It is my sad duty to announce that Goldhammer passed away yesterday morning. He was suffering for lung and heart issues for some time and his neighbor just called me to let me know.
I really didn’t know him as well as I would have liked because he was a private man. I know he was married a couple of times and his last relationship was his first wife, Jean. They never remarried but he called her “his lady”. Jean passed last year, and he was never the same and he seemed to give up after that.
He had served in the Air Force for some time before he became an auto body repair and painter and lived the past many years in northwest Oregon.
He had given his neighbor his contact list which included me to pass the sad news on.
Godspeed Art, you were a friend of mine, were always kind to me and will be missed. [:'(]
I was fortunate enough to have the great privelage of meeting Art. What a wonder man. He is truly missed. Godspeed Art, don’t forget about sending some inspiration our way from time to time.
Sad news indeed. Art and I live about 40 miles apart, we got together for breakfast several times and he introduced me to the Oregon Mid Valley Modelers club. Together we donated well over 100 model kits, to the vet’s homes within a days driving distance and the Mid Valley club. Art also bought many building supplies and paint for the vets, he was a man of modest means, but I know he spent a considerable sum on those supplies.
Often “his lady” would join us for breakfast, she had just bought a new three wheel motrcycle for cruising our scenic area. I feel strongly that after her passing, Art just seemed to have lost the will to go on. He was friendly and rather quiet, but not at all withdrawn, he engaged well in conversation. I really enjoyed hearing the recollections of his Air Force service, and his considerable knowledge of the SR-71, while stationed at Beale AFB.
Art was a man I am very glad to have known, even for just a few years. You’re a very good lad, Art, Bon Voyage.
I didnt know him that well. But he was a great insperation to me. Sounds like he was a great person. He will be missed here . Rest in peace my friend and I bet you will build many models where you are at. Take care and send lots of knoledge our way.
Sorry to hear this sad news. He always had a kind word for my sometimes questionable building attempts. I’ve learned a lot from him over the years and will miss him. Art, hope I get to meet you at the great workbench in the sky(if and when the Man upstairs invites me up there). Rest In Peace and God Bless.
This is what makes life Suck! Good friends wether you met in Person or not. GoldHammer, May you have Fair Winds and Following Seas. You’ll certainly be missed!!
I saw the post immediately but was set back a bit so I didn’t respond. I knew of some of his medical situation but had no idea evidently how severe it really was.
Situations like this always seem to hit those of us in the modeling community hard sometimes. Any relationships we establish in the forum seem to have a profound effect when we loose one of our friends. Art and I had a very nice forum relationship. While I did not know him out of the forum, he was always a positive influence to anyone he associated with.
I hope and pray that all of his surviving family members are coping well and have been blessed with a sense of peace to sooth their loss. For us, another modeling peer has fallen and cannot be replaced. I guess our Father needed him in his larger forum.
There is no doubt that he will be missed here. Until we meet again Art…