DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... GM has passed

Brian Plate (GM) has passed. He has fought a good fight for a long time. He never complained and always had a positive attitude. He will be missed by many.

GO BROWNS!

I already spoke about it with you about it on the other venue…but I’ll gladly say it again. He was an outstanding person. I’ll never forget when he warmly welcomed me to Dawg Talk Island back in 2007 and introduced me to a lot of great people. May he rest in peace. He fought through hell because he was tougher than nails. Great guy. Prayers to his family.

Oh man, I am so, so sorry to hear this.......

This [censored] sucks. If anyone deserved to see a championship, it was Brian.

I just looked. It was just short of four years ago that I hung out with him the one and only time. We watched the Browns game at a bar in Austintown. As always, he was going through some health issues and thought he may have to cancel. I showed up, saw his trike in the lot and just shook my head. No need to not live on the edge though, right?

He said he would be early, I said to watch for me and my "Straight Outta Cleveland" hoodie.

I'm telling this story because what I expected did not match what I found. I walked in to scan the bar, looking for someone frail and sickly. I heard "Fate??" and turned to see someone hop off a barstool to come give me a bearhug.

Brian was so full of life, and his energy rubbed off on everyone in the room. He was the energy in the room. Whenever anyone ever says, "live like you're dying", I see his smiling face.

We shared lunch, a few beers, a bunch of his death-defying stories, and a lousy Browns loss that didn't seem to matter.

And that's all it took to have an impact on my life.

I learned GM's gift to the world that day. He faced life’s heaviest storms with unmatched resilience, and a smile that lights up the room for everyone else.

Rest In Peace, my friend.

I must have been out of town that day because I usually met up with him and Youngstown Browns Fan. Your post fits him to a tee. He was always upbeat and on his Facebook posts he was always worried about others first. He never complained no matter how many punches he was hit with. He tried to make people laugh when things were grim. I don’t think I will ever meet anyone like him.

This post was one of Brian’s last posts. I’m posting it so all of you that didn’t know him very well can get a glimpse of the man he was.

Well folks, my latest update. Spent the last few weeks in and out of the Cleveland Clinic. Just like I don't recommend trying a small bowel obstruction, I don't recommend having Septic shock. That one is no fun either. I am now stage IV and will be entering Hospice soon and as has always been the case God will decide when I go.

Yes today is still a good day. Yesterday I spent my Birthday with my family, and yes It was still one of those "some are just better than other" days. I have shed quite a few tears the last several years. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy and happiness. I have been lucky enough to realize just how blessed I have been my entire life (I hope you all get to know how that feels.)

To those who have supported me since I got sick, THANK YOU. You have each been a blessing to me. I pray that I have been able to bless you either with a few smiles, laughs, or by reminding you that every day is a good day some are just better than others.

I just had a feeling when I gave him a call and didn't hear back from him.

RIP my friend. I have no doubt that you are at home, and in peace with the Lord. As I wrote in another venue: I am glad that he is in the presence of the Lord, for there is truly no better fate for us. I am sad, though, that I will live the rest of my life with one of my truly good friends missing here.