In memory of Malcolm Wagner (unkamunka)

[Brian Livingston]

We received word from Vincent Acheson, the brother of Moderator Malcolm Wagner, that Malcolm passed away recently. Malcolm was a very active Mod who had been a member of the Lounge for a decade and had contributed more than 5,000 posts. We will miss him dearly.

I never met Malcolm personally, but we had spoken several times on the phone in recent weeks so I could plan a visit to see him the next time I traveled to Europe. Malcolm used the display name unkamunka on the Lounge for many years, and he told me that he had also used this handle on other discussion boards. His contributions will live in the Lounge and in those other venues.

Vincent's remembrances of his brother were e-mailed to me in the following statement:

[quote name='Vincent Acheson' date='2010-03-23 10:54']
Unkamunka / Malcolm Wagner Acheson, 26th November 1950 – 13th March 2010

Malcolm was one of this world's wanderers. Born in Oxford, England, he was educated from the age of 12 in the USA, where his father had taken up a chair in the Medical School at Yale University.

Some years after he finished his schooling (English Lit Major at Yale), he returned to England and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (CPA). Fiercely proud of his Irish roots on both sides of the family, he never felt at home in England, and when work took him to Vienna in 2000, he realised that this city in the very centre of Europe was a place where he could make his home. Malcolm was "in real life" a solitary character, but nevertheless he built a collection of friends from the very widest of backgrounds and nationalities.

Malcolm may have lived in Vienna, but he also had a home in the Lounge. The super-intelligent loner could be difficult, and hold the "real" world at arm’s length, but in the Lounge life was different. Here he could blossom. Here that part of his personality which could be endlessly patient, courteous, and generous flourished. Online you stand or fall by the qualities which shine through the written word. Based on the comments of his peers and friends, my brother stood tall – tall and both precise and kind. His handle in the lounge reflected that capacity for kindness - for most of his years of lizardry, Malcolm’s handle was "unkamunka" – a name given him by my children when they were very little and "Malcolm" was too much of a mouthful.

Nobody was aware his health was at risk – possibly himself included – so it was a huge shock to all who knew him when he was found in his apartment on 13th March. His funeral will take place in Vienna on 25th March.

To all of you who worked with him, whether you joined around 2001 like Malcolm, or whether you came earlier or later, my sister and I give you our heartfelt thanks for the role you played in his life.[/quote]
Vincent is a Lounge member who has changed his display name to bubs - Malcolms baby brother. He is in the process of notifying people he believes knew Malcolm well. I hope you will welcome his communications if he contacts any of you.

Because Malcolm can no longer reply to messages from Lounge members, the Admins have removed his name as a Moderator of the seven forums he was associated with and changed his status to VIP. His posts in the Lounge, however, will remain available on the Web indefinitely. Our thoughts go out to Malcolm's family in this difficult time.

If you knew Malcolm or he helped you via his comments, please feel free to add your reply in this thread. Thanks.

[TonyJohnston]

Sad and shocking news. I am very sorry for your loss, Vincent. In the short time I worked with Malcolm on this board I always found him to be helpful and cheery. He will be missed.

The origin of his handle does not surprise me one bit, but the story does choke me up a bit. Thanks for everything, Unkamunka.

[HansV]

When I was informed of this very sad news a few days ago, it came as a great shock. I met unkamunka a few times during Lounge get-togethers in London and Prague; he was a talkative person with a very broad knowledge, not just in computer-related subjects. He was an excellent moderator, and he'll be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.

My thoughts go out to his relatives and friends; I hope they find consolation in wonderful memories of Malcolm.

[StuartR]

I knew Malcolm well as a fellow moderator of the lounge, and I met him a number of times, in London and Vienna. The last time we met he took me to this really strange restaurant in Vienna and we had a wonderful meal with lots of conversation.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

[JoeP517]

This certainly is sad news. Malcom was thoughtful and corteous in his posts. He will be missed and remembered.

Joe

[Deadeye81]

I've only been in the Lounge for a little over two months, and so did not know Malcolm as do many of the long time Loungers. However, news of his passing came as a shock.

As a new moderator, I watched what the others were doing and followed them around to learn the ropes. I was assigned to a couple of forums which Malcolm worked, and got acquainted with his postings and manner. When I really needed some advice as to how to proceed in certain matters, Malcolm was very welcoming and warm to me and provided me some guidance that I copied and pasted to a document so I could read it over whenever needed. I felt very comfortable in calling on Malcolm, and am grateful for the contact I did have with him.

I could not agree more that he will be sorely missed, but his legacy will endure here.

[WendellB]

Malcolm joined Woody's Lounge shortly after I did, and I was more than a little bit curious about this fellow with the odd user name, and who lived in Vienna, but had such a wonderful command of the English language. Then I happened to be in Prague for a few days in 2005, and we organized a Lounge convention. Malcolm and a couple of other mods and I spent a very pleasant evening over brews and dinner one evening, and I found him both charming and knowledgeable on a wide range of subjects. He had a major impact during the transition from Woody's Lounge to the Windows Secrets Lounge, both in terms of technology issues, and in the procedural aspects of the Lounge operation. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and we were all better served by having known him.

[Woody]

Unk was a giant among Loungers, for many years, and I will sorely miss him.

He personified all that is best with the Lounge - enormously helpful, thoughtful, and kind to strangers. At the same time, he took his philanthropy seriously, and worked hard to bring out the best in everyone. Including me.

The world's a better place because of him. Thanks, unkamunka...

[viking33]

Posting here in the public forum, I repeat my thoughts and join in all here, to say:

Ave atque vale - Hail and farewell. Our on line friend!

[DocWatson]

I was one who always wondered where he got the handle "unkamunka". Now that I hear the explanation, it really fits who Malcolm was.

Rest in peace, Uncle Malcolm.

[pieterse]

Wow, such sad news.
I'll sorely miss Malcolm. He was a great guy.

My sincere condolences to unkamunka's family of course!

[stuck]

I only knew unkamunka via The Lounge. His posts were always the epitome of the spirit and feel of The Lounge: calm, measured, intelligent, insightful, patient, all the things others have already said.

He will be missed.

stuck

[cbaldrey]

A Lounger of high praise. May Malcolm be remembered by all.

[bigaldoc]

I haven't been here for quite some time, but I must pay my respects and offer condolences to Malcolm's family and friends. May he rest in peace. Malcolm and I joined the "old" Lounge about a month apart and have had many private conversations. The reason for that involves a little story. I once asked a question that had to do with Switzerland and got an immediate answer from Malcolm. It was at that time that I learned of his depth of knowledge of European history. Subsequent to that we also had a conversation or two about my father's roots in pre-WW II Germany and Malcolm was very helpful with his broad knowledge of the subject.

It's always sad when someone you "know" passes away, especially at the probable height of his life. Once again, my prayers for his family and friends and fellow Loungers! Go with God!

[Argus]

I was shocked when I heard the very sad news. Malcolm’s posts were full of insight and covered a broad area. In his posts he acted in the true spirit of the Lounge, and his work as moderator was of the highest quality. He will be sorely missed.

My condolences to Malcolm’s family. Rest in peace, unkamunka.