R.I.P. Ethan Stein

This fella is--or was--Ethan Stein. I met Ethan while deejaying at a college radio station in 1989. He was a few years older, a surly--but oddly pleasant--hanger-on who had graduated and then settled down in town after buying a video store from a Smithereen. He was my first freelance client (I designed and distributed flyers for local businesses), and I worked in his store part-time one summer; Amy took the job from me when I graduated. He was a fairly close friend for a few years.

A few years ago, Ethan killed himself by jumping from the fourth story of a nearby dormitory. Yes: the fourth floor--risky, no? Ethan is lucky he's not currently a cripple. (Ok, so "lucky" might not be the right word. Fine.)

Dave Urbano of Gimp (the guy standing with Ethan) was kind enough to send me this photo. (It's intentionally blurred.) Note the copy of Crank #2 sitting ominously on the counter. I sure hope Crank didn't have anything to do with the suicide. I mean, that issue was pretty good, I think. Maybe a bit rough, but nothing to kill yourself over, right? Right?!