(Originally posted on August 31st, 2010 at the Fans United for SatAM forum 
[http://sonicsatam.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2423])

Bad News About Ben Hurst
  Nique  
Group: Fellow FUSer
Posts: 163
Joined: 2-December 08
Member No.: 460

This isn't easy to say right now because we were so close, but today I got a phone call from Pat Allee. 
Ben passed away a couple weeks ago. They think it was his diabetes, which I didn't even know he had. 
I guess it came kind of suddenly. He even had a doctor appointment on Wednesday but he died Tuesday 
before he could go. What they believe happened is that he fainted and then went into a diabetic coma. 
Then he just died peacefully in his sleep, which is how he wanted to go. He didn't feel any pain or anything 
so that's comforting.

I feel very weird by this whole thing. He was such a lively man. He lived such a full life and he told me 
numerous times that if he died tomorrow, he'd be fine with that. I'm truly grateful for having known such a great man. 
I'm sure he's happy wherever he is now. I'm upset but knowing these things I think I'll be able to carry on.


Thanks Ben. It was wonderful getting to know you and hearing all your amazing stories. I'll never forget them 
and I'll never forget you either. I hope your next life is as fulfilling as your last. And know that all your friends 
here miss you and love you very much. So again, thanks for everything.
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Morgan
Group: Admins
Posts: 2,786
Joined: 12-March 08
From: USA
Member No.: 100

Oh that's terrible to hear he passed.
But it is at least comforting that he passed peacefully. 
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chief
Group: Admins
Posts: 3,634
Joined: 10-March 08
From: West Coast, BC, Canada
Member No.: 54

I just moved this into the news section..

I think I can speak for all of FUS here on how sad this is. He was a good guy, I wish I had a chance to talk to him 
more then what I did. He was a great guy, did a lot for SatAM while it was running and after. 
The information he passed onto us for what Season 3 was going to be like..Along with everything else.

RIP Ben. 
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Nique
And getting the word out to the Sonic fandom was something he wanted. That's what Pat told me anyway. 
I don't want to keep typing the same thing out so I just basically copied what I wrote here to a few places. 
SMS, Sonic Retro, not sure about any other place.

He didn't want a funeral, but Pat's having a sorta party to celebrate his life on Sept 11th. Part of me wants to go, 
but I don't think I will. I wouldn't know anyone for one, and I don't know if I can afford it right now. 
I'm still not sure yet, I'll have to see about time off from work.

He always appreciated the fanbase BTW guys. I hope you all know you were special to him.


Also in case you're wondering, Pat had been trying to call me for two weeks now. I didn't recognize the number 
so I never answered. It wasn't until today when she left a voice mail that I finally got the message, so that's 
why it took two weeks for me to find out about it. 
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