Leabhar Mor Lochlainn

To All,

The sadness that I find in my heart is beyond words.

To Lady Bronwen, sister, known that your loss is share by many and you are not alone.

In many way it is fitting that our great Taoiseach should fall on the feast of Saint Patrick and Holy Week, but this does little to sooth the pain I feel upon hearing this news.

The bell has rung, for twelve nights the wake will be kept and the blaze of torches will make the night like day. May we all raise our wailing voices in sorrow and praise for our fallen Chieftain, may the angels protect him, and I know that Heaven has already accepted him, but he will always be in my prayers. As aire echta I regret that I was not at our ri tuaithe's side when he lost this battle, but I will fast and pray until Maundy Thursday when I will break my fast and feast in honor of our fallen leader. At dusk on the twelfth day, 29th of March, I invite all, where ever you maybe, to raise a horn of their finest in honor of Artur MacLochlainn, C. Edward Lawton Jr., Bear, our Leader, our friend, my brother.

To all my brothers and sisters of Clann Lochlan, I share your loss and sadness.

In sadness,
Balan

It saddens my heart to know our Baron has fallen to a nameless enemy. May our axes stay ever crossed and his memories live on in our families. A toast to our Baron, your fight is now at an end, may you find peace and watch over your kin as we fight on in your name.

Vivat Baron Bear!

Love always,
Lord Ian MacEwan
mka John McCuan.
Oklahoma City, Okla.

My too long lost brothers and sisters,

I've been too long gone from these halls and for that I am truly regretful. Bear was nothing but an amazing man and mentor to me when I needed one most. Jackie, you were like a second mother to me and my deepest sympathies reach out to you. While trying to think up the words to express my sorrow and sympathies I passed this tragic news on to the Sylvan Glen community that welcomed Bear and I with open arms what seems like a lifetime ago. Within minutes I received replies of sympathy and fond memories of a man they will also truly miss. Bear's passion for life, hospitality and generosity was far reaching and the entire world is lessened by his passing. Laird Wulfric Grimbeald the High Chief of Clan Wulfgard and personal friend and brother in arms of Bear's from Sylvan Glen passed along these words, which capture so well the influence Bear had on everyone around him.

"God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered ?come to me.? With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best."

My thoughts and prayers are with all of my too long lost brothers and sisters in Atlantia.

Joshua "Ninja Monkey" Ahlbrecht

When I first got into the SCA it was very confusing trying to figure out how things worked. Bear was very nice to me. He introduced me to people and invited me to become a member of Clann Lochlan. He helped me a lot and I am very glad that I got to meet him and I will miss him not being here.

Aine

I met Bear at Mannanan Mac Lir. It was my first event, and Daniel Chapiesky took me. I had no idea what to expect or what I would see. Daniel introduced me to Bear and my life was never the same after that. Bear was welcoming and funny, and I, who am normally very reserved around new people, found myself relaxing in his presence within the first hour of our meeting. It was he who helped me develop my Russian Persona and welcomed my ideas openly. I'm only sorry I didn't meet him a long time ago. God's got a great and wonderful man with him.

Elena Frederova

This is bad news. Bear was one of the first people I met in the SCA back in 1989. He was the founding member of " House Vert Ax", he asked me to join his house hold then, I could not, but we remained friends.

He was always a good soul of a man. Even with his diabetes, he had a good heart. There was a shocker at an event when he was hospitalized, rather than go to the safety of his home, he returned to the event and enjoyed himself. He said " The Rumors of my demise are greatly over blown". He had that kind of heart. In my opinion, he never complained about his sickness, he kept moving and did not stop if he could help it.

Vivat Baron Bear! Achbar will miss you!

Ah, Bear ... you were such a bright, shining light in my life.
It helps to know that you are now without pain or worry.
I am heartbroken to know that I will not see you or your smile again.
I wish you well on your new journey. I am going to miss you terribly.

Lady Caitriona inghean Ghiolla Phadraig

My sincere condolences to his family.

Marguerite Le'Vesque
Mka Susan Nelson

This is heartbreaking ... I remember Baron Bear from ten or so years ago when I first began in the SCA as one of the first people to be friendly and nice to me. He was always so friendly and jovial, a joy to be around. It was wonderful to get to know him again when I moved back to town a few years ago. This is very sad news, but thank you for telling us.

He will be greatly missed.

Hannah.

*crying*

Indeed the biggest heart.. a joy and a great example on the field and off. He will be missed

Lady Marie Helene of the New Forest (San)

To me, one of his greatest moments is when he and I took a trip to AEthelmearc for an event three or four years ago. Just before feast began, I was standing there chatting with Bear about the days activities (there were no empty chairs in the feast hall). He noticed a lady that appeared exhausted looking for a place to sit. He asked me to help him up and over to a step, then to take his wheelchair over to the lady so that she would have a place to sit during feast. Just one more example of the kind of person he was.

Bear,

May you serve as well as an example to the Angels as you have to your fellow man.

In Loving Memory of our "Bearon",
Lucien

I am so deeply sorry for your and our loss. Bear's struggles are at an end, he is restored. He was such an unexpected person. He could look so gruff but then was gentle and funny and generous. He had a very different way of being a leader than you expect. His example was more of - Here, you go ahead -.

Blessings with his family
Meriall

Bear was a stalwart guard and friend to all, the world is lessened by his loss and I am unashamedly crying over the hole he has left. Give "Em hell on the Elysian fields Bud.

Corwyn

I am saddened by the passing of Bear, my friend. He was always courteous and kind to me. He was always respectful and his hand of greeting and friendship was always of great value and comfort to me and I say that I was honored to know him for I beleieve his heart to be that of a true gentleman. I know today he sits, whole and without illness, in the company of Our Lord so my prayers are for his family. May their grief be only of his absence, may their hearts suffer little, and may they know they are all still among friends and family. One day my friend will greet me, again,?with his smile and handshake and I pray I am worthy to be in the company he now keeps.

May God Bless us all
Olie

A Bright light of the Society has been put out and a good friend has been lost. I join each of you in grief and sorrow. The Bearon will be truly missed. I can think of no more words......

Yours in sorrow
Takeda

I imagine Kane and Bear sitting there with a mug of beer each telling "No %^*& there I was" stories.

Duchess Rachel

The world is a much sadder place for all of us without you in it, but we know you're in a better place. Rest in Peace, Big Guy.....

Brandon

Bear,

You will be missed, big guy.

Bear was one of the coolest people I have ever met. He always had a kind word and a smile for everyone.

(and he was a good GDW player too!)

When you join with Sigmar on the celestial fields of battle- smite the forces of Chaos for me!

Ibn

Greetings from Bright Hills,

It is with great sadness that I, too, receive this news. I am Lord Rhys Cantor, Bowman of the Crescent Guard of the Northern March, and I knew His Excellency both in the Current Middle Ages and mundanely. I met him through our mutual love of miniature wargaming, while I was working for the game company he so adored.

When he found out that I had joined the SCA, he emailed me and let me know that he had been a SCAdian for many, many years, and he really revealed to me his wonderful values of chivalry, honor, and humility that he carried even through his mundane life. I have always had the deepest respect and brotherly love for Bear, and, as we in the Great Dark Horde say, "May he always ride well and free." I know now he finally can. And that lifts my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with his fair Lady, and their friends and family, that they may find comfort in his memory and love.

I will sing a song of remembrance for him, and be joyous in his life. Ride well, anda.

Lord Rhys Cantor
Bowman of the Crescent Guard
Order of the King's Missiliers
Brother of the Great Dark Horde
mka "Dirty Steve" Fuller.

Please offer to our Lady Bronwen the deepest sympathies of my house. It is truly a terrible thing to lose one's life-partner. One such as Bear is so very rare.

Gerita della Mara
David ben Leon
Tenchi Sueko-san

He was a great man and a mentor to alot of us. I know he will be missed.

Lord Alwin of Nottinghiill Coill
mka Matt Power

I will greatly miss Bear, in the past year he became close to our little group.

Honor him like the brother he was....

Mark O'Crowly

I dont know what to say at a time like this. Baron Bear will be missed greatly. His loss will be felt by not only our little group but the entire Kingdom as well.

Barry Goen

Yes this heavy's my heart greatly! bear has always been a great help and teacher for me. I have worked along side him for many year's and he and his lady has also opened their door's to me in time's of need .. there wasn't a time when he picked up the phone and called for help that i went to his need's be it his wagon or fergus or ground's.. I and my lady will miss him deeply!!!

Morwich Ua Morgair of the windy wood

Greetings to all,

I remember the first time I meet Bear. It was at W.O.P.P. and he greeted me as if I had known him for ever. He welcomed me as a freind, an equal, and made me want to be part of the S.C.A.

He is/ was the type of person that gave you the warm feeling and desire to play the dream.

I will always try to keep hims dream of SCA alive.

Lord David Oberman von Hammer

I was a friend of Bear from the Warhammer games he would play at Heroes and Dragons. He was very well liked there and many people will miss him. He was there with us every Saturday and sometimes on Sundays. When I started playing, he was very helpful to me and he was always cheerful and happy despite his illness. He gave my daughter her first set of Warhammer miniatures, a regiment of human Halberdiers, and just two weeks ago, on noticing that she had no dice of her own, he gave her a box of 12 dice. He is definitely one of the most generous people I have ever met.

Stephan

I have known Bear since my first days in the SCA, once being a member of House Vert Axe. Our hearts go out to your great Clann, our prayers for his Lady, and our hopes to see him again when this world is done. We shall all raise a horn in his honor.

Kveld-Ulfr inn berserkr
Khan, House Griffins Moon

Garrison Keeler once said, "the older one gets, the more people there are in your address book that have crossed over to the other side.....yet you can't bring yourself to cross them out." Tonight my brother warrior, His Excellency Baron "Bear" MacLochlainn is sitting in grand company in the halls of Valhalla. You all remember them, the warriors, ladies, poets, healers, musicians and other gentles who have passed over that we have known and loved and still hold in our hearts. I shall raise a glass to Bear and the whole lot of em' this eve!

Baron Arkein Steinschleifer von Uberstein

I did not know the Baron, but from what I have learned, he was an honorable man. I quote the Havamal here:

"Silence becomes the Son of a prince,
To be silent but brave in battle:
It befits a man to be merry and glad
Until the day of his death"

I am saddened by your loss, and by my loss of never meeting such a noble being.

Vlad Darii

I've known Bear for at least 12 years from his gaming at Heroes & Dragons, and the world is little dimmer today for his passing. Bear was a giant of man in so many ways, and his heart overflowed with his love for those honored enough to count themselves as his friend. Bear's presence always brightened a room, leaving it a happier place for his presence. I will miss him, but his big ol' paw prints will be forever on my heart.

Felecia

Bear called me about a week before his passing. He said if I ever needed a sitter for the kids he would love to as it would give my lady and I some much needed time to focus on one another. I asked Bear if he would like to come to dinner next week and share the Easter holiday with us, he never mentioned even needing to go to hospital.

That was Bear.

Bear is a good friend of mine and I am deeply saddened by his passing. I will keep his seat on my right open at feast table at all events I attend for the rest of the year.

I love you Bear and miss you.

Matthew