I was at the Chicago Seminar Event this past weekend and learned of chemist661's death from his wife, Marie. She took his place at the event to 'feel closer to him'. She arrived in tears (it about broke my heart), but left with a smile saying she learned a lot & knows why he was so into the miles & points thing.

I met chemist661 at one of the first few FT Dos I attended, so have known him a number of years. He was very knowledgeable about miles & points & could talk about them forever (and sometimes did, much to the chagrin of those who wanted to talk football scores!). But he was always good about sharing information & helping others. I saw him often at LA FT Dos as well as Dos overseas like the Annual Presidents Weekend Do that I organize each year.

We wondered if Tim was going to be a permanent bachelor, but he met his beloved Marie at church a few years back. I remember the first time he brought her to a FT dinner - 25 FTers all talking miles & points - it was a little overwhelming for someone who hadn't traveled much, but she gamely hung in there & Tim always tried to include her in the conversations. And she was kind enough to let Tim fly around to keep status. I saw them both at a few FT dinners.

I think Tim attended the first three Chicago Seminars, and he had planned on attending this year as well. In fact his last post on Flyertalk a few weeks before his death was that he was looking forward to it, but had booked a refundable ticket 'just in case' his doc said no.

Tim had been bravely fighting cancer for the last couple of years, and indeed had chronicled in some posts on FT what he had been going through & also working his way through the health care system. He fought his cancer with courage & dignity & took a pro-active, investigative approach to dealing with it.

He attended last year's Chicago Seminar Event post-surgery/treatment. While he had a bit of difficulty communicating (writing things on pads of paper when it was too difficult), he enjoyed being around other miles & points nuts and again shared his information with so many others at the seminars.

Unfortunately Tim lost his battle with cancer in August. RIP chemist661/Tim. May your upgrades clear every time up there in the sky. Say hi to newself who you knew & who preceded you to the eternal first class cabin. We'll miss you.

What a lovely tribute, SkiAdcock.

R.I.P. Chemist661, and my condolences to Marie.

RIP, chemist661. It was a pleasure knowing you over the years, both on FlyerTalk and in person.

My condolences to Marie, and the rest of his family and friends. Tim was definitely a good egg.

I've also known Tim for many years, catching up with him various places around the world. He openly shared his experiences with cancer since he received his diagnosis. For those who want to know more, he posted his challenges here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...art-1-4-a.html

Tim wrote to me at various points, collecting information to help his own travels and to do what he could to protect his miles and points for his beloved Marie. He always wrote with great cheer, determined to live life to its fullest. Here is a note he wrote to me in February of this year.

Last month, the Doctors told my wife & I that I was terminal. .I am responding very well to chemotherapy treatments. .I asked the nurse last week about commerical air travel and I was given the "green light!"^ to travel by airplanel!! .^ We took a couple of car trips to San Diego (with me driving a rental car) this past month.

I booked Marie's UA miles (2 times 25K saver) for our LAX-BUF trip for early August. We are going to Lucille Ball 102nd anniversary of her birth in Jamestown,NY--Marie had the same birthday as Lucy--August 6!!

I booked the car using Hertz points & hotels using Carlson points. .(isn't their CC great for the 2 for 1 free award hotel nights!). .AA had nothing in either coach or FC saver so we went with UA. 24-28 hr cancellation policies on hotels!!

His very last post on FlyerTalk was on August 3 to share that he had booked his flights to Chicago and was looking forward to it. It was shortly after that that he passed on.

We will miss you, Tim.

Beautifully said, Sharon, what a loss. I had met him a number of times at Dos and he was a likable guy and a true miles-enthusiast as well as someone who dealt with medical setbacks with grace and pluck: glad he found love in his life with Marie.

Thanks for sharing that link. I don't often make it to trip reports. What a great report & a tribute to him & his positive attitude.

Very sad loss. The thread linked above is definitely inspirational reading.

Betty & I very well remember the many meals we shared with chemist661 as well as his constant & complete joy in sharing his "accomplishments" -- whether with airlines, hotels or car rentals !! What a kind and sharing person he was; we are obviously saddened to learn of his too soon death.....

delacpa

Sharon that was a very kind post and I am saddened to hear the news.

Thank you, Sharon, for sharing this sad news. I always enjoyed visiting with Tim and then also with Marie later on. He really had a love for travel and the fine details of putting everything together.

Looked around for a photo and this is the best I can find for now. It's from the Brooklyn Reality Tour in 2009. They're the couple up against the window at our lunch stop at Casa Calamari.

This is terrible news. I met him several times in Chicago and he was always very pleasant to be around and to trade tips with. He was an inspiration, learning and communicating even while fighting the debilitating effects of his illness. An example to all.

He obviously fought bravely until the end. Very sad tonight.

It was a pleasure to have known chemist661. Very sad.

RIP,sad too

Sorry to hear this. Add me to the list who met Chemist many years ago in L.A.

I hope that he has peace where he is and is in the front cabin as well

Condolences to the Mrs and the rest of Tim's family

He was a very courageous man

RIP Tim

Wow sad to hear. I met him at the ORD seminars as well. He didn't let his condition stop him from attending.