Vale Mike Wengert, 1943-2023

[Alien Son]

Mike never really recovered from the fall he had about a year ago, and was also contending with several health problems.

Sadly, he suffered a massive heart attack on Saturday September 9, and was not able to be revived. Mike would have turned 80 on October 25, 2023.

AwesomeDude will continue for the time being, and I will continue posting current serial stories until they are complete. At this stage I'm not sure what to do about stories that have been submitted but not yet posted, or about accepting new stories. I'll make a further announcement when the future is clearer.

~ John

 

 

[Altimexis]

Mike had been in poor health for a number of years and in spite of failing vision, he managed to maintain the site, to vet our stories and to make AD a beacon of hope on the internet. There are a number of gay-themed story sites that began around the turn of the current century, but none could match the quality nor the sense of community that Mike nurtured here. For that I will always be grateful.

We should probably wait a few days before beginning a frank discussion of the future of the site, and under a different thread. I would like to see the site continue, but there is much to consider before that could happen. At the least, the stories must be preserved for all to enjoy.

[Wildone]

Rest in peace Mike 😥

I don’t believe we ever talked but I do know some of your friends. Your site has brought me hours, if not days, weeks and beyond of enjoyment. You have promoted authors that are not elsewhere on the net. Your contributions to the internet gay reading community was and will always be invaluable.  I still check in regularly to see what is new here.

You will be missed. 
 

 

[JamesSavik]

Oh, Mikie.

[dlgrantsf]

I am so very sorry, for all of us.

I am so very glad, for all that Mike built.  I tried to tell him so, time and time again.  I hope he heard it.  What he did, persists.  Resquiescat in pace.

 

[TalonRider]

Rest in Peace, Mike.

 

[TheEggman]

Rest in peace, Mike. You’re missed. I’m glad to have known you.

[Seth Newman]

Mike, It was my pleasure being one of your authors for almost twenty years. You created a wonderful site. Your talent will me missed. Rest in Peace. John Lloyd aka Seth Newman

[synystraal]

Sad, sad, sad...

Rest is Peace an Awesomeness of Dudes.

 

[vwl]

What a loss!

[Richard Lee]

So very sorry to hear this! 

[Capt Phil]

Mike, what a way to go. Here am I having known you since 1982 when you were a Radio Amateur in Seoul, as I was in Hong Kong.

At 88years of age now I should have been here waiting for you. I know that all our readers will miss you terribly, as shall I.

What of the future. I sincerely hope that AD will continue and hope that we will hear more in due course.
Rest in peace Michael.
Captain Phil
 

[Oliver]

So very sorry to hear this. Wishing all the strength and compassion to all who knew and loved him.

[Rutabaga]

Very sad news.  And thank you, John, for the incredible amount of effort you have been putting in every week to keep the site updated, process stories, and deal with all the myriad tasks involved with a site this size. 

R 

[Cole Parker]

It's a dark day indeed, a very sad one.  Mike was instrumental in my development as a writer, and I'll always remember and be thankful for that.  His site is a marvel.  My dearest hope is someone will step forward to continue the job Mike initiated.

C

[Chris191070]

R.I.P Mike you will be greatly missed.

I hope we can find a way to keep AD going.

[Joe]

Sir.  You will be missed; you will be remembered fondly!

Love,

Joe

[Merkin]

So sad. Mike encouraged me as a writer just as our Awesome Dude showed me the way. I have relied on him and on this site for over twenty years now, and I am left with a huge hole in my heart.
James
 

[Camy]

Can't process. Bereft.

[Graeme]

Rest in peace, Mike. While we hadn't spoken in a long time, I still remember all the help and support you gave me when I started writing. You'll be greatly missed.

[Pedro]

Sad news. May he rest in peace.

With this site and his selective moderation of it, Mike not only encouraged authors to develop their craft.  Through their stories he would not just entertain readers  but help those struggling alone find a measure of self-validation.

May this site survive to be his memorial.

 

[Gee Whillickers]

This is devastating news. I'm so very saddened to hear this. May he rest in peace. I agree, a bit of time is needed before decisions are made about Awesomedude.

[JamesSavik]

My Mom's funeral was the day before he passed.

[Altimexis]

On 9/14/2023 at 11:48 PM, JamesSavik said:

My Mom's funeral was the day before he passed.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope she lived a long and happy life.

[PeterSJC]

My interactions with Mike were few, usually consisting of my minor feedback (e.g., about a broken hyperlink) and his gracious response and prompt fixing of the problem. In a world where sloppiness and unresponsiveness abound, Mike curated Awesome Dude as a work of love.

Although it is perhaps too early to discuss the future of Awesome Dude, I wonder what to do about the tiny monthly donation that I have been making through PayPal to Michael Wengert. I am sure others have made similar and less modest arrangements. How should we redirect our support?

Zichrono livracha: May Michael's memory be for a blessing.