If anything would make Craig do the dance of joy in the great beyond, this would, rainingwolf.  Cancer is an equal opportunity offender - young, old, smoker, non-smoker and everything and everyone in between - and there are tools we can use to do the very best we can to get screened/tested and take certain steps to protect ourselves.Â
You know, something else about Craig that I want to say which I find remarkable. I want to do so without sounding snarky. Craig was a guy who grew up loving the TV culture and shows like Dark Shadows, obviously. He became a writer, editor and photographer and through his work found ways to meet performers he admired as a child. In the Dark Shadows fandom, he became good friends with Louis Edmonds and wrote his biography, he met Nancy Barrett, produced her cabaret shows in New York and got her to attend the Dark Shadows Festivals, he encouraged Marie Wallace to write her memoir, designed and launched websites for Lara Parker, Diana Millay, Denise Nickerson and on it goes. Last year a big dream came true when Craig had some trivia questions published in the TV Guide!
Now, there are plenty of people for whom all this would make them feel pretty self-important. Not Craig. He saw his accomplishments as the result of hard work and being blessed - not an entitlement of any kind. He relished fulfilling things he could only dream of as a youngster and maintained that childlike awe about it all rather than a sense of being jaded.  Craig was a grounded person and a kind, helpful person.  His "connections" never went to his head though it certainly could in many people and the "connections" were used to help make projects to ultimately benefit fans happen. Sure, it was also a business to Craig since he was "in the business" but he went out of his way many times for fans to get them information, provide guidance and even encouragement.Â
Another friend of mine was (at the time) recently diagnosed as having cancer and had chemo to look forward to, and he was plenty scared. I mentioned this to Craig and Craig told me to give his email addy to my friend and have my friend write to him. The ensuing correspondence helped my friend a great deal. Craig didn't have to do that and if anyone was tired of hearing about or dealing with cancer, it was Craig. But he knew someone was scared and in the same situation he had been in during the initial stages of diagnosis. He wanted to help.
That's the kind of person Craig was.
Nancy
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Perhaps one of the things that could be done in Craig's memory is for any of us 40 or over to get tested for colon cancer. I know I put off my test for 5 years, just because it seems so unpleasant. Today I scheduled it. I did not know him, but I somehow think he might like this idea. Just a thought...
