After years of suffering from serious health problems, I received notification at 12:40am CST that Kevin Lightner, known as Synthfool on forums and elsewhere on the internet, has indeed passed away. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him best. I count myself to have been lucky enough to have known him as the amazing friend that he was. His presence in the world will be missed greatly.
EDIT: Monica has informed me that www.synthfool.com has been updated, and she will be updating the overall content when she is up to it.
Ouch, this is really sad newsā¦ He has enriched many so online communities with his extensive knowledge and willingness to help. My heartfelt thoughts go to his family.
He was a fantastic source of info, for sure. I have some of his test equipment that I purchased just weeks ago. He sold off everything he ever owned. Itās going to take me a while to process the fact that heās gone.
Thia ia very sad news. Kevin refurbished/restored my ARP Odyssey a few years ago. I felt very lucky that heād accept the job as he was having health issues at the time. He was wonderful to deal with the entire time he was working on the synth. Very detailed, full of ideas and suggestions, sent pics via email, etc. Got the synth back within a month, in better than new condition. My sympathies to Monica and family. RIP.
Such a generous man. He gave his time freely.
So many times he helped me with various problems. We never even met but I could always rely on him for help.
I didnāt know he was so poorly, this is a big shockā¦ but while ever Iām with my modular there will be a bit of Kevin in there.
Greatly missed.
Kevin indeed suffered from degenerative bone disease in his spine. He spent many days confined to a wheelchair. Other days were spent in bed. He spoke to me often of euthanizing himself. On top of all that, he didnāt have a penny to his name. Kevinās is a tragic and sad story.
This is a very sad news indeed.
I didnāt know him that long, but my dealings and many e-mails exchanged with him had made me discover a very generous, knowledgeable, and kind man.
He did told me that his illness made him suffer a great deal, with lots of severe pain. So, in a way, this is a deliverance for him. May he now rest in peace.
My thoughts are with Monica, his loving wife, who is also a wonderful person with whom Iāve had the privilege and pleasure of dealing with. Sincere condolences to his family and friends also.
The internet is such an interesting phenomenon. I never knew Kevin, never had a direct exchange with him, but Iāve read many of his posts and often they have enriched my knowledge and helped me in my music-making life. I go to his page today, and thereās that picture of him from years agoā¦
I parked my car last night and as I was walking to my home I looked and saw the lighted window of my neighborās home who passed away last year. Now thereās someone new living there. We live the best lives we can, and then eventually we all pass away. Weāll never get to live today ever again, and someday the homes and workplaces we inhabit now will hold entirely new people who may know nothing of the lives weāve lived in those places.
Kevin may not have had much to his name monetarily, but he helped service instruments that went on to make recordings that touched the lives of millions, and his presence on the internet has helped many, many more, and will continue to do so. Just the Opto-key alone will make it so much easier for people to enjoy their Model Ds for longer, and make more music with them. That sounds like a life well-lived to me. I hope when I pass, total strangers I was never even aware of will stop and take a moment to mourn my passing because I did something that enriched their lives.
So sorry to hear this! I never had the pleasure of meeting Kevin in person but when chatting on this forum and via email he was always friendly, generous and helpful with his extensive knowledge. He will be missed, my sympathies to his family and friends but I guess I am glad for him that he is no longer suffering such horrible pain. R.I.P. Kevin Lightner!
I knew Kevin in high school. We played music a few times at my parents house. At one time he left his Poly Moog and his Cat(synth) at my place for a month or so. I donāt really remember why anymore.
After high school we only bumped into each other a few times. Last time I saw him was years ago at a winter NAMM. Because of this site we exchanged a few emails over the years. it was always good to hear from him.
He had such troubles with physical pain. It made any part of life
Tough, and restoration of synths (his favorite world) just impossible.
We are all lucky his words and advice are still out there, as he was so
generous on the forums. No one like him anywhere, truly. I spent some
Time this year visiting and trying to help out, but it only made it more
clear that there was no real hope. Frustrating, as people like Kevin are
rarely seen in a lifetime.
Hope Monica is ok, she is a great gal. I hope there is some relief, amidst
this great lossā¦
I met Kevin a few years ago when I had him work on my IIP. We became friends right away. Turns out we grew up just a few blocks away from each other and our paths had crossed several times years ago. He was in pretty serious pain the last time i spoke with him, both physical - as a result of his debilitating condition - and emotional. Iām very sad to see that he passed, but am glad to have known him and glad that his suffering has ended. A very sad day.
Godspeed, Synthfoolā¦be at peace, free from pain. Thank you for your years of friendship to so many in the synth community, for the sharing of your huge body of knowledge and resources and for your quality work and integrityā¦cheers to Kevin!
About three months ago Iāve been told by an acquaitance that Kevin had been told him personally that heād suffer from multiple sclerosis. Donāt know how long he had suffered from but Iām a bit surprised as from my medical knowledge people with ms have a reduced life expectancy of about 5 years less than the avearge people.
Well Iāve also have to say āThank you, Kevinā as he still tried to help me with my Poly obviously in the ālatest momentsāā¦
