
I remember inviting Jake to go rock climbing with a friend and I. He was not interested in it at first till he learned that the person climbing with me was a girl he liked. Some years later I remember him telling her (at this point they were engaged) that he only went climbing “to look at her ass” He had a wicked sense of humour and a wit all that who knew him will miss. Jake was always an honest person, and always there for you if you needed a friend. With Jake there was no such thing as a second chance, there were fourth and fifth chances and then some. As cynical as he could be, he was also an eternal optimistic, also seeing the best in someone, even if no one else could.
Having only been at Cogeco for a couple of years I was not working with him when the @Home world went to hell, but I do remember going out to dinner or such and having him talk about 18 hour days, not complaining, but loving the work. He loved his work, and he was one of the best at it. Jake also knew how to play hard. From caving down in West Virginia, to diving our cold waters, to kicking my ass at Counterstrike, he knew how to have a good time.
Jake, I don’t truly know how to say goodbye and I don’t think I can. You will always be with us all at work, at home and at play. So let me not say goodbye, rather let me say thank you for allowing me to know you as I did.
To a great man and a wonderful friend.
Garfield
[text was edited by author 2003-09-23 10:29:32] |
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Chelle
Premium,Mod
join:2002-02-19
Burlington, ON
clubs:
Host:
Cogeco
Canadian Broadband
Canadian Chat
| reply to Krispy
To Krista, Chris, Gar, Andrej & the rest of the Cogeco family that were close to Jake.. you have my deepest condolences. I know how hard it is for you guys to type out the feelings you're dealing with right now and I applaud you for it. I knew Jake but not as long as you guys or on the same level so I can't imagine what you're feeling right now but you have my best wishes and thoughts. I've pretty much been in a state of shock since Saturday and I honestly don't know what to say still but if you need anything, let me know.
--
Just a witch with a capital B...
Make a run for the border (the Northern one) |
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nevertheless
Premium,VIP
join:2002-03-08
Burlington, ON
·Cogeco Cable
| reply to Krispy
The first time I met VindictiV he was a Lordly Server Admin and I was a lowly Tech Support Rep. To say that I was a little intimidated is an understatement, but Jake, being the person that he is, made me feel completely at ease. Jake had a way of making everyone see the same side of every situation--he didn't care if you were a Call Centre peon, a VP, or a customer--in my experience, he treated everyone with the same respect.
Jake took on the mantle of Manager with what I saw as reluctance, I think he felt himself better off as 'one of the guys' rather than their Manager. I think that was one of his greatest strengths and the reason that his team was such a tight-knit group--at a very real level they are all peers before they are bosses, senior and/or junior admins, or abuse technicians.
One of my fondest memories of Jake were this past year's Cogeco's Festive Gala, Jake, Krispy , Polarized , zedsdead , Chelle and I all skipped out on the massively boring event to hang out in our suits and evening gowns at a bar in downtown Hamilton. We fit in like a straight man in a gay bar--but Jake didn't care and was in a great mood and was really partying it up--nobody lacked for drinks and there were smiles all around.
I'll always remember you, Jake, for a great many reasons.
[edit: Me being stupid]
--
Some people think I'm an idiot. I disagree, but idiocy is subjective--so they may well be right. With this in mind, take everything I post with a grain of salt, eh?
[text was edited by author 2003-09-23 14:42:30] |
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Steve
I'm a PC, so shut up
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA
| reply to Krispy
One often learns the nature of a man by the reflection seen in the eyes of others.
This is the case here: my condolences on a heartbreaking loss.
Steve
--
Stephen J. Friedl * Security Consultant * Tustin, California USA * my web site |
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zedsdead
Premium,VIP
join:2000-08-24
Burlington, ON
·Cogeco Cable
·Bell Sympatico
| reply to nevertheless
I have to say I'm very much still in shock by this, I don't really know what to say. I didn't know him as well as everyone else here but he was always accessible to talk to and always had a kind word. I second Never in that one of the best memories is of leaving the xmas party and going to that club in Hamilton. You will definetly be missed Jake. |
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Urban_Hippie
join:2003-07-25
Peterborough, ON | reply to Krispy
I did not have the pleasure of knowing him. But to everyone that did and his family you have my deepest sympathies. No one should have to lose someone in such a trageic way. Rest in Peace VindictiV |
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IHM
Premium,VIP
join:2001-12-18
Hamilton, ON
| reply to Krispy
CS won't be the same without VindictiV. He was always so accessible, so supportive and such a good natured smart ass. He understood what life was like for frontline support, and always gave us his full respect. I asked him to speak to a class of newly hired employees and he showed up with a detailed presentation about our network architecture. He happily went the extra mile.
Jake, you will be sorely missed.
--
2 Large Bunnies...1 Dead Penguin |
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Viggen93
Premium,VIP
join:2002-04-16
Hamilton, ON
·Cogeco Cable
| reply to Krispy
My first encounter with Jake was when he was working diligently on getting all of the Cogeco subscribers moved over to Cogeco controlled DHCP, he was busy as hell, but he still had the time to satisfy my curiosity and answer some questions, Jake made time for people, whether he knew you well or not at all.
As with zedsdead , I didn't know Jake as well as others, but I gained a vast amount of respect for him very quickly. He'll be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
--
Isn't air travel wonderful? Breakfast in London, dinner in New York,luggage in Brazil. |
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corster
Premium
join:2002-02-23
Ottawa, ON
clubs:
| reply to Krispy
This is sad. Even though I don't use Cogeco I remember reading through some of his posts when I was lurking in this fourm.
--
Visit ihaterogers.ca
Yes, I CanChat. Can you chat? Why not try for yourself? |
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Michael
Premium
join:2001-05-06
Canada
| reply to Krispy
Although I have only recently started monitoring this forum and am not familiar with Jake's posts, I have seen him mentioned several times by the people he worked with and I sensed there was a very special bond with him.
To all of you who had the pleasure of knowing him, please accept my deepest sympathies and condolences for the loss of your dear, very special friend. And thank you so much for sharing your memories, thoughts and feelings with us during this very difficult time. |
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