Hi Everyone,
As reported last month by my dear friend Selby_D_Pearson, Dark Shadows fan Roger Keene passed away shortly before this years Festival. I had spoken with Roger several times in the weeks leading up to his passing. Just a few weeks before he passed away, and as ill as he had become, he was still trying to figure out a way to attend the 2007 Festival.
These Festivals, and the people that Roger came to know through them, were very important to him. A few days before he passed, in the last conversation I would ever have with him, his voice strained and hoarse from the multiple throat surgeries he had endured in just the past month, he asked me if I knew of anyone who could use his banquet ticket. He had received his Festival packet in the mail that day, and at this time was bedridden, a home health care professional taking care of him 24/7. I was truly amazed and touched at his gesture to try and find someone to use his banquet ticket when he had much bigger problems to worry about. But that was the kind of man Roger was.
When I learned that his partner Peter was planning a Memorial service for him, I felt compelled to put together a slide show of photos I had, as well as photos I had received from many of Roger's other friends in fandom. I sent a copy to Peter, and he e-mailed me back saying it would be shown at the reception following the service.
MsCriseyde was very helpful in putting together the slide show and uploading it to U-Tube, so that I could share it with all of you here. The photos are from Roger's trip to Transylvania, trips to Seaview in 2004 & 2005, the 2004, 2005 & 2006 Festivals, a halloween party, a trip to NY in Dec 2004, and two trips to Provincetown (2004 &2005) that many of his Dark Shadows friends took to visit him at his wonderful B&B.
Roger was a great guy and is deeply missed by all who came to know him.
Here is the U-Tube link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSzFs1uf450
