Fred Hornkohl (1951-2016): Donations to Rizzo Family Foundation

[Banedon]

Awful news to see this morning. I never had the opportunity to meet Fred but reading this thread, it's great to see how many people he did meet and how many people's lives he had some impact on.

 

The forum rename is wonderful.

[jersey cubs fan]

Are the digits on his birth year transposed?

[Hunter]

Really bummed to hear this. :bye:

[OleMissCub]

Went to games with him in Mississippi twice when he was passing through. It's like he timed his drives through the south to be able to see the AA Cubs play. We had dinner both times at the Cracker Barrel next to the stadium.

 

He was a very gentle and kind hearted person. We all loved teasing him during those dark years when he was often literally the only person posting in a game thread. He was awesome.

 

This is some crappy news to see in the morning.

 

My father also passed away a few months ago from cancer, and I do take some small comfort in knowing that he isn't suffering anymore. Wherever Fred and my father are these days, at least they are no longer in pain.

 

Oh man, the floodworks.

 

Thoughts to you and yours CubmanPi. Nothing but the passage of time will help.

 

Best wishes to you Fred, wherever you are. I considered you a friend and was so very glad to have met you.

[CyHawk_Cub]

You'll be missed Fred. Leaving a positive impression on those you've encountered in life is as fitting an epitaph as there is.

[Outshined_One]

horsefeathers.

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Fred back around 2004/2005 for a NSBB outing. He was a great guy and had a lot of insight about baseball. I will miss him.

[Derwood]

For all the "old" jokes we told, he died way too young. 1951? He was younger than both of my parents. This sucks

[NOLA]

Not much to add, other than Fred is one of the things that brought me to this site. His unabashed enthusiasm and corny obscure stats were always welcoming and reminded me why I love the Cubs and baseball in general. It's a game that transcends generations and can bring all walks of life together to root for our Cubs. In a sea of often contentious debate and snark, Fred was a constant reminder of why we are all here beating our heads against the wall for this team. RIP Fred.

[UMFan83]

Great to see the game thread forum changed. Now can we rename another forum "SweetSwingingBilly Transactions Forum"?

[David]

Game thread forum name thing is beyond perfect.

[David]

You missed my personal favorite. Toad Suck, AR.

 

Fred will be dearly missed, my condolences CubManPi

 

fred's toad suck anecdotes:

 

 

What do you want to know ?? [about Cut and Shoot, TX] It's a little wide spot on the road about 5 miles due east of Conroe, TX on Hwy 105. They're building Conroe High School here, and I've been sitting here all day while they try to unload this shipment of lockers. I've already missed my appointment (1330) to pick up my next load down in Houston..... so I may be stuck here all weekend !! Reminds me a whole lot of Toad Suck, AR. (I spent a hell of a week there one night.)

 

Greetings one and all from beautiful Forrest City, AR..... which, for the geographically challenged, is 123.5 miles due east of Toad Suck, AR.

 

You really seem to be fixated on Toad Suck...... perhaps a vacation in Frog Jump, TN would do you some good, eh ???

 

Greetings one and all from beautiful Toad Suck, AR !!!

 

Weird anecdote...someone earlier referenced a story where Fred would call Burnitz "Beer Nutz" or something like that...Jeromy Burnitz went to Conroe High School (before the renovation Fred is talking about obv). I found this out because I had to look up Cut and Shoot, TX on Wikipedia to confirm that it was a real place. As for more Cubs connections, so did Andrew Cashner.

[Tim]

Another thought...if the Cubs make it to the World Series, we should find an old game thread that Fred started back in the dark days, bump it, edit the title and delete out all the old posts so that he can be the game thread starter for that day.

[SouthSideRyan]

Are the digits on his birth year transposed?

 

1159?

[CubInOK]

Another thought...if the Cubs make it to the World Series, we should find an old game thread that Fred started back in the dark days, bump it, edit the title and delete out all the old posts so that he can be the game thread starter for that day.

I'm for this. It has to be one from like late August 2012 though, if we (you) have it.

[David]

Another thought...if the Cubs make it to the World Series, we should find an old game thread that Fred started back in the dark days, bump it, edit the title and delete out all the old posts so that he can be the game thread starter for that day.

 

Would this be hard to do given the great board crash of 2016, or can you just move one thread over at a time pretty easily?

[Tim]

Another thought...if the Cubs make it to the World Series, we should find an old game thread that Fred started back in the dark days, bump it, edit the title and delete out all the old posts so that he can be the game thread starter for that day.

 

Would this be hard to do given the great board crash of 2016, or can you just move one thread over at a time pretty easily?

bah...didn't even think about that.

 

Actually, we can do it with any of his posts - just split it from the existing thread and rename the title.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Condolences to Pi, Fred's NSBB real life and internet friends. The man was an institution.

[jersey cubs fan]

Another thought...if the Cubs make it to the World Series, we should find an old game thread that Fred started back in the dark days, bump it, edit the title and delete out all the old posts so that he can be the game thread starter for that day.

it would have to be after the first WS game loss. whoever starts nlcs clincher game starts game 1

 

 

 

not that i'm superstitious, that would be silly

[seanimal]

Another thought...if the Cubs make it to the World Series, we should find an old game thread that Fred started back in the dark days, bump it, edit the title and delete out all the old posts so that he can be the game thread starter for that day.

it would have to be after the first WS game loss. whoever starts nlcs clincher game starts game 1

 

 

 

not that i'm superstitious, that would be silly

 

i have to believe that fred would insist that this be the case

[CubInOK]

Another thought...if the Cubs make it to the World Series, we should find an old game thread that Fred started back in the dark days, bump it, edit the title and delete out all the old posts so that he can be the game thread starter for that day.

it would have to be after the first WS game loss. whoever starts nlcs clincher game starts game 1

You say this as if the 2016 Cubs would lose a playoff game... :roll:

[imb]

I woke up in the middle of the night pissed about this. He should have been here for the playoffs, dammit.

[raw]

Damn. This sucks. I had the pleasure of meeting Fred (along with Yeti and CubmanPi) in Pittsburgh in the beginning of the 2008 season. Although he didn't know it, that was a really low point in my life. In the year and a half before, my wife and I had bought a house, gotten married, she finished her associates degree and I started my Masters. Combined with that, we went thru a brutal custody battle with her ex and in the process had a miscarriage of our 1st child together. After the stress of everything, my wife had health issues and was forced to leave/lose her job. I was working for a dead-end company, passed over for promotions several times and struggling to make ends meet as the only one working in a then family of 4, with a mortgage, student loans, and medical bills stacking up.

 

Fred messaged me on here one day to let me know he was going to be here for the Cubs/Pirates series months before the game. I completely forgot. When the game time came, I was dead broke. He had already paid for the tickets, which he didn't ask for anything in return. I tried to back out of the game, but he insisted and even bought me food for the first game. I was able to scrounge up $20 so as to not look like a complete bum for the 2nd game.

 

My wife and I were down to 1 vehicle. I believe I made up a story about my car being in the shop to save myself some embarassment. My wife needed the car for those 2 days for a dr's appt and an interview. But Fred came and picked me up from work, drove us to the game and drove me all the way home when I refused to allow him to let me take his car home after the game.

 

But anyway, I never told him but I really appreciated everything he did and offered. I always wanted to return the favor if he ever came back out this way. And I know I wasn't myself or very fun when those guys were out here. But it says a lot about a person to be that kind to someone he didn't really know. So I can't imagine the heartbreak his family is feeling. God bless you, Cubman and family.

 

#fuckcancer #fuck2016

[OleMissCub]

Great story Raw. He was such a thoughtful guy.

[TruffleShuffle]

I feel like he considered people here part of his extended family, and just loved being with fellow Cub fans when he was out on the road.

 

I'm sad for his family and especially his wife that he didn't get to live out his later years with them after spending so much time on the road. I hope the last couple of years, or however long it was that he was retired, was a rich and rewarding time together.

[BigbadB]

Such sad news. I would have loved to catch a game with Fred. Absolutely my favorite poster on this board even though I'm not much into hanging out in game threads. I'm more about reading the threads after the games.

 

I remember tossing many "old" jabs at Fred over the years in those game threads, and now I'm probably getting close to being one of the oldest posters here. My sincere condolences to CubmanPi, along with all other friends and family of Fred. He will be dearly missed.