I'm not exactly sure how Syd Bolton crossed my path or when he started contributing to The Armchair Empire. My memory is really foggy but I seem to recall that he contacted us about writing reviews and features. As the curator of the Personal Computer Museum in Brantford, Ontario (Canada), it was like having a celebrity contributor! Who could say, No?
And while Syd wrote for the Armchair Empire for many years, I was only fortunate enough to meet him in person a single time. It was at E3 -- what year, I can't recall -- and he made an impression on me.
Syd was one of those guys that wore his passion on his sleeve. He could talk video games and old computer hardware like nothing else! And he just seemed to be super excited to be there, in the moment.
It was easy to see that this wasn't some kind of act or persona he was developing. He was genuine. Genuine in his desire to be involved in his community; to bring the past to the present with his massive collection of PC and video game hardware from all eras; to just pitch-in and be there. The tributes from organizations in Brantford that he was either a part of or worked with boggle my mind a little bit. Civic pride and involvement doesn't seem to be one of those areas that Syd shied away from. He seems to have been everywhere!
I was surprised to read over the weekend that Syd had been taken to the hospital and was in the ICU. Then sad to read less than 24 hours later that he had left us.
While it hurts my heart to accept that he's gone, I can't imagine what his close friends and family are going through. What I take some solace in is that so involved was he with his community, both near and digital, that he left a legacy, touched people's lives that his memory, his genuineness won't soon be forgotten.
God speed, Syd. And thank you.
- Aaron Simmer
