A Sad Day For The Hero Family

[Tkenealy]

Our condolences to all the family and friends of Andy from everyone at Aberrant (formerly Aberrant Games), I know he will deeply missed. To lose anyone from such a great team of friends as Hero Games is a tragedy, especially one so young. Andy will be remembered in every roll of the dice as the games he loved and was a part of are played long into the future.

Regards

Tony Kenealy
Aberrant

[mayapuppies]

My condolences to everyone who knew him. I wish there was something I could say that would truly make everything better.

[The Arc]

I too am saddened by the Loss of Andy. I never had the chance to actually meet him, but I played alongside him in tribe's PBEM Dawnstar campaign. When I found out that Andy actually worked for Hero Games, I said to myself this is really cool. So long Andy, we'll leave a light on for you at the Miranda.

[Pariah]

I can't really say that I knew him, but I know a lot of people here did. His passing leaves a big hol in the lives of a lot of good people.

[Eosin]

Terrible loss. My prayers go out to his family.

[SCUBA Hero]

My deepest condolences.

[Roth]

I'm very sorry to hear about Andy. My condolences and blessings for his family and DOJ.

[Chromatic]

My condolences to his family and co-workers.

While we've never met face to face, Andy and I shared many a conversation via email, gamed in pbems, and discussed system mechanics on esoteric builds for nearly a decade. He will be missed.

A couple of thoughts on life's lessons:
Andy was doing what he loved, and I believe he brought a bit of joy and satisfaction into the lives of others as well as his own everyday.

Like many of us, I am sure, Andy spent a lot of time sitting behind a computer screen, something that I am certain did not help his health. I am sure that there is not one person out there reading this who couldn't do something different in their lifestyle to make themselves a bit more healthy. I for one am taking this as a wake up call (sadly not the first in our community) and I'm going to go out for a walk, get some exercise and look for Andy's new star from heaven.

Godspeed Andy, and blessings upon your wife and sons.

[Bazza]

My condolences to Andy's family and the staff at HERO.

To me Andy was the Art Director of Hero and looked with a kitten holding an upside down mouse. From what I've read here that fitted his personality well.

I went to a friend's place last night and asked if they would pray for Andy at their church group over the weekend. Also John 14 was read last night, which at the end I dedicated to Andy.

I think about all the pleasure that Andy bought to so many people, all 5th edition Hero Games have Andy in them, as we was the art director who laid the books out. Andy made the Hero books easy to read and his layout was nice and clean. The presentation (not the content) is a joy to look at. And all books Andy laid out have this spirit of his within them. This to me is his lasting legacy, his magnum opus.

I also have the ping pong ball gun that arrived whilst I was on holidays, and it will remind me of Andy. It also pleases me (hope I get this right) that Andy worked on Monsters Island, part of the new collaboration between DOJ and Cryptic.

So Andy next time you sit at Gygax's table, tell him 2 things: 1) how to layout a book, 2) run Fantasy Hero.

RIP Andy. You will be remembered.

[ShelleyCM]

I am so very, very sorry to hear the news. I will be keeping his family and friends in my thoughts.

[Scott Heine]

From The News and Advance in Lynchburg:

Howard Anderson Mathews, 41, loving husband, father and devoted worshiper of our Lord Jesus Christ, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008.

He is survived by his wife, Jacquelyn Cohan Mathews; two sons, Timothy Armor Mathews and Mackenzie Anderson Mathews; his parents, Howard B. Mathews Jr. and his wife, Helen, of New Bern, N.C.; a brother, Clayton Mathews and wife, Anne, of Gainesville, Fla.; a sister, Susan Oliver and husband, William, of Hastings, Neb.; maternal grandmother, Alice Coggin of Lincolnton, N.C.; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Cohan of Charlotte, N.C.; and a brother-in-law, Richard Cohan and wife, Emily, of Welford, S.C.

Andy was born Sept. 25, 1967, in New Bern, N.C. He was the art director with Hero Games, and a faithful and devoted member of Believers Fellowship, where he was a member of the worship team. A celebration of Andy's life will be conducted at 4 PM EST Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, at Believers Fellowship by Pastor John Bullock, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Believer Fellowship, c/o Andy Mathews Fund, 727 Old Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502.

Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory, (434) 239-2405, is assisting the family. Memories and thoughts may be shared with the family at www.heritagefuneralandcremation.com

Note: The fund mentioned in Andy's obituary is not the same as some kind of scholarship fund that Hero Games folks are looking at setting up, but is there to help the family with immediate needs.

I wanted to post this for those who see it this morning and may want to arrange for flowers to be delivered to the funeral. (Many of the local shops -- just Google "florist Lynchburg" -- can still deliver something if reached early enough today.) Though, as the obituary suggests, financial gifts would be more helpful at this time; some people just like to do both anyways.

Also, notice the link to the Funeral Home and the ability to send a message of condolence to Andy's family. When you visit that site, click "Condolences" on the left side and you'll be given a form that you can fill out. Those messages will be delivered to Andy's wife by the Funeral Director. It's very appropriate to share a memory of Andy, words of encouragement, prayers, etc. this way, especially for those unable to attend the funeral but eager to share compassion.

[Steve Long]

If the family's setting up a fund of some sort, we'll probably figure out a way to dovetail with that -- no sense duplicating effort. I hope to find out more today and will keep everyone posted.

So Andy next time you sit at Gygax's table, tell him 2 things: 1) how to layout a book, 2) run Fantasy Hero.

Here's a great little Andy story for you. Ironically (in terms of being at Gygax's table), Andy is one of that tiny sliver of gamers who did not get into gaming playing D&D. His first RPG was Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying, and from there he transitioned into the HERO System. The only D&D he ever played was 3E with our gaming group here in town. We tried a couple of times to get a "classic 1E campaign" going so we could run him through the great classic D&D modules, but sadly it never quite gelled. Still, like all games with Andy, it was a lot of fun.

[Querysphinx]

My condolences to his family. My thoughts are with them.

[Lord Hobie]

RIP Andy.

Lord Hobie

[Theron]

This is horrible. Condolences to all who knew and loved him.