(Twitch/TheDadGaming)
Welcome to the club.
Its the first message that greets you upon visiting The Dad, a nod of acknowledgment that may seem like little more than a cool tagline that is, until you realize what being a member of the club actually means. Being a dad is an experience like no other. Its beautiful and stressful and exciting and exhausting all at once. It comes with challenges that only other dads can understand. Being a member of the club means being surrounded by people like you, and people very unlike you but with one important thing in common: fatherhood. It doesnt take long to realize just how deeply members of The Dad community care for each other, and that level of support extends far beyond things strictly related to fatherhood. When a member of our community celebrates, we all celebrate. If one of us needs help, the response is so enormous its almost deafening. And when we experience a tragedy, we mourn together.
On October 7, one of our own tragically passed away. RJ Barry was a father, gamer, and a valuable member of The Dad Gamings Rocket League community. RJ loved playing Rocket League and Call of Duty, racing 4 wheelers, skateboarding, but most importantly, the 29-year-old loved his friends and family. Particularly, his daughter Vivian.
The loss of RJ hit The Dads gaming community hard RJ had been an active member of The Dads Rocket League group since February, participating in weekly Tuesday game nights and befriending dads around the world. RJ was a skilled gamer, regularly making the playoffs and winning tournaments. But more importantly, RJ was a great friend and an amazing dad.
Jon Melo was just one dad who RJ befriended through The Dads Rocket League group, as the two dads played regularly on the same team (and somehow, lost regularly on the same team). Of course, the one week the two separated, both made the semi-finals before RJs team went on to win the tournament. We always said were going to win it together, Melo recalled.
Honestly I cant say enough about him, Melo said. He just was such an easy-going person and always there to listen to you if you needed someone. A lot of dads on here would say he was one loving outgoing fun guy to play with and was always positive.
But for gamer friends and non-gamer friends of RJ, there was one constant: That man loves his daughter and he would do anything for her, Melo concluded.
The loss of RJ left gamer dads near and far both shocked and saddened. But with the enormous grief that came with the RJs passing came something beautiful a community coming together to mourn and celebrate the life of a friend.
A post shared by Garrett Van Ginkel, The Dad Gaming Rocket Leagues admin highlighted the true nature of what it means to be a member of The Club. Its about far more than gaming and memes its about having a place to celebrate lifes wins and grieve lifes losses, and never having to do either alone.
Garretts touching post explained how after RJs passing, members of the community came together to honor their fallen teammate. Together, the group came up with ideas to honor RJ, who played by the name Tartarus. We will be holding a 1 minute moment of silence at kick off of the first round of play, Garrett explained.
During the moment of silence, each team of 3 loaded in with only 2 players to symbolize that we were all missing a player, Garrett told The Dad.
And silently, beautifully, the incomplete teams paid their respects.
We are permanently retiring Team 21, Garrett continued. It was a common team for him to be on due to his rank, and it was the last team he played for in our tournaments. Moving forward, it will be known as Team Tartarus.
Watch the moment of silence:
The group even moved their efforts outside the confines of the internet. Garrett explained, I have set up a PayPal account to take donations for his daughter Vivian and his family. We will be promoting it on stream during the tournament, and have it displayed on the overlays so anyone that tunes in will see it. Once all donations are in, I will personally write a check to his family for the full amount in the PayPal account. The email address to donate is: [emailprotected]
As dads, we want nothing more than to be there for our kids, to take care of them. In RJs memory, the group is collecting money which will go to a trust in Vivians name. Though the trust will provide financial assistance to Vivian one day, it represents so much more than money its emblematic of the true nature of being a dad. If theres a problem, you try to fix it. If you cant fix it, you do everything you can to help, and you do it with a whole lot of love.
RJ will be forever missed by both his friends and family, but he will always be remembered and he will always be a member of The Club.
Read the rest here:
Greek Runner Helps Disabled Woman Achieve Dream of Climbing Mount Olympus - The Dad
- 11-year-olds mowed 50 lawns for free so 'The Lawnmower Man' gave them new gear to start a business - Upworthy - October 17th, 2024 [October 17th, 2024]
- 2 Years of Robot Lawn Care: A Real-World Review - CNET - August 17th, 2024 [August 17th, 2024]
- WAITING IN THE WEEDS: Lehigh lawn care mows bus stops for free - FOX 4 News Fort Myers WFTX - August 17th, 2024 [August 17th, 2024]
- 7 Things You Should Do for Your Lawn in August Good Habits That Will Result in Resilient Turf - LivingEtc - August 17th, 2024 [August 17th, 2024]
- Lawn care robot brings ease to mowing the grass - KCAU 9 - June 4th, 2024 [June 4th, 2024]
- Top 10 Lawn Mowing Services Near Me | Free Reviews & Grades Nearby - Angi - August 28th, 2022 [August 28th, 2022]
- 2022 Lawn Mowing Prices | Cost of Lawn Service - Fixr.com - August 28th, 2022 [August 28th, 2022]
- Want to help the planet? Rethink your lawn - WBUR News - August 28th, 2022 [August 28th, 2022]
- 5 Rewarding Ways To Help Seniors In Your Community - The List - August 28th, 2022 [August 28th, 2022]
- Teen of the Week: Parkersburg South's Bentley Kinzer is a man of many talents - Parkersburg News - August 28th, 2022 [August 28th, 2022]
- How Jet City Coalition aims to help seniors and low-income residents in communities near O'Hare - Chicago Daily Herald - December 16th, 2021 [December 16th, 2021]
- Online On-demand Home Services Market to grow by USD 4730.31 Bn | Alfred Club Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. Among Key Vendors | Technavio - PRNewswire - December 16th, 2021 [December 16th, 2021]
- Robin Autopilot and Weed Man Form Partnership to Strengthen Both Companies' Positions in the Rapidly Growing Robotic Mowing Market - PRNewswire - December 31st, 2020 [December 31st, 2020]
- One Option You Shouldnt Overlook When Setting Up a Security Camera - The New York Times - December 31st, 2020 [December 31st, 2020]
- In Loving Memory: Obituaries Of The Week December 27, 2020 - Smokey Barn News - December 31st, 2020 [December 31st, 2020]
- Never a dull moment: Best of the 2020 Sheriff's Log - Teton Valley News - December 31st, 2020 [December 31st, 2020]
- Landscaping Services Market Witness Highest Growth In Near Future| Leading Key Players Asplundh Tree Expert, BrightView Landscapes, The Davey Tree... - December 31st, 2020 [December 31st, 2020]
- Robert Gehrke: Friends are rallying to help Dave The Flower Guy, they shouldn't have to - Salt Lake Tribune - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]
- 700 Thousand Products Debut at the 128th Canton Fair, Embracing Technological Breakthrough - PRNewswire - October 23rd, 2020 [October 23rd, 2020]
- Space Jam 2 Plot Leak Takes LeBron on a Looney Trip Into the WB Vaults - The Dad - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Couple Rushed to Aid of Wounded Kansas Police Officer, Drove Him to Hospital - Officer - October 20th, 2020 [October 20th, 2020]
- Harold Varner III lets head cover do talking on Twitter - Las Vegas Review-Journal - October 10th, 2020 [October 10th, 2020]
- Lockdown has shone a light on how much we rely on others - Sydney Morning Herald - September 11th, 2020 [September 11th, 2020]
- The ins and outs of turf grass | Columns | news-bulletin.com - Valencia County News Bulletin - September 11th, 2020 [September 11th, 2020]
- Tie a gospel message 'round the old oak tree - Kentucky Today - August 30th, 2020 [August 30th, 2020]
- 'Rent a Daddy': Man offers to 'rent out' his parenting services, netizens are impressed with the idea - Times Now - August 30th, 2020 [August 30th, 2020]
- Enjoying the important things together - Swnews4u - August 20th, 2020 [August 20th, 2020]
- What you need to know about Clean Air Action Day! - WZZM13.com - June 27th, 2020 [June 27th, 2020]
- Health & wellness: Take care to avoid common summer health hazards - Dayton Daily News - June 27th, 2020 [June 27th, 2020]
- In The Green: Tips To Keep Your Lawn Healthy In The Heat - DiscoverMooseJaw.com - June 27th, 2020 [June 27th, 2020]
- Guest columnist John Root: A week to celebrate the beauty of pollinators - Amherst Bulletin - June 27th, 2020 [June 27th, 2020]
- The 10 Best Lawn Care Services in Secaucus, NJ (with Free ... - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- Plowz and Mowz offers free lawn service to healthcare workers - WBNG-TV - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- Unperspective: Are You Still Pushing A Hand Mower? - IT Jungle - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- [Letter] Best public policies are thought-through and consistent - LebTown - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- Syracuse-Based Company is Offering Free Lawn Services to Healthcare Workers - WICZ - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- The Signs of the Big Bend Are a Sign of the Times - Texas Monthly - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- This Week in Lincolnville: Learning to adapt - PenBayPilot.com - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- 10 stories that will make you proud to be a Saint - St Kilda FC - May 24th, 2020 [May 24th, 2020]
- The Recorder - Demers Landscaping celebrates 50 years in business - The Recorder - May 14th, 2020 [May 14th, 2020]
- 'Spare a thought for your neighbour', communities are told - Spalding Today - April 11th, 2020 [April 11th, 2020]
- Local News: Wartrace mowing contract awarded to high bidder (4/3/20) - Shelbyville Times-Gazette - April 8th, 2020 [April 8th, 2020]
- The industry's latest on coronavirus - Lawn & Landscape - April 8th, 2020 [April 8th, 2020]
- Home improvement ideas that can increase the value of your home - Wales247 - February 28th, 2020 [February 28th, 2020]
- Connecting with others through service - Catholic Star Herald - February 28th, 2020 [February 28th, 2020]
- Five tips on how to get more lawn care customers - Total Landscape Care - February 28th, 2020 [February 28th, 2020]
- Now's the time to prep for healthy summer lawns - Salina Post - February 28th, 2020 [February 28th, 2020]
- Outlook on the World's $14.5B+ Lawn Mower Market to 2026 - Yahoo Finance - February 22nd, 2020 [February 22nd, 2020]
- "The current [insect] extinction crisis is deeply worrisome," say experts - Boing Boing - February 22nd, 2020 [February 22nd, 2020]
- Fates of humans and insects intertwined, warn scientists - The Guardian - February 22nd, 2020 [February 22nd, 2020]
- Her View: More resolutions to make our world a better place - Moscow-Pullman Daily News - January 12th, 2020 [January 12th, 2020]
- 'The House that Built Me': Branson hospital celebrates 70 years - KY3 - January 12th, 2020 [January 12th, 2020]
- 4 Things to Know About the Importance of Roof Cleaning - Patch.com - January 12th, 2020 [January 12th, 2020]
- A Plea For Civility In Walden - And Response (2) - The Chattanoogan - January 12th, 2020 [January 12th, 2020]
- Investor buys stake in landscaping company | 2019-12-26 - grbj.com - December 28th, 2019 [December 28th, 2019]
- The mystery of the man in the Mill Creek shed is solved - The Daily Herald - December 28th, 2019 [December 28th, 2019]
- Technology innovations that shaped 2019 - ETCIO.com - December 28th, 2019 [December 28th, 2019]
- How To Make Sure Your Plants Survive The Winter - KHTS Radio - December 5th, 2019 [December 5th, 2019]
- These 5 Austin Companies Raised Nearly $70 Million Total in November - Built In Austin - December 5th, 2019 [December 5th, 2019]
- Global Garden and Lawn Tractors Market Outlook and Forecast 2019-2024: Increasing Marketing and Promotional Activities / Growing Number of Golf... - December 5th, 2019 [December 5th, 2019]
- The New Paradoxes of the Cloud Computing World - Forbes - December 5th, 2019 [December 5th, 2019]
- Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for Console: Halo: Reach, Tom Clancys The Division, and Many More - Blogdottv - December 5th, 2019 [December 5th, 2019]
- Brian Sims has dedicated his life to achieving equality and he wont stop until it happens - Metro Weekly - November 25th, 2019 [November 25th, 2019]
- Yellowstone Bison Engineer an Endless Spring to Suit Their Grazing Needs - Smithsonian.com - November 25th, 2019 [November 25th, 2019]
- Top 10 Lawn Mowing Services Near Me | Free Reviews ... - October 27th, 2019 [October 27th, 2019]
- Westminster Lawn Mowing | Hilltop Lawn Service - April 22nd, 2019 [April 22nd, 2019]
- Residential Lawn Maintenance Service | The Grounds Guys - April 15th, 2019 [April 15th, 2019]
- The Lawn Barber - Lawn Care & Landscaping Services In ... - March 16th, 2019 [March 16th, 2019]
- Minneapolis Lawn Mowing Service | The Lawnsmith - March 16th, 2019 [March 16th, 2019]
- Lawn Mowing Services Perth | Luke's Landscaping - March 7th, 2019 [March 7th, 2019]
- James Lawn Services - Lawn Care Maintenance, Mowing, Snow ... - March 7th, 2019 [March 7th, 2019]
- Lawn Care and Lawn Mowing services in Fredericksburg, VA - January 29th, 2019 [January 29th, 2019]
- LaneScapes Lawn Care | Mowing Landscaping & Plowing ... - January 29th, 2019 [January 29th, 2019]
- Lawn Mowing - Jim's Mowing NZ - November 16th, 2018 [November 16th, 2018]
- Home - Sergio's Gardening & Mowing Services - November 16th, 2018 [November 16th, 2018]
- Landscaping Holland MI | Lawn Care | Lawn Service - November 16th, 2018 [November 16th, 2018]
- Lubbock Lawns - Lawn Care l Lawn Mowing l Weed Control l Yard ... - November 16th, 2018 [November 16th, 2018]
- Lawn Mowing Details and Policies - Precision Cut Lawn Service - November 14th, 2018 [November 14th, 2018]
- Lawn Mowing Service Rogers Ar | Residential & Commercial ... - November 14th, 2018 [November 14th, 2018]
- 5 Of The Best Radio Headphones For Lawn Mowing - November 14th, 2018 [November 14th, 2018]