FReeper smoothsailing (Rusty) has passed away

September 14, 2016 | jazusamo

[jazusamo]

Mrs. smoothsailing contacted me today to relate that longtime FReeper smoothsailing passed away yesterday, 9-13-16 of pancreatic cancer.

Smoothsailing will be missed here at FR, he was a staunch conservative, a true patriot and a gentleman.

He was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Pennsylvania. On his homepage he said "I'M A DAMN PROUD VIETNAM VETERAN" and he surely was.

Rest In Peace, my FRiend. One day we'll meet on the other side.

smoothsailing's homepage

[Kathy in Alaska]

I think of him every time I see it. Good memories of a nice man.
May he rest in peace.

[potlatch]

Rest in peace old friend.

jazusamo I remember giving him the sailboat gif so many years ago. He wanted it to 'point the other way' and I reversed it for him....smile....we had fun times.

[jazusamo]

Thank you, potlatch for reminding me of that. I remember when he wanted it to sail to the right, we did have fun times.

They’d go to the coast of SC for vacations and when he returned I’d tease him about sailing the Atlantic in his 40 foot yacht. :-)

[potlatch]

I have not posted in a long time and was shocked to see that it was smoothsailing’s ping that caused me to reply here on Christmas Eve 2015. Strange how things happen

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3376406/posts?page=9#9

I remember he was such a big fan of Diana Irey and I made his “she can do it” images. :) I hope no one minds me posting memories of him, we are all sad about losing him. Smartass has stopped emailing and I have fears about him too.

[jazusamo]

Thank you much for that, the posting of memories of Smooth is more than welcome and will be appreciated by many, my FRiend.

Yes, he was a big fan of Diana Irey’s and actually was a volunteer worker on her campaign, I believe as the veterans coordinator.

[MWestMom]

I just saw this and wanted to add my condolences. He will be missed.

[potlatch]

Thank you jazusamo, you are always so kind. :)

[GregB]

He posted the funniest cartoons our Quinn page and Rose’s too..I’m going to miss him...

[Texas Eagle]

Smooth sailing, smoothsailing.

Prayers up for Mrs. smoothsailing, family and friends.

[onyx]

I know exactly what you’re feeling.
God bless you, GregB.
God bless smoothsailing and God hold him dear.

[onyx]

Smiling! Yes, he did!!

[smokingfrog]

Sorry to hear about the passing of another FReeper.

I enjoyed his postings on many past occasions. Prayers for the family.

[ohioman]

I am a “young” 50 here.

[RedRover]

So very sorry about this news, jaz. Like you, Rusty welcomed me to this forum and was so encouraging--probably the first friend I made here. He helped me find my voice and that's a tremendous thing for a man to do for someone he didn't know

You and I and Rusty did great things together. I know he was proud of what we achieved. All the best forever, el smootho. Thank you being such a good man--and good friend. God bless and keep you.

David

[Impy]

Damn, I just saw this. I didn’t know him but I’ve seen him post a lot, he was one of our prolific thread posters. May he rest in peace.

[jazusamo]

Amen, David. Rusty was a fine man.

[jazusamo]

He was a great FReeper and will be missed, Impy.