A Post About Loss and One of Our Own, Abigail Key
by Anand Lal Shimpi on July 30, 2013 4:20 PM EST- Posted in
- Abigail Key
If you've read any of our motherboard reviews from around 2005 - 2009, chances are you're familiar with the name Gary Key. He was a member of the AT team, heading up motherboard reviews and helping me out with a lot of our CPU/chipset coverage on the site during that time. Gary now works at ASUS, but I still view him as part of the AnandTech family. Last month his 15 year old daughter, Abby, was involved in a fatal car crash in Oklahoma.
I originally wanted to do a post last month when it happened, but I shied away from doing so in order to give the Key family more privacy. I've been speaking with Gary regularly since it happened and believe that the time is now right.
I'd never met Abby. Gary was at my house a few weeks before all of this happened. Abby needed a Mac for some college classes she was taking, so I gave her one of my old MBPs. She loved that notebook. Gary told me that she'd send pictures of it to her friends, along with her latest pair of toe socks - her other recent obsession. She loved pink. That bright pink MeMO Pad HD7 sample? It was destined for Gary, and then Abby.
Gary was always a proud father. And understandably so. He'd always tell me about how well Abby was doing in school and about how they were in trouble since she expressed interest in eventually going to Duke. She was a straight A student, excited about becoming a Junior in high school next year.
He always told me about how kind hearted Abby was. I've learned more about her desire to help and support others more since her passing than I ever knew before. I'm saddened that the world has lost a wonderful person with such potential. I've been getting regular updates from Gary, photos of Abby, notes on things she used to love to do, and every single time the emails bring me to tears.
Gary has been doing incredibly well with all of this. I can't imagine anyone being stronger than he has been over these past few weeks.
Here's where you all come in. If you've ever read anything Gary wrote, if he ever helped you in any way, or if you just want to lend some words of support to an honestly wonderful person and his family - please feel free to do so in the comments below. Gary didn't ask for me to do a post here, but I'm sure he and his family would really appreciate any kind words from his virtual family at AnandTech.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
105 Comments
View All Comments
TheBeagle - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
A number of years ago I met Gary Key on the Forums here on AnandTech. From the very first time we exchanged comments and views about a number of computer issues, I realized he was an OK kind of a guy and always willing to help someone with a computer related problem.After a while, I also got to know a little bit about Gary's family, especially Abigail, who had been then recently diagnosed with a probable serious health issue. That's when I really got to appreciate Gary's qualities as both a man and a father. My heart breaks to read about the tragic loss of Abigail - she was truly the apple of her daddy's eye.
My faith allows me to know that Abigail is now with the angels. Blessings on Gary and his whole family, now and in the future. With deepest respect, TheBeagle
murakozi - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
My deepest condolences and prayers for her and her family. As a father, I hope I will never have to understand this pain, and wish Gary and his family a healing of all the scars. She seems to be such a nice person and I beleive, she is reading these posts from somewhere, where the best of us go.deject - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
My condolences to Gary and his family. :( R.I.P. Abigail, taken far too soon.piroroadkill - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
Damn, I read the news article to see the situation in which it occurred, there's no way anyone could have predicted or avoided that in the car.Anyone could have been killed in that situation. Horrendous.
victorson - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
This is heartbreaking, deepest condolences to Gary for the loss. Having this post by Anand here is also telling of the quality of the people working here.CSbeer - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
Touching tribute Mr. Shimpi, my heart sinks at thought of a father losing his daughter. My prayers are with Gary and his.Elroko1 - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
Wishing Gary and his family the strength to get through this tragic loss. My deepest condolences.MrHorizontal - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
Very long-time reader of Anandtech, and of course I remember Gary's insight. Please accept my deepest condolences. No parent should ever use a child.However I'd like to offer some personal advice too. At the time of a very similar incident (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6219254.... I was dating Charlie Green's sister and very close to the family. Ivan Mazour is the son of a Russian oligarch, so as you can imagine getting a member of the '1%' put in prison was quite a stressful court case above and beyond the loss of Charlie. The Greens needed as much strength as possible, and they did get at least light vindication in Mazour's conviction. I lived with them throughout the whole episode and as I'd known Charlie for years prior it was a loss to me as well.
Nevertheless, the advice I would strongly recommend is after the initial shock has died down, the Key's will need distraction. This may seem counter intuitive, but it is vitally important to focus on something other than Abigail and the massive void in their lives, otherwise a loss of this magnitude can easily consume even the strongest of hearts.
As Gary has a history in AnandTech, may I suggest, Anand, that you are quite insistent with Gary to start reviewing again (even though he won't feel up to it at all) to focus himself on doing a couple of time consuming reviews again as this should be a suitable distraction. Please trust me from experience - in doing this, you will be doing him a massive favour.
JellyRoll - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
My heart absolutely breaks to think of your loss. I cannot imagine the depth of your sorrow, and I hope that you and your family can recover from this devastating loss. Please accept my condolences.Crono - Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - link
Condolences to the family.I can't imagine losing a family member of that age.