Dean was indeed one of a kind. Thank God for that too. Not sure I could take two of him around these parts!
I don’t recall anyone I have banned more often than Dean. Nor do I know of anyone that I’ve given more second chances to than Dean. But I always brought him back. No other user has caused me so much grief, so much controversy and so many PMs. But I wouldn’t change any of that.
I used to love the PMs asking me why I would continually allow Deano to post. Why I gave him so many chances. And I especially loved the ones asking me what he had on me…haha! After all, he must have been blackmailing me to stay on the board for so long.
No, far from it. Even though he and I swapped just as many “fuck you” messages as we did “love ya bro” messages, I GOT Dean. I understood him and I knew the way he ticked. And I liked him. I respected him.
I didn’t always agree with his methods of delivery or the way he got all bent up over one user and let them know it, but the bottom line is that a number of those folk got removed over time, but Deano remained. He remained because I have a lot of time for people with passion. With the 100% self-belief in their convictions. You may not agree – but you knew where he stood and what he believed in. And he remained because he contributed like few others could.
Some of his political rants were just priceless. In fact, most of his rants were priceless and as I hovered over the delete button about 1200 times, more often than not I’d have a smile on my face before I erased another little bit of Deano magic (sorry old mate!)
I got to meet Dean in person and concur with all other comments posted about his real life persona. Still as fiery and as passionate as you’d read here, but with that added ingredient of humanity you just can’t see on a message board. He loved nothing better than a stoush, but totally gave credit and respect back when you were brave enough to get into it with him. Like I said….passion and conviction. I like that in a person. I liked that in Dean.
Despite the sleepless nights during the Tapegate marathon of posts and Journey management calling me up asking “just who is this Rockindeano???”, I never anticipated a time when the board would be without him.
In recent times his demons came calling. We talked a lot. I have mine too and tried to explain how I was dealing with them. The fear is always there that they will beat you and a couple of times I thought Dean had surrendered to them.
But no…the big lug fought on. We had a marathon chat a few months back and my wife also gave him some thoughts on how partners deal with issues like depression. I think it helped. Only 2 days back he PM’d me to give me shit about how he expected me to be too hard on the Bruce Springsteen album (no mate, I dig it!) and thanked Cath and I again for our time talking to him.
I figured he was on his way back…now this cruel injustice. His heart just gave way.
So I lower the MR flag to half-mast and bow my head in honor of the great, larger than life Dean Ulrich, the contribution that RockinDeano made to this forum, this community and my own life.
One great night out and a few interesting days in LA with him, but a post legacy that won’t ever be matched and a friendship I won’t forget.
R.I.P. Dean.
Lula and Wyatt....my thoughts and prayers are with you both.
PS. Don’t give Clarence Clemmons a hard time about too much Bruce related stuff
PPS. Fuck You!
