Randy is quite popular in the DCC forum having posted nearly every day for a long time. I took note today that he hasn't been around for over three weeks now. There is also no activity anywhere else he frequents. Messages to him on Facebook go unanswered as well.
Just curious if anyone knows him personally and if he is alright.
Mark.
[Edit: Update can be found here - Tom/User mod]
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Mark,
I had started to take notice of Randy (rrinker)'s absence here on the forum last week. I think the last time he posted was 3/27. I do hope things are well with him.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I really hope that Randy is okay. He has been such a great help to me for my layout build that I'll have to put a plaque on it to recognize his input.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Yeah, I have been wondering about him as well. I have particularly noticed his absence on the Electronics forum. Whenever I post an issue or question about Electronics, I sit back and wait for Randy to respond. Hope all is well with him.
Rich
Alton Junction
I sent him an email this morning, but no response.
I really hope all is well. Randy knows his stuff, and his posts are informative and accurate. He is a real asset to this community.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Randy has helped me a tremendous amount since I returned to the hobby fifteen years ago and joined this forum. I hope all is okay for him.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Randy has been a fantastic asset in this and other forums. Unfortunately most of us are at an age where stuff happens, with or without covid. I hope he returns soon.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Add in me to those Randy has helped over the years.
Hope all is well.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ricktrains4824Add in me to those Randy has helped over the years.
I printed out one of his responses to a situation I had programming a decoder - it was easy to follow and helped me get multiple units running.
I'm checking with other organizations in our area that he is a member of.
It is with great sadness that I post this update about Randy:
https://www.beanfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Randy-Rinker
A former co-worker of Randy's emailed me just this evening with the sad news. This is a great loss for our MR forum community, as Randy helped so many of us with his vast knowlege and expertise on DCC and electronics. His participation, prowess, and helpful spirit will be sorely and greatly missed. First and foremost, however, I am heartbroken for his family and friends for their loss.
May he rest in peace, and hopefully he is happily running trains and programming decoders for the rest of eternity.
Check out the Balfour and Colucci Creek Southern Railroad, my proto-freelanced N scale model railroad, at bccsrailroad.weebly.com or on Youtube on my channel, N Scale Train Boy.
-Dennis
Wow. Thanks, Tom for letting us know. I have the rum out and will have a second for Randy. Thanks for all your help over the years, here's to ya.
WOW! That is sad and sudden. Thanks Tom.
Prayers to the family.
Mike.
My You Tube
I'm in shock! Randy was such a wonderful and supportive person. I will dearly miss his frequent assistance with my layout.
My condolences to his family.
Completely shocked and saddened by this news. RIP Randy. Prayers for his family and loved ones.
This is terrible news, and Randy will be missed. I hope he has found eternal peace.
He just passed the 30,000 post milestone.
My condolances to Randy's loved ones. He was a familiar face around the forum and was always ready to lend a hand. May he rest easy.
"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang
-
This is beyond a shock. I saw him several times with his modular group at the GSMTS in Timonium over the years.
I am deeply saddened by this loss, and his family will be in my prayers.
I also recently got word that a local modeler friend of mine has passed, someone with no presence on this forum.
It has been a very sad year for this kind of news.
Randy will be missed by more people than he could ever have imagined.
Sheldon
Deepest condolences to Randy's friends and family.
I was very sad to hear the news about Randy. I have always enjoyed his very informative posts. As a physician who is approaching 65 years of age, I am constantly reminded of friends, classmates, and relatives who are no longer here. This, to me, is a constant reminder to "live life in the moment, as if there were no tomorrow". RIP Randy! - Mike Johnson
Oh my goodness this is awful. Besides the obvious loss for his family, the loss of knowledge here is enormous. May he rest in peace.
Andy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
A sad day for Randy's family. My condolences to them.
A great loss to the Model Railroader community. You could always count on Randy for a clear answer to any DCC or electronics question.
I know he will be missed.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
I'm saddened to hear of his passing. Seems odd — that recently many of his YouTube videos have been showing up in my "suggested" page at YouTube quite often.
Adding to the irony, he was just getting started on his "dream" layout. Sometimes life just isn't fair.
My condolences go out to his family and friends.
Regards, Ed
tstage His participation, prowess, and helpful spirit will be sorely and greatly missed
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
SORRY TO HERE THIS. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.
This is truly heartbreaking news for Randy's family, friends, and fellow forum members. My condolences to all. Randy was only 54 years old, way too soon to leave this life.
As, I recall, I believe that he moved to a new home within the last few years and was preparing an area for his dream layout. Randy wrote often of that dream layout, and he discussed his design and electronic controls for that layout. Now, his dream will go unfulfilled.
I consider Randy to be the most influential member of this forum. His replies on the Electronics and DCC forum could be found in nearly every thread. He always had the answer to every question, and he usually was the one to solve each and every problem. As I look back over his contributions to the forum, it pleases me that his last words on the forum were on my thread about lighting issues. He solved countless problems for me.
I never met Randy, but I felt that I knew him well. We PM'd back and forth on many issues including assistance to me on household wiring issues. He will be sorely missed on the forum. I hope that his name will eventually be found on THE RIP TRACK portion of the monthly Diner thread.
Add me to the long list of MRs who was helped out by Randy. What a great asset to the Forum, and what a great and giving friend to all of us. I always figured him to be "older", and was supprised to read how young he really was.
My prayers and sympathy go out to his loved ones and friends..........
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I was shocked to stumble across this bad news this morning Rich. So sorry to hear it. Randy was a very likable guy. I definitely considered him a friend here on the forum.
I knew Randy through the years and talked to him at times here. He helped me as well with some things. I always enjoyed reading his posts. They could get rather lengthy at times but it was because he was sharing a lot of knowledge on the subject at hand.
Randy will be missed around here
My heart goes out to his family and friends.
John
This is VERY sad news. I feel terrible for his loved ones and family. They should not have to part with such a kind soul at any age. 54 is too young!
On a personal note, I appreciate those who look out for other active members on this forum. This place provides a lot of camaraderie and engagement. Yes, we sometimes get in some pretty heated discussions, but I hope (read pray) that everyone brushes such issues aside.