David Elkins 1957 - 2014



It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that our dear David lost his fight earlier today and is now at peace.

Many of you will know him from the Chains forum which he made his own.

David had a severe form of Multiple Sclerosis which at times caused depression but he struggled on and often injected humour into his situation. Then cruelly he developed cancer. He would take the ghastly treatments and as soon as he appeared to be beating it then a tumour would develop somewhere else. Then finally last week it was C. Diff and pneumonia in both lungs which was to beat him.

We will always remember this incredible man, an inspiration to us all, when all seems to be hopeless, keep on going and come through it.

Rest in peace Dave.


This is a poem written by Dave.

A grieving widow sits by the road
Holding her ankles, reviewing her dead
And wishing she'd chosen one who'd outlived her.
The memories dancing as memories do
but the ballet is madness that sings in her head.
She thinks alive but she feels as dead
as the run-down alley cat some feet away
as the lover now buried several feet down
as the dreams of a smaller girl still harshly real.
The road is a place that forgetting can happen
but the roadside's a place where the facts all congeal
where widows can sit and watch strangers go by
and where someone may stop to console her.

And a man with a shovel just scooped up the cat
Its tangible death was a nuisance to someone.
He carried his shovel and walked towards the widow.
He said 'good morning' and tipped his white hat.
And she suddenly knew of the difference.

A grieving widow who sat by the road
writhing in agony, screaming towards clouds
Still wishes she'd chosen one who'd outlived her.
The memories screaming as memories do
But the screaming is noiseless w/out listening crowds
She suddenly learns that she's still alive
as the man with the alley cat thrust in his truck
as the love of the dead ones before they had died
as the dreams of a smaller girl still harshly real.
The road is a place of forgetting in motion
but the roadside's a place where the facts all conceal
that widows can sit and watch living speed by.
and where no one has time to console them.

David Elkins
July 22, 1957 to June 18, 2014

Oh my. I'm so sad to hear this.

I don't even know what to say.

How terribly sad this is. Rest in peace, and you will be remembered, Gatsby.

Terrible news. He was a very unique man, who never had a bad word to say about anything.

This is very sad news. Somehow I think it will take some time for all of us to come to terms with the fact that David is no longer with us, since he was always so active on the site in spite of his illness. His courage and sense of humour in the face of afflictions that I can hardly imagine are indeed, as Sue says, an inspiration.

Don't know what to say, want to swear or yell but that won't help. Miss him already both here and on Facebook. Bless you Gatsby, you will long be remembered.

So very sad. He is now at peace and out of pain.
R.I.P.

I'm so sorry to hear this, and send sincerest condolences to his loved ones.

Very very sorry to hear this, but glad that Dave is at last at peace. He was a gentleman in every sense if the word and will be very sadly missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

I am crying for me, not for him as he is away from that dreadful pain and suffering.
Dave was, yes, in every way a gentleman. He touched so many of us here, and if you believe, as I do, that people live on in the memories and hearts of others then he's here and always will be.Dear One, rest in peace.

A good man. He will certainly be missed by many. The only comfort I can find is exactly what others have said, both the positive memories and he's no longer in pain.

I'm very sorry to hear this. Although I never got to know him, I'm very sad to hear about his passing, but I'm happy to know he's not suffering anymore.

A great man, he will be missed.

Like many who knew him, I'm better for it.

For those who didn't know him, he was bold enough to be the 2nd person interviewed on the site.

http://www.funtrivia.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/496264/Interview_with_Gatsby_722#Post496264

I hope they have good coffee for you up there.

So sad to see this. Rest in peace, Dave...the chains lost a great one! We'll meet you with new chains on the other side.

As sad as it is that he is gone I am thankful it is over and his pain and suffering is no more .. but, man, I'll miss him.

May your Qs always be on the triple word, Gats!

So sad to hear this may you rest in peace Gats.

Oh my, what terrible news. Gatsby was such a wonderful man. When I was active in the chain games, I always enjoyed his responses. He played a great part here, and I will indeed miss him.

My love goes to his family and friends.

Rest in peace, my good friend... You will be sorely missed

Your link is gone, but the chain lives on, Gatsby.

You will be remembered and missed for a long time. Such dignity and strength in the face of the terrible illnesses which could have destroyed you, and such plain old humanity, wit and good humour will never be forgotten. I am, like others before me, relieved for you that your suffering is ended, and will miss you sorely.

I am so sad to read this. Although I am not such a active poster on the forums as I was, I read them every day
Gatsby will always be the "Great Gatsby" to me, and to so many others. I have so many happy memories of the Chain Games area of the forum, "tag-teaming" both Gatsby and Santana, seeing which of us could think of the quickest/cleverest/quirkiest answer. He was a great support to me - as was everyone else - when my dear Dad died over eight years ago now.
Gatsby always came across to me as a man who knew his own opinions, and knew had to voice them without conflict. He also seemed a very gentle man.
We'll all miss him a lot on the forums and the whole area of Funtrivia. But Gats made Funtrivia what it is now, a place for friends to catch up, and to remember old days. His posts will remind us what a great man he was.
We'll all miss you, Gats, and I'm glad he's not in pain any more xxx

So sad to read this. It's always a blow to lose someone who contributed so much to the site and to life as well.

I'm so sorry to read this. I didn't know Gatsby well but he was clearly a very nice man and much loved. My condolences to his family and to all his friends on FT.

I remember Gatsby first and foremost for his dedication to the Chains. I spent many many hours chain-tagging with him, and I would therefore like to honour him here with his very own chain. I opened a thread here for anybody who feels like it to chain him a happy memory here. I hope the moderators are OK with that? If not feel free to close it, and I apologise in advance for my presumption .

Toni that is absolutely fine, thank you.

So sad to hear this. I didn't know him at all, just from seeing his name and posts in the various threads around the site. I can tell that he will be greatly missed. Small comfort to know he's at peace and his suffering is over.

Seems like I've been losing family members left and right lately. All of them to cancer. My aunt & uncle on my Dad's side just died within a month of each other. My aunt we knew for a long time that she was nearing the point of passing on(a little easier to take, not much though). But my uncle kept it hid right up until about a few weeks before he died. I think he wanted the focus to be on her, his only sister. Two of my uncles on Mom's side also don't have much time left, the cancer has already spread too far. Plus one's wife just died last month, yes from cancer too. Seems like I've been in a perpetual state of mourning for months now. Sorry, don't want to take the attention away from Gatsby in this tribute thread.

Rest in peace Gatsby.