RIP - David "Opa" Marshall...

[ViperPilot]

The following was posted on several FS sites earlier this AM:

http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthrea ... ost1608522

He was kind, friendly and always helped whenever he could. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.

He will be sadly missed.

Alan

[JBaymore]

He certainly was able to help many, many people here on SimV.  Clearly flight simulation was a true passion for him.

We tend to think on Forums like this that everyone will always be around and will sort of be a "constant".  Never-changing.  Not so.

Condolences to his family and friends.

best,

.............john

[Steve M]

Very sad news. He helped a lot of people on various forums.
RIP Opa

[patchz]

I am at a loss for words. He will be sorely missed. Fair skies and following winds Opa. 

[Groundbound1]

RIP: David "Opa" Marshall... Your commitment to the assistance and education of inexperienced members of the flight sim community, as well as all of your other contributions have been invaluable throughout the years. Rest well old friend, and thank you.

[Hagar]

Sorry to hear this.

[RickG]

It's always a sad day when you lose someone of his caliber. Rest well David.

[sojourner]

I learned of this just now...

I met David in another sim site some time ago. What began as a request for two new Puget Sound Ferry AI routes evolved into an odyssey of adventures into Flight Simulator 2004: AI routes and flight plans, traffic, AFCAD wizardry, scenery object placement...David was the biggest source of information, patience, inspiration, encouragement in this endeavor and in general. He always had time for me, whenever I had small questions or pitfalls. Almost two years ago we lost track of one another due to having to take emergency custody of my daughter and becoming a first-time grandfather shortly afterwards.

Whenever David helped me with a particularly-challenging issue on FS, I would tell him "I owe you a steak dinner!". This happened quite a few times, and I never got around to fulfilling one of these for him. That's what makes this particularly hard to swallow.

David gave me abilities, confidence and support in this hobby and made it an exponentially better experience. I don't know how many hundreds of airports I've modified with AFCAD in the Addon Scenery/Scenery folder, but they're all there because he gave of himself to others like myself. There will always be end-users and those who ask for more; there'll never be as many talented educators in this field, and there will never be another like David.

He was a mentor, a fellow sim nut, a teacher, a gentleman...a friend. The world is a better place because people like him lived. Hopefully, we can all carry on with his example and passion into the yet-unknown territories of Microsoft Flight. Thank you, David, you will be sorely missed...and a BIG thank-you to his family, as well as my sincerest condolences and prayers. Peace to all of you.

[Capt.Propwash]

as stated on avsim forum, and I quote:


RCBarenD:

It is with great sadness to inform you, that David Marshal (a.k.a. as "Opa") has passed away, after a heart attack last Thursday.
His daughter Mary informed me of this, in reply to an Email I sent to David a few days ago.
I'm sure many of you will be as shocked as I am.
As you know probably know, David was a very knowledgeable and extremely helpfull member in the flightsim community.
My deepest sympathy to David's family, and I wish them much strength in dealing with their awfull loss.
"Opa", RIP.
You will be missed by many.

Best regards,
Rob Barendregt

And here i sit kinda pissed that not many people remembered my birthday yesterday (8/11) but to log on and see THIS.   now my birthday really does suck this year!!!!!!

@David, could you write us a tutorial on how to get to where you are so that we can study it and hopefully be able to get to you after a few more years tinkering away down here??? Thanks buddy.  You will forever be missed, but never forgotten!!!! 

[Boikat]

Sad indeed.