Tag Archives: In remembrance

Remembering Lord George the Greek

07 Wednesday Aug 2019

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In July, Æthelmearc saw the passing of one of its beloved populace, Lord George the Greek. The announcement came from his Daughter, Baroness Isolda filia Georgii.

“My Dad, George Petrakos, known in the SCA as Lord George the Greek passed from this world shortly after midnight. I was able to be in the room with him and he passed so quietly and peacefully…Thank you to everyone who has been so kind and supportive to me, my Dad and all of our immediate family. We are truly blessed with the most kind and wonderful cadre of friends, family and family of the heart that anyone could ever dream of”!

Lord George joined the SCA late in life, but it did not slow him down or limit him. Lord George was made famous in a Pennsic Independent article when he attended his first Pennsic at the age of 92!

Is George the Greek the Oldest Person at Pennsic?

George Petrakos with His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent at the 150th Anniversary of the Lorne

In the SCA many of us play the part of the brave hero, but for Lord George this was no fiction. Lord George served in the Canadian Armed Forces with the Lorne Scots Regiment during World War II, serving during the Liberation of Holland. In 2015 he was chosen as a delegate representing the Canadian Armed Forces to go to the Netherlands for the 70th Anniversary commemoration of the Liberation of Holland.

The Liberation of the Netherlands

Highlights from VE ceremony in the Netherlands

For those who will be at Pennsic, there will be a memorial shield in remembrance of “Lord George the Greek” on the Pennsic Memorial Ship on Thursday, August 8, 2019, weather permitting.

 

Peaceful journey Lord George. You continue to shine as a wonderful light not only on the people you met in the SCA, but on a world which was made a better place by your life.

Wolfgang’s Crusader Ale, and Other Anachronistic Brews

04 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by in Announcements, Brewing, Tidings

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wolfgang
In memory of THL Wolfgang Starcke − a brewer, a teacher, a barkeep − the Æthelmearc Guild of Brewers, Vintners, and Meadhers is hoping to assemble a SCAdian brewing book.

Of you we ask: please share with us your recipes. Help us remember Wolfgang as we hope he would appreciate.

The general idea is to collect recipes and anecdotes (preferably anecdotes to go with the recipes) from all the brewers and others that Wolfgang and his brews have influenced over the years. We’re hoping for a mix from the lowliest Pennsic utility brew to the loftiest of documented Ice Dragon entries.

Show us your recipes, show us your memories, show us your photos, sketches, and illustrations. Share what you know he liked−or not−or what you think he might appreciate. Help make Wolfgang an even more lasting presence in our community, and an inspiration for those who come after – now, as well as in life.

The Kingdom of Æthelmearc Brewers Guild has dedicated a page (also found via the Events & Activities tab) to this endeavor.

Guild_Badge
You can use the link at the bottom of the page to enter your submission, including contact information, your story or anecdote, historical inspiration, if applicable, and modern recipe.

For your inspiration, and to take a sneak peek at previous submissions, we chose to offer you the option of viewing previous submissions. How the final brew book will look like depends on the type and volume of submissions: so let’s all pull together and aim for something BIG!

Yours in Service,
Elska, Maggie Rue, and Madoc Arundel.

A Remembrance of Dave Cooper

28 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by in Pennsic, SCA History, Tidings

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by Baron Master Devon Adair Bartholemy and Baroness Mistress Daedez of the Dark Horde Moritu

Dave Cooper

Like his father before him, Dave Cooper was one hard worker. Like his father before him, he helped run Coopers’ Lake Campground and expand it into the amazing event site it is today. Dave was one of our hosts for 39 of the 44 Pennsic Wars to date. In the process, his service and courtesy more than earned the Court Baronetcy earlier royalty bestowed on him. Oh, and like Mac before him, Dave was a man of few words.

Some years back, Dave joined us at a campfire on the final night of Æthelmearc War Practice. Dae and I considered it a singular honor. Between the pleasantries and companionable silences that ensued, I said: “You know, Dave, your home has a pretty special place in the hearts and minds of a lot of SCAdians. Quite a few of us have said that if the modern world ever fell apart, this is where we’d want to head. What do you think about that?”

Dave looked at us and then gave me the Cooper nod. (That’s several seconds of concerted thought, followed by a single decisive bob of the head.) “Bring seed,” Dave said.

Well, by Pennsic 24, I had acquired a few hundred packets of flower and vegetable seeds. I passed them out to everyone I knew who could pick Dave out of a crowd. Dave couldn’t go anywhere that War without having some random attendee walk up and give him a big grin or hug, and a packet of seeds. Dave took the joke with remarkably good grace.

At Pennsic 25, there were new flower beds next to the camp store and under the bath house balcony. There was also a vegetable garden out by the old stone house.   Dave mentioned that he had considered labeling the rows NOT with what the packets said they contained, but with the names of the friends who had given them to him. I figure I’d have been the pumpkins, Eddy the zucchini, Melkor the squash, and so on.

I’m going to miss Dave something fierce. But if hard work, valor, and kindness can be said to grow, then (I don’t care whether you call him Heimdallr or St. Peter) I’m willing to bet that the gatekeeper greeted Dave Cooper’s arrival with a knowing nod and the words: ”You brought seed.”

With heartfelt condolences to Betty Cooper, and all of Dave’s family,

Baron Master Devon Adair Bartholomy, Mayor of Pennsics 32 and 40, and

Baroness Mistress Daedez of the Dark Horde Moritu.