Tuesday, November 11, 2008

R.I.P. Shafter



Talofa AHHH,
As most of you are aware, our beloved Shafter / GM / Hash Monk passed away last night at his home in Vaoala. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time of sorrow. We will keep AHHH members posted as to what AHHH will do to help with the funeral.

What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.

Shafter, you will be sorely missed.

AHHH Members.

Have any condolences / memories you'd like to share? Please click here and share them with us.

20 comments:

  1. Beautifully written SOTB....why why why...SHAFTER, we miss you so much, your craziness, your smart ass comments and your daringness to be different...what a pleasure to have known you as a friend. May you rest in peace for having shared your life with us all. To Flo and the boys, To Vaitoelau and Family...our deepest and sincerest condolences for the loss of your father, soul mate and our friend.
    RIP Shafter - we love you!!

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  2. What a shock, what a terrible loss for Flo, his children, his family, for us Hashers, for all who knew him. We will never forget him, he will always be with us in our hearts. Shafter, you were a great person ! Tony Blair & Selena

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  3. You left us with many memories, many good times and much knowledge. We will miss you greatly GM. Bon Voyage my friend. My deepest sympathies to Sili and the family. Know that we are all grieving with you in this time of sorrow. AHHH - Have a drink for our friend Shafter - I will endeavour to journey back for one last farewell.

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  4. What a terrible shock and tragedy. If I didn't read this, I would never believe it. Our hearts go out to you Flo and the children and to all Hashers who ran with Apia Hash and new the one and only Shafter (or Drafter as we old timers knew him). It makes us realise how fragile life is. We wish we could be there to be with you as you give him his final hash send off. He was a true character and anyone who knew him will never forget his great contribution to AHHH

    On On
    Graft and Madam

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  5. WE WILL NEVER FORGET HIM!
    SINCEREST CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOOS A GREAT FATHER AND FRIEND.
    REST IN PEACE
    FROM BOLIVIA WHIT LOVE !
    SALSA and COCAINE

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  6. What a shock and deep sadness upon learning of 'Shafter's' final hash. It's been my privilege knowing him recalling all those beautiful AHHH memories. RIP

    On-On, Hoppy

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  7. When we heard the sad news we honnestly couldn't believe it! Such a man, such a character, such a loss for so many! We only met Shafter a couple of times, but he managed to leave a huge impression on us and no doubtebly on a hole lot of people. We wish to send our condolences to Flo, their childeren, hash and everyone who had the privilage to get to know him.

    Snowdrop & Tulip

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  8. Dear Hash friends,
    We heard the sad news yesterday but we could not believe it. It is incredible! We have all our many good memories of Shafter and it is good to keep them so we can always remember his hilarity, his generosity and originality.
    We know that there are no words to express our feelings in this moment, so even though we are so far away from Samoa, we have decided to post this message to share with you and Shafter family this difficult time.
    Hugs from Pavarotti, Lambada, Chiquita and Wasabi, from Senegal, Dakar

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  9. Shafter was always for us a part of Samoa. It is hard to believe he left. We will always remember him...the ice he always gave us for our parties, the fishes for our BBQ, the jobs he could offer, the beers we shared and much more...Writing those few words made us realize how Shafter was enjoying life no matter what.
    It now feels that we are so far away but our thoughts will be with you, his friends and family in those difficult time.

    Anne and Fabien

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  10. Crabs and I send our love to you all – epsecially you Flo. We can’t believe it. We have drunk a few beers together and talked about our memories of Drafter (his love of life, his sense of fun, his generosity and even those black leather trousers). We’ve pulled out our photos to remember our wonderful times on the hash with you all. We wish we were with you in person instead.

    Please know we are thinking of you.

    Love Bloody Mary

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  11. we miss you dad...



    may your soul rest in peace.
    your love for us will never be forgotten. your craziness, willingness to make something "extremely exciting in your life"! will not be forgotten...though we may have parted but a love for a father will always be stronger than anything imagined. it won't be the same coming back to Samoa without you!! Hash won't be the same with out you "drafter" or your mordern name "SHAFTER"

    YOU WERE ALWAYS IN OUR PRAYERS...AND WILL FOREVER ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS...

    LOVE YOU ALWAYS & FOREVER DADDY..

    YOUR FAMILY

    your Children Tony & Paula from Australia
    Your Mom Nana Elsa Hewson & Le Geyt Family from New Zealand,
    and us...Kelvin & Deanna, Margrey & Dom Aggie & Alex ...your grand kids Drey, Braedon & Jazmyne..
    Especially Mom.

    To Sili & Boys... our Dad was always a happy man.. he lived for what he believed in. let us CELEBRATE HIS LIFE...let us not mourn but BE HAPPY...BECAUSE THATS WHO DAD WAS...AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS


    CHRISTOPHER ALAN YORK HEWSON
    BORN 07/10/1946 DIED 11/11/2008

    OUR MEMORY OF YOU WILL CARRY ON LIKE THE ENDLESS WAVES IN THE SEA...

    IA FAATASI IESU MA OE

    LOVE YOU ALWAYS & FOREVER

    YOUR FAMILY...


    ON ON DAD...

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  12. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  13. Talofa all

    Appreciate it with thanks. We thank you all for your support at this time of our loss.

    Thank you AHHH family for being a great family and friends to Shafter. no doubt you will miss him and his crazy jokes and the way he has to comment on almost everything and anything

    the warmth of your support really strengthen our hearts.

    Shafter, we love and miss you so much.

    Thanks AHHH

    Flo

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  14. I will also miss Chris, and have had many great moments over the last 7 years of finding spare parts and equipment in those hard to reach places for Chris and the team at Apia Export Fish Packers and shared many laughs. My thoughts are with all of Chris's family, Friends and workmates. There is not a place he was that hasnt been touched by this unique man. Chris gave us all something we can keep and use.

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  15. Just checking on your site to see what you like minded crazies are up to. Even though we haven't spent much time there, we miss you all and Samoa greatly, and are competely shocked to hear of Shafter's passing. He was so full of life and happiness and made all feel extremely welcome and at home at Hash. such an unexpected shock for everybody. We know he will be very sadly missed and we extend our condolences to you all. Larry & Mandy

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  16. I never knew Shafter was his hash name but it really suit's.I ran hash with him back in the 80's as he was my adopted father.
    We had a lot of great memories but had fallen out of touch the last 10 or so years. Him been the rebel he was I don't think he thought much of my career choice in law enforcement. Was probably worried that I would somehow have him arrested just to tick him off.
    I love the fact that he got so many tattoos considering I fought with him for years before he would let me get tat's. I remember his words from 18 years ago as I turned 18" It's your body, if you want to ruin it and mark it all up then go be stupid". A few weeks after I got my tats he got his.
    Uncle Chris(could never get round to calling him dad) sorry I never called and made up. I have a great looking son and thank god he didn't inherit your looks , unfortunaely he dances like you and that has me worried.
    Give my love to your sister , my mum, and you will always be in our prayers

    Kelvin , Deanna and Braedon.

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  17. My sincere condolences to the Shafter family. I got to know Shafter during my stay on the Island from January until May this year. His wit was a good source for laughter during our countless down downs. I´m soon to return to Samoa and I´m sad I won´t be able to see him again. I was an overstayer the last time I visited my brother in Vaoala, hence my hash name Dawnraid.

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  18. Hi Apia Hashers, Flo and family
    I have only just heard the very sad news of Shafter's passing, we had some great runs and times together, i always remember especially the Christmas Runs with the Fire Truck and "Santa" and his sweets to attract the kids....he will be greatly missed by the Hash and his Hash family. I hope to be able to visit samoa early next year and to pay homage.. and in the spirit of the Hash Anthem, he's there before us and will no doubt be conducting the Band of Angels, and waiting on the heavenly fire truck for us to follow when our time comes ...tallyho and on on.

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  19. Bad news hits always by surprise. I am currently working in the Caribbean Islands and just checked the the blog for the first time for about two weeks... and what do I see... I am shocked and sad! Our condolences to Flo and family. Thanks to hash for sharing Shafters farewell on the blog, and what a farewell it was!
    Hope to be back in 2009 and say a last farewell.

    Tramp and WiB

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