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From: Gary McGath <garym@mcgath.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Subject: Re: Deb Geisler -- 1957-2024
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2024 10:04:01 -0400
Organization: Mad Scientists' Union
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On 3/24/24 8:16 AM, Keith F. Lynch wrote:
> Thanks.  But that just raises (I know better than to say "begs") the
> question, how do *they* find out?  If I were to die tomorrow, I don't
> think anyone would report my death to them.  If you were to die
> tomorrow, would anyone report your death to them?  It would obviously
> have to be someone who knew you were dead, so it couldn't be me.
> 
> Similarly with any fan who isn't living with a fan.  Or who had
> dropped out of fandom.

In today's world, I sometimes wonder if it's possible that people lie 
decomposing at home for months or more without anyone noticing. All 
their bills are automatically paid. They may have Social Security or 
other payments automatically going into their bank accounts, so the 
payments don't run dry.

If I died today at home, probably no one would notice today, but I make 
some regular appearances where I'd be missed. On Tuesday, a certain 
friend would wonder why I didn't show up or answer her calls. On 
Wednesday, the library would wonder why I missed my tech help 
appointments. By the next MASSFILC meeting at the latest (I'm clerk and 
send out the announcements), suspicions would be high and someone with a 
key would come to my house. (I'm thinking of specific people but prefer 
not to name them here.) It would get out to the MASSFILC mailing list, 
and I think that would be enough for someone to submit the information 
in due course to the Glasgow list.

The situation was somewhat like that for Ariel (Abby) Cinii. She was 
found dead at home, exact date and cause of death unknown. Some people 
checked on her when she stopped making her usual contacts.

It can take time for the news to reach everyone, especially if you shun 
Facebook. I learned about filker Rilla Heslin's recent death only from 
one post on Bluesky that didn't give her last name. She's on the Glasgow 
list. I make a point of citing filk-related obituaries on my Filk News 
Mastodon account, figuring some people might not otherwise learn.

Caution is necessary about reports, though. A few years ago a stalker 
falsely reported my death on Usenet and elsewhere, as a way to hurt my 
friends. The report had many inaccurate details, and of course I was 
around to deny it.

-- 
Gary McGath    http://www.mcgath.com