Saying goodbye to Fugu - Update: Obituary in OP

[tarheelhockey]

Hi all,

It’s with a very heavy heart that I deliver this news.

Fugu's husband reached out to me to share the sad news about her condition, and asked me to share with the moderating team here.

Barbara has entered the final phase in her four year long fight with metastatic breast cancer. On the advice of her doctors, and after discussion within her family, she entered hospice care on Saturday, Sept. 15th. She is being kept comfortable and has constant company from family and friends.

The community on HF Boards, and the many friends she had there, were a big part of her life and a constant source of conversation and enjoyment. For those of you who were her friends there, I want to thank you on her behalf for your friendship.

Charity:
We've decided to contribute as a group to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation | BCRF
garnetpalmetto is collecting via this link: HFMods Donation to BCRF/HFC in Honor of Fugu

Fugu is one of the pillars of the online hockey world. HFBoards in particular is heavily indebted to her wisdom, patience, and vision in building what has come to be a true community. Online moderators never sign up for the job for recognition — but Fugu was more than her job around here. She became a leader, an advocate, a confidant, and a “mom” of sorts to untold numbers of people who had no more in common with her than a mutual passion for this game. She will be remembered here, and never truly replaced.

Please take a moment to consider a donation in her honor (and when the time comes, in her memory).

Feel free to leave a comment, or just “like” this post to show her how many people she touched every single day.

Update:

I'm sad to report that Barbara passed away at around 4am PDT this morning. I've been told that she did not suffer in her final days, and that she appreciated everyone's friendship here.

Her husband said that when he told her about what we're doing here for her - including the fundraising - her breathing changed and she squeezed his hand, so she definitely heard and understood. Keep fighting the good fight on her behalf, please.

_______________________________________

Fugu's obituary has been made public. Rest in Peace sweet lady.

Obituary of Barbara Stephenson | Bellingham

Click to read more...

 

[Mr Tadakichi]

I was not around to really speak to her or even know her that much, but her husband and her family have my condolences.

 

[MightySelanne8]

Thoughts and prayers to the family, reading posts like these always make me extremely sad.

 

[Viqsi]

That really sucks. We've had some (severe!) disagreements but she's still been awesome.

Hopefully she gets a lot out of what time is left.

 

[Peasy]

f*** cancer

 

[Frank Drebin]

Sad news.

 

[izzy]

 

[Stand Witness]

That is awful news, cancer is something that will hurt everyone at some point.

I hope her days in Hospice are the best they can be. My condolences to everyone involved.

 

[Michael Farkas]

Oh man, that's awful. Fugu, like tarheel said, is one of the pillars of this place...that's absolutely awful. Very sorry to hear of this and wish the absolute best that can be had for her and her family...

 

[Gardner McKay]

Fugu is an amazing person. She had the ability to find common ground with just about anyone. A fellow mod once told me something along the lines of "She has such an amazing ability to relate to people - she could end wars and decades old struggles with her ability to find common ground with others". It is the absolute truth. She will be missed in such a big way.

 

[Hivemind]

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Terrible news and so sorry to hear.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our hockey discussions on these boards we forget there is a real person on the other end of the discussion. My heart goes out to her family.

 

[NyQuil]

Her class and warmth are an inspiration.

 

[InfinityIggy]

An irreplaceable individual. Her absence will not be filled, but it will be felt.

I hope her remaining time with family and friends are the best that they can be.

 

[Cotton]

That's very unfortunate, we've had several long conversations in PM and she was extremely reasonable at times where she didn't have to be.

 

[LeafSadist]

I never talked to her or posted with her, but my thoughts still go to her and her family. **** cancer. Sick of this ****.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Dammit. She is a great person, thoughts and prayers to her and her family

 

[Hunter Gathers]

This is awful, awful, awful news. I didn't expect this to come down like this and I had had her in my prayers for a while. Sad news.

This is horrible. I hope that her final days are filled with peace and that she has her family and loved ones at her side.





Fugu, I am so sorry that our community is losing you. You will be remembered, missed, and cared about.

 

[Jee]

Man, that sucks, she's a great woman.

**** cancer.

 

[S E P H]

She is a fantastic person who kept me out of trouble and was such an easy individual to talk to. This is devastating news for a person who was so kind and a foundation of rock for this site.

 

[MoreMogilny]

Heartbreaking. I remember when she first reached out to me when I became a mod. In our few interactions she’s always been so kind. I really enjoyed reading her posts.

Thoughts and prayers coming your way, Fugu.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Very sorry to hear.

Cancer's got the better of several notable posters on this site over the years, and I hate to see Fugu added to that list.

 

[67 others]

Awww. I am very sorry to hear that. Praying for you

 

[tsujimoto74]

I didn't interact with her as much as some here, but she always came across as kind, relatable, and easy to open up to. She will certainly be missed on HF. My condolences to her family. I hope they and she are able to enjoy the time they have left together.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

God Damn it this is awful to hear

Fugu was essentially my mentor and a big supporter of me when I became Mod. She was always quick to get back to me in PM and seemed to be a great person

Been talking to Fugu for longtime here

Terrible news , f*** Cancer