Hooboy has left the building.

[Guy Fawkes]

Thursday, March 3rd, 2005 8:00am EST

 

It is with extreme sadness, I need to announce that we lost Hooboy last night. We've lost a remarkable man, a unique resource, and a friend that I feel that we'll never be able to replace.

 

Hooboy was always adamant that the "Reviews go up by 6 am New York time", but for the next few days please accept our apologies that we won't be able to do so.

 

I know that many of you have questions, but right not we're making sure that his family is contacted before releasing any details. Thank-you for your kind words.

 

Please be very careful to keep Hooboy's private information private. His family and friends would greatly appreciate it.

 

--Daddy

[Guest manrent1]

This is a wonderful poem that has brought me comfort in the past...

 

 

EPILOGUE Henry Scott Holland (1847 – 1918)

 

 

Death is nothing at all.

 

I have only slipped away into the next room; I am I and you are you.

 

What we were to each other, that we are still.

 

Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me the easy way which you always used.

 

Put no difference in your tone; wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

 

Laugh, as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

 

Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me.

 

Let my name be ever the household word it always was. Let it be spoken without effect, without trace of a shadow in it.

 

Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. What is death but a negligible accident?

 

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near; just around the corner.

 

All is well.

[jakobsen]

This is so shocking--and sad. I felt I lost a loved one. Sleep well and thanks making a difference in my life and several others'. I wouldn't have discovered the world of hiring had it not been for this site. May you continue to live in our hearts, memory and this website.

[JT Brooklyn]

My Condolenses to all of Hooboys Close friends and many acquaintences. Over the years, he had answered many of my boring, trivial email questions, with much humor... He led a very Full and definitely Interesting life, some of us only dream of! He will be missed by us all..I will miss seeing "Greta Garbo's little face! :-( :-( :-(

[+ Lucky]

Such a horrible thing to learn. I wish his family the best. His website has brought me great pleasure and many frineds.

[bigjake8]

Wow. This is heartbreaking. 7 years ago this website really changed my business (In a good way). I was forced to really think about what I wanted my clients to walk away thinking about my work. Had him on my table once. Didnt even know it until he wrote a review. Damn.

[fosterchow]

Oh, my, we have all lost a great friend and a wonderful person. How many hundreds of us have depended on HooBoy and the escort reviews, how fairly he treated both clients and escorts. He will be sorely missed.

 

Dan

[Guest Jocoluver]

I didn't realize how much this would make me cry!!!

 

For myself and for hooboy and for all of us.

 

I never met him, but I feel I have lost a friend. He always answered my emails thoughtfully and promptly (back in the earlier days of this site).

 

I believe hooboy deserves to be remembered along with the other heros of gay "activism" - like the Stonewall drag queens.

 

How much easier my life would have been if there had been a hooboy around 50 years ago when I was discovering my sexual orientation (during the early 50's and the McCarthy homosexual witch hunts).

 

RIP, My Friend!

[+ Charlie]

I can't think of anything appropriate to say--all sorts of emotions are roiling in me, from sorrow at the death of someone with whom I have shared many private messages, to apprehension at what the loss will mean to the website and to all of us who have become addicted to it.

[LovesYng]

The biggest thing I can say about Hoo and this message center is that it helped me out 100% about my gayness. It showed me how to deal with things and to know I was not the only one out there with the same feelings & problems.I have learned a lot from hanging on here, from personal E mails to the threads. Maybe I close my eyes to a lot about being gay because I was scared but over the years I learn it's a great world with people like Hoo and other members of this message center. I met a lot of wonderful people on here including Hoo that I will hold dear to me forever. Even at the ripe old age of the big 50 coming soon I'm still not done learning.

 

Again Hoo, you were a big part of my life and I'll never forget you & your humor, your frim hand when things got out of control on here. Yes we picked on you at times, yes we bitch at you at times but you will never be replaced in my eyes.

 

God Bless you HooBoy and remember to enjoy your new life, look down on us all at times. Again God Bless my friend.

 

Here is a big wet kiss just for you :* :* :P

 

When in doubt I whip it out ;( ;(

[marc anthony]

:-( :-(

[trilingual]

I'm immensely saddened by the news. Like so many others, I never actually met Hoo in person (we kept crossing tracks in Brazil) but discovering M4M and starting the whole Escorts South madness has been an important part of my life these past few years. I've met many new friends through M4M; many guys have traveled to South America and are establishing second homes here in large part because of the site. It never would have happened without Hoo, so for everything he did to make M4M functional, reliable and authoritative, I am deeply grateful. It's a big loss for the entire M4M community. My sympathy especially goes out to those of you who knew him personally, and for a much longer time than I did. Hoo was one-of-a-kind, and will never be replaced. ;(

[PacNW]

When you first step into a "cyber" community like this, the other people there are, of necessity, two dimensional. They are just pictures, or words on your computer screen. Over time, as you read their words more closely and maybe get to meet them in person, they are fleshed out, they become real individuals.

 

My time here is short relative to a lot of you. But in that time I'm glad to say that HooBoy was one of those that had become real to me, from his postings and emails, and from meeting people who had met him. My thoughts right now are with those who were close to him, and I wish you ease in this difficult time.

 

I'd like to think that someday Hoo and I would have met up ourselves in some exotic location to share experiences. Maybe we still will ... it'll just be in a place more exotic than my puny little earthbound mind can yet conceive of.

[noviceny]

I never thought that an online community like this one would be able to help so much in the life of someone coming out. Yet, because of Hooboy, my transition has become easier. All I can do is say, "Thank You" and that you and yours are in my prayers...Peace

[Guest baba]

I also wish to share my gratitude for HooBoy and all of his good work. I have only been here a short time and never had the opportunity to meet him - but I have been touched by his presence and dedication.

 

Thank you Hooboy.

 

My sympathy to all your biological and cyber families.

[Chuck50]

I have become a better person for having had the good luck to meet him in person. It was through Vegas Boy Dave and I remember going to meet HOOBOY and all I could think of was the great and powerful OZ who was behind the curtain, like in the Wizard. And I am not talkin about our own OZ. Hooboy was not like the wizard behind the curtain

he was unassuming, caring and loving of life and people and so wodnerful to sit and talk to. I was able to email him from time to time and talk on the phone. He was awesome as I said before he was a "Gem in the Rough." Many didn't know the good that he did. We liked him for what he did on here but there was much more to him. GOD BLESS YOU XXXXXXXX, for you have Blessed us. HUGS Chuck50.

 

Name removed

[Juan Vancouver]

Dear Hooboy,

 

Reading about your departure has filled me with much sadness; I have to confess that it is selfish, self-centered sadness, because I will never have the chance to meet you in person.

When I first came in contact with you through e-mails, (one among thousands of escorts that you were in contact with), you gave me some time, responded to my questions, and gave me a little space in your schedule, and (I felt) in your heart. Your kindness came across your words, and it was clear that you had chosen the right career: bringing attention to the dark, hidden profession of escorting, and those who use their services.

You were always inclusive, tolerant, kind and affectionate, even with those who you didn't know in person. Your work and your words have helped lots of people to learn more about this activity that was totally clouded by prejudice and fear, and now learning about it is as easy as typing http://www.male4maleescorts.com.

 

And of course, you have given us escorts a face, a mind, a heart of our own. We are not just a cliche name printed on a seedy publication wanting to use a John... we are people, who think, love, like our jobs (or hate them), but PEOPLE at last! And all that because of you.

 

Thanks you thousand times, dear friend.

 

As for you, I have to confess that I am not sad. I am a believer that all the kindness that we give when we are alive, will impact in our experiences after we take the big plunge into the unknown... If that is true, there is nothing but joy, peace and fulfillment awaiting for you in the other side...

You have thousands of good deeds in your love account, and I am sure that you are going to have an amazing time.

 

It's just Us, the ones that are left behind, the ones that will suffer a bit. May we find some comfort, and may your work stay alive, with the same pristine intention.

 

Thanks, dear friend... and enjoy the amazing trip!

 

 

Juan

[eastbayguy]

My condolences to Hoo's family and friends everywhere. I know this must be difficult for you all, and my thoughts are with you. We are united in our sadness and grief.

 

At this time, I can only reflect on the unique community here. We all owe Hoo a vast and unpayable debt for his efforts in creating it and keeping it going. I'm sure the frustration has been immense at times. Having built and enabled this community is a marvelous legacy to Hoo.

 

Via this web site, I have met some truly great, great people. Escorts as well as clients. The conversations we've had here are remarkable and precious. Thank you, Hooboy, for bringing us all together.

 

Indeed a sad day. Not sure what else to say.

 

--EBG

[+ deej]

Beautifully said, Juan. Thank you!

[alanalt]

Words are inadequate to the burden of my heart...

 

Fare well Hooboy wherever you are now, you've left a lot of good memories behind!

[sizzlingrice]

My deepest symphaties to Hooboy's friends and family.

 

Hooboy:

 

Thanks for all you did to this site and to the M4M community. You have done a great service to all of us by starting this site and keeping it alive, fair and constructive. I have learned a lot as a client. It had opened my eyes to the world of escorting not only here in the USA but also to the other parts of the world. This site made it a little safer for us clients in making the right choice with hiring. It has also pushed me to explore other countries and their culture and that there's so much to see and learn in this world. I truly am grateful.

 

May you rest in peace.

[Barry]

I have so much I want to say but right now every time I try, what comes out is incoherent. But I do want to say this.....

 

I spoke with Hoo at least once a week, most recently just yesterday. There are 2 things you should all know.

 

- All of you here were special to him in a way that can't be described in words.

 

- This past year has been the happiest in his life....right up to the very end.

 

Barry

[duke37]

I'll never forget how genuinely thrilled he was to share some webcam images of the places he and foxy were visiting. And his kindness and friendliness to me, (a pretty non-noteworthy) poster was both a surprise and a pleasure.

 

I have been in denial for the past few hours hoping that this was some sort of mistake. How do you say goodbye to someone you have never met?

 

Jeff

[Guest Jocoluver]

John Donne

 

Meditation XVII: No man is an island...

 

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....

 

No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

[BuckyXTC]

I'm truly stunned.

 

How much I owe this guy I can't even begin to describe. While we never met, we had a mutual friend and I know from that friend just what a special, giving person Hooboy was.

Barry shared that this past year has been Hooboy's very best. I'm grateful for that.

 

Farewell, good soul, you will be sorely missed. :-(