A Memorial Remembrance for GPWA Members

**MichaelCorfman** · 30 May 2018, 1:05 pm

It is now 29 May 2024, the last Wednesday in May, so it is time for our seventh annual GPWA Memorial Day remembrance. Please let me know if you are aware of any GPWA members that should be included, and I will edit the post appropriately. Thank you.

Michael
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It is now 31 May 2023, the last Wednesday in May, so it is time for our sixth annual GPWA Memorial Day remembrance. Please let me know if you are aware of any GPWA members that should be included, and I will edit the post appropriately. Thank you.

Michael
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It is now 25 May 2022, the last Wednesday in May, so it is time for our fifth annual GPWA Memorial Day remembrance. Please let me know if you are aware of any GPWA members that should be included, and I will edit the post appropriately. Thank you.

Michael
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It is now 26 May 2021, the last Wednesday in May, so it is time for our fourth annual GPWA Memorial Day remembrance. Please let me know if you are aware of any GPWA members that should be included, and I will edit the post appropriately. Thank you.

Michael
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It is now 27 May 2020, the last Wednesday in May, so it is time for our third annual GPWA Memorial Day remembrance. Please let me know if you are aware of any GPWA members that should be included, and I will edit the post appropriately. Thank you.

Michael
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I made the post below a year ago (30 May 2018). And, since it is now 29 May 2019, the last Wednesday in May, it is time for our second GPWA Memorial Day remembrance. Please let me know if you are aware of anyone who has been left out, and I will edit the post appropriately.

Michael
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This past Monday (the last Monday in May) was Memorial Day in the United States - a holiday designated to honor those who died in active military service. For many of us in the states it is also a day when we honor and think about those we knew who are no longer with us.

Part of my personal focus on Monday was to reflect on GPWA members that are no longer here. I decided to research those who I knew about, and to honor them with a post in the forums. And since Wednesday is newsletter day for the GPWA, I decided that the last Wednesday in May would be a good day for us to recognize as our GPWA Memorial Day.

I know of twenty-one GPWA members that have passed away. I list each of them below with their GPWA member name linked to their profile, together with the year of their birth and death, and how many times they shared their thoughts with us in these forums.

bigbcasinos 1961-2024, 3,409 posts
hkaos 1976-2024, 6 posts
adriann 1963-2023, 1 post
GPWA Maria 1970-2022, 3,249 posts
Wayne 1976-2020, 83 posts
xfilespoker 1967-2020, 37 posts
GPWA Loriann 1963-2019, 2,015 posts
GaryTheScubaGuy 1966-2018, 745 posts
OldWestGames 1966-2018, No posts
belgamo 1967-2017, 183 posts
GPWA Jim 1971-2017, 9 posts
RayUK 1964-2016, 322 posts
EricStoner 1945-2016, No posts
Nandakishore 1935-2014, 2,104 posts
opafrank 1936-2014, 25 posts
giggles7p 1962-2011, 1,600 posts
Antiogenes 1952-2011 1 post
Captainette 2011, No posts
Professor 1963-2010, 2,289 posts
Captain 1958-2010, 2,109 posts
Spearmaster 1964-2010 1,993 posts

I knew many of these GPWA members well. Five from spending time together and meeting up frequently at conferences and others from connecting in the forums and behind the scenes.

I'm sure this list is incomplete. So please send a pm to me if you know of others that should be included. Or feel free to recognize them with a post in this thread. And I invite anyone to post and share their thoughts about those that are no longer able to participate here.

Thanks,

Michael

**universal4** · 30 May 2018, 1:33 pm

May they all rest in peace

Like Michael, I too had formed a connection with each of them in one form or another.

Rick

**Cash Bonus** · 30 May 2018, 3:00 pm

That is a very touching tribute, Michael, and also a very beautiful one.

Please accept my sincerest condolences

I hope that they all rest in peace.

**Topboss** · 30 May 2018, 5:20 pm

It is so sad, I remember nearly all of these people on this list, and each one was special in their own way.
May they all rest in Peace

**mongoose** · 30 May 2018, 7:13 pm

Thanks for the tribute.

I remember the road trip i took to visit Captain. We got in his convertible and drove down to Professor's house and stayed the night. Then off to Miami where we met Spearmaster, to whom i owe a debt that can never be repaid. It was one of the times of my life.

**Webzcas** · 30 May 2018, 7:53 pm

Lovely post Michael. I actually came across a video Alan did for his site Online Casino Magic this morning, when searching YouTube for US Online Casinos. That was so so sad what happened to his daughter. It tore his family apart.

He, Lou and Ted all died within months of each other, if I recall correctly. Ted, I credit to me becoming a full time affiliate, making the transition from weekend warrior, to playing around with websites my livelihood.

**MichaelCorfman** · 30 May 2018, 7:58 pm

I received a pm from GPWA member Holland87 letting me know that belgamo passed away last year after a battle with cancer. Thank you Holland87. My post above has now been edited to include him.

Michael

**Former Member 14** · 30 May 2018, 10:56 pm

Originally Posted by Webzcas

I actually came across a video Alan did for his site Online Casino Magic this morning

Alan (Captain)
I've also sometimes stumble on videos Alan (Captain) did, and it brings back a lot of good memories. He, like so many others of that era, wouldn't hesitate to give advice if asked. Being an affiliate back then, really meant you were part of a community (1 for all, all for 1). It's what made being a gaming affiliate (in the early days), fun and exiting!

Ted (Spearmaster)
The one chance I had to meet , was as an invited speaker at a Melbourne (AU) land-based gaming convention, which he too was attending. Unfortunately personal stuff arose for me, and that meeting never happened. However, Ted was always a straight shooter. His avatar at CM was a Cheeky-Devil, and he used the term "The Devil's Advocate" below his Avatar at CasinoMeister, where, he was a regular poster (Moderator?). Ted and Bryan Bailey were best mates, who, would often take family holidays together.

Lou (Professor)
He was a bit of a character, though very knowledgeable, and who founded CAP. I recall the Integrity Group (former owners of Captain Cook Casino etc., etc), they invited Lou and his wife out the Gold Coast (AU) for a week's all-expenses paid visit. As it happen, the week Lou was in town, I too was at the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) having a break. We planned to meet up, but with other engagements, our paths didn't cross.

As for all the other GPWA members who have passed, it's a bitter sweet. Lots of funny stories, good times, and memories still live. They are all missed. Thank you Michael for commencing this thread, I think it's important to remember those who are no longer with us.

**fsc** · 30 May 2018, 11:21 pm

I will part hijack this thread but thought its a good opportunity to let everyone know about this

A memorial for Gary the scuba guy is happening this Sunday if anyone is based in Malta and interested to attend

https://www.facebook.com/events/446237202499888/

**ocreditor** · 31 May 2018, 1:35 am

An amazing post. May all rest in peace.

**bigbcasinos** · 31 May 2018, 7:25 am

Tony Frank (opafrank) - The original slot advisor. He did Vegas in the old days. His original earnings were based on e-book sales about slot strategies. I spent many hours chatting to him. We often had to resort to send and receive e-mails given our time differences. We always shared information both business related and personal. I miss Tony a heck of a lot.

Ted (Spearmaster) - Not sure if he ever slept. We would chat at all sorts of hours. I remember him for his integrity and also his generosity in sharing. I did the lunch thing with him in London but I also remember getting way out of hand with some weird golf game that was hosted by one of the affiliate programs (indoor golf). Ted was fun in addition to being the serious industry advocate. Ted left a huge hole in the industry.

I had dealings with most of the rest on that list. Always positive.

They will be remembered.

**Tony** · 31 May 2018, 5:38 pm

May they all rest in Peace

**allfreechips** · 1 June 2018, 8:18 am

Really hard to believe how large this list is, and how young most of these people were. Truly makes you think and appreciate the time we all have and may they all rest in peace... Very sad

**Ladiepre** · 4 June 2018, 3:00 pm

I only communicated with Gary from this list, its overwhelmingly long. May their souls rest in perfect peace.

**Breakout Affiliates** · 5 June 2018, 7:13 am

What a beautiful tribute. May they all rest in peace.

**Maxfalcon** · 5 November 2018, 5:31 am

Yes, I remember those members. The Professor with its renowned affiliate webmasters forum, Captain who was generous and a good but broken guy (life had not been easy to him), and Spearmaster, who was very active in our industry at that time, with a high quality website and was very involved in lots of issues. The news of their death shocked me. I talked with them by emails and they were good guys. I even got front page link exchange with Ted on its website, if I remember well. It's other times. I've seen photos of the GPWA Miami meetings. Back at that time I thought I needed to go there. But I was not able to go. I've thought, next time I will meet them... It's amazing that we will never see those people back.

Thank you for this tribute to them and for the other members.

**jarvi** · 5 November 2018, 6:21 pm

Missed this back in May. Thank you Michael. A touching post.

More than half were within a few years of my age. I like to think I have plenty of years left to enjoy life. This list shows it can be taken away at any time.

**Harry69** · 6 November 2018, 7:23 am

I'm still quite new here, but I think that's a great thing to do and it makes me feel proud to be part of this community

**universal4** · 28 November 2018, 4:58 pm

Based upon feedback and a suggestion by Aussiedave, we will make this important thread sticky so it will stay up top and can serve as a fitting reminder that business aside, the GPWA has only ever been about it's members.

Rick
Universal4

**Integrity** · 28 November 2018, 5:40 pm

Although she was not well known in the forum, Allan "The Captain" Leonard's wife, Patty, also passed shortly after he left us. She went to many events and was also loved by many here. She had a long battle with her illness, and she declined after losing the love of her life.

What happened to their family was one of the most tragic things I've ever witnessed. They lost their youngest daughter to a car accident in about 2005. I had never met her, but I wept so hard that day, because of how much Allan and Patty meant to me. And the thought of losing a child was overwhelming.

They were the nicest people and so in love with one another. I never ever ever saw them without a smile on their faces. Allan used to call me when he had too much to drink... and after losing his baby girl, most of his affiliate business, and with his wife's failing health, he drank often. No matter what happened to him, though, he always told you he loved you before the conversation ended.

When Allan passed, I think Patty gave up. It was awful to see it happen... like a train wreck spread over years. It still saddens me. As I have grown older and gathered baggage of my own, I understand Allan better. How he dealt with his pain is no ones business to judge.

I look forward to seeing my friends again one day. I know they are happy together somewhere... Allan with a drink in his hand. And I know when that day comes he will smile and give me a big hug. That's who he was. That's who he is.

Love...

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