Rel,
Your story about Ted really hit home. See, the first day of Junior High, I met a friend who was also into D&D. His name was Anthony. Anthony knew a guy named Brett (who posts here as El Sose), and I knew a guy named Jeremy. We all hit it off and loved gaming. While we lived some distance apart, we would always meet at Tony's house because he had the coolest (baby blue) coffee table and two couches, and a pool. Those years we formed a bond that has not been broken by many of the conventions in our society. We now refer to ourselves as the Core Four. We are like brothers. I find myself in the role of Ted, as I am the one that has gone away and occasionally shows up for a one off. And your story makes me realise how hard it would be should we loose one. I feel for your loss, and my prayers are with you.
Aaron.
Additional:
It is my thought that perhaps we should open a ENWorld Book of the Dead to comemorate ENworlders that have died and to keep track of the names that have been retired.