Hi Guys,
Pat Condray was sideswiped by a car while riding his bike. He suffered serious brain trauma and was in the hospital with a coma and passed away soon after! Unfortunately he wan't wearing a helmet, I'm not sure it would have mattered, but we will never know.
A very sad time for his family. My prayers are with his family at this rough time. Pat was a very colorful character.
Truly a tragedy and another blow to the hobby. I met Pat at a con, an early H'con in Harrisburg PA, my first Historicon! We had become quick friends as I was into 20mm Spanish Civil War and of course you know that was one of his passions. I have always gotten along very well with him despite his issues with a few others in the hobby. He like me, was unafraid to voice his concerns and thoughts without the care of repercussions or what others thought, be we right or wrong! We have both upset people within the con circuit and HMGS organizations. He liked to coin himself, "The Poison Pen"! His convention AAR's were always a pleasure to read. He had taken thousands upon thousands of pictures of the cons for so many years, he must have a treasure trove of pics of games, cons, and people. The amount of positive things he's done for this hobby are immeasurable. From starting new chapters to supporting existing ones. From running games to writing rules, from designing and selling miniatures to aiding a fellow hobbyist with questions. Pat loved this hobby and it's adherents.
I always made a point to spend some time with Pat at every con. In the early years I played in one of his SCW games at almost every con that he ran one and have bought many 20mm figs for the conflict from him for the years. Victor and I had played in one of his recent games a few cons ago at an HMGS-South con, the game was "A Place Called Jarma 1937". I had just made a thumb drive for him of pics from that SCW game Vic and I had played in that I was going to give him at Recon-2015.
We had conversed many, many times over years discussing battles, OOB's, and uniform details. In the later years he would ask me about colonial uniforms for paint jobs on 54mm figs for his grandson. I will miss Pat......
Passing away at 75 for such a vibrant person is way too soon. May he rest in peace! My thoughts and prayers to his family.
Jeff Baumal
Pat Condray
Jarma 1937 - The Moors prepare to attack. "Recon 2014 - Orlando Fl."
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Vic and Pat discuss the rules and the scenario.
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The Nationalists attack!
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I did not know Pat well, but I was aware of his presence at the various conventions and his out-spoken manner. He will be missed. Perhaps an appropriate gesture would be a table set up in his memory. Mickey
ReplyDeleteHey, Jeff, didn't read this post of yours re: Pat Condray having passed away until just now. Touching post about a fine man. What a bummer. I didn't know Pat as well as you, but I met him in the early '80s and always remembered him. Despite his reputation -- especially online -- as the self-described "Poison Pen", he was such a generous and friendly guy in person. It's a very sad loss to his family & friends and also to our hobby in general.
ReplyDeleteOn a much happier front, the fund for Larry Brom is only $50 short of $6K, so despite having a long way left to go it's inching its way towards the finish-line, and I really hope to see you in person at Colonial Barracks V in November, Jeff!