A Sad Day in Photography...

[jeandarnall]

I did not know Randy, but he certainly like a man who enjoyed life. Perhaps his family will take some comfort knowing this:

Gone but not forgotten
"A precious one from us has gone
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.
God in His wisdom has recalled
The boon his love had given,
And though the body slumbers here,
The soul is safe in Heaven."

Rest in peace my friend,
Jean Darnall

[CobraChris]

I met Randy 6 years ago. In fact, he is the reason I got into photography.
Words cannot describe the gift he has given me. He will be greatly missed.
Please do all you can to help out his family and say a prayer.


Chris

[Ferrell]

Randy will be missed very much. I went to 2 Wmsbrg workshops and got to know Randy and his easy going style. He was a gentle man, full of patience and grace. I loved his wicked sense of humor. Godspeed Randy.

[TaylorDelfino]

Randy was a good friend, and a great man. I've worked with him on many different occasions, and he will be terribly missed. It is a sad day, indeed. My heart goes out to his family.

Taylor


One by Mr. Searle himself.

[Foto_Highway]

Oh wow. I cant believe that Randy is gone. He was a great guy... Sense of humor, helpful, oh wow. He helped me when I first started out, answered questions, gave advice. I am really gonna miss him.


Leah

I was out of town for this last week for business. I had just spoken to Randy not days before his passing.
I am reading over the comments that his peers have left him. They are sadly very understated and vague, hollow and without any real depth. They do no justice in expressing the greatness of this man and the sorrow that will be felt with his loss; the empty feeling that will consume his family and his friends as they carry the memories of how he impacted so many lives – not just their own.
Randy and I met a few years back. I was his make-up artist and on occasion his personal assistant; later - as time passed - was honored to develop a close relationship with him. He was one of my very few real “friends,” which in my mind speaks volumes since I don’t befriend many people, let alone hold loyalty to them the way that I did with him. Randy was one of the very few people that had earned my trust and I like to believe I am one the people that he also bestowed the same honor to.
I spent many hours confiding in Randy as well as listening to his own personal trails and tribulations. We compared notes, and offered great advice to one another that neither of us would ever use – even though it was indeed great advice. We laughed at the little things, pondered on the big ones. We picked on our peers good-naturedly, photographers and models both. We joked about everything and made one another smile… Randy was great at making people smile. He could in few words bring a joy and warmth to one’s heart. Daily problems were always forgotten temporarily.
Randy was the epitome of a professional, the definition of an artist, a musician, a photographer, a leader and a friend, a comedian, and loving husband and father. He was so many things that mere words can not do justice to his memory and really, I find them (words) insultingly simple.
When I received word of Randy's passing… I did not know how to feel about it. I didn’t cry because it took so long for the reality of what happened to sink in. It is now that I write this sad eulogy that I finally shed tears for such a wonderful person – now that I know what he truly meant to me and how he affected my own life. I thought at first, since I didn't know what to say - it was best for me not to say anything. I wish that others would have had more thought out postings... maybe they should have thought about what he really meant to them - if anything... but only those who really knew him will ever understand the grieving that is felt; only they will understand the loss and only they will really remember. If you didn't know him - truly know him... don't bother cheapening his memory with politely shallow words of infamiliarity disguised as condolences..

[Doug_Lester]

"If you didn't know him - truly know him... don't bother cheapening his memory with politely shallow words of infamiliarity disguised as condolences."

Sorry if my words somehow offended you, but most of us did not have the opportunity of meeting and knowing Randy and certainly had no opportunity to become close friends, so what could we possibly say which would not sound like "shallow words of ...". Because of geography I did not know Randy, but I knew him from his posts and from his posted work. That showed me he was a good photographer and more important, a good man. Is there a reason I should not express my condolances to his family and his memory? I did not know Randy, but can I not be saddened by his loss. Having lost many people during my life, I ceertaily understand your personal grief, but I find your comment "...politely shallow words of infamiliarity disguised as condolences" to be insulting. He was a good man, even though I did not know him personally, and that is enough reason for him to be missed and to for me offer condolances.

[rolandogomez]

Reece,

Randy was amazing to all he touched. He was more than a friend to many too. I too did not now what to say that fateful day, but I had to let folks know, so my message was brief considering all that happened that day, my mind was lost. I miss him too. I cried too. Don't misconstrue my feelings for him with a short post. Randy was amazing, God bless his soul, his family, his children, and his friends. Let's not turn this sad turn of events into something that it shouldn't, not all people grieve the same. I respect your thoughts and share them too, but don't look down upon me or others for the way we grieve. Randy will not be forgotten. God rest his soul, rg.