James Randi
Added 2020-10-21 21:19:10 +0000 UTCOur friend and hero James Randi has passed today. I am crushed by this news. Our relationship with Randi goes back 30 years. He was 92. Even with a long and wonderful life It's horrible to know he is gone.
Skepticism would not have the footprint it does today without him. He influenced and helped shape the movement.
-Jay
Comments
I think he would've appreciated this https://entertainment.theonion.com/psychic-already-sick-of-spectral-james-randi-ragging-on-1845453086
Andrew Huffman
2020-10-23 04:02:00 +0000 UTCI have a fork he bent somewhere. What an absolute legend
Magnus
2020-10-23 02:50:50 +0000 UTCSad. I had the honor to have breakfast with him once and we discussed old movies. A great and kind man.
Jeffrey Katz
2020-10-22 21:08:54 +0000 UTCI was just thinking about him a couple days ago and how sad it will be to lose him. Thanks to him and similar people, however, I don't believe it's because I received some psychic energy or precognition. My favorite appearance of his was when he was detailing his escape from the jail. I thought that appearance was on Skeptic's Guide, but if anyone knows for sure or better yet, has an episode number I would greatly appreciate it. I haven't been able to track down where I heard that appearance several years ago.
Levi Elliott
2020-10-22 17:31:34 +0000 UTCSad news indeed, however with 92 years he at least had a good and Amazin run here on our earth.
Henrik Holst
2020-10-22 16:06:29 +0000 UTCI never met Mr. Randi but he has been part of my 69 years. As a kid in NYC I thrilled to his feats as an escape artist on the kid's Sunday morning TV show Wonderama. I distinctly remember "The Amazing Randi" squeezing into a milk can and the show's host Sonny Fox filling the can with water, then sealing it with a chain and lock. Decades later I was thrilled to get reacquainted with Mr. Randi in his role as truth-teller and my guide into skepticism. By the way, "The Amazing" did escape the milk can; in case you were wondering.
mike glazer
2020-10-22 11:43:37 +0000 UTCHe was my gateway to skepticism. There are few people I admired more than I did him. Thank you guys for carrying the baton forward!
Enrico Secchi
2020-10-22 07:52:33 +0000 UTCI am as sad about this as when christopher hitchens died. The sad thing is that outside of the skeptic community, no one seems to have noticed.
Clive Ruddick
2020-10-22 07:27:08 +0000 UTCSame here as well. I met him at CSICON 2018. I wanted to let him know how bit of an impact he had on my life and thank him for that. I'm glad that I got that chance.
Asymetra
2020-10-22 07:06:11 +0000 UTCMy heart goes out to José Alvarez and his great loss at this time. It was my pleasure to meet James and his partner José at CSICON 2018, my first skeptic conference. I had a chance to thank them for the vast ways in which they improved my life. I am the skeptic I am today thanks in no small part to James and José . James will be missed. My deepest condolences to José.
Asymetra
2020-10-22 07:04:50 +0000 UTCSo sad. I remember meeting him on a boat in Sydney Harbor when the Skeptics Guide did their show down under. I was struck by how small he was, but I felt I was standing next to a giant.
Michael Carter
2020-10-22 04:37:11 +0000 UTCA hugely influential figure in the skeptical community, and to me. I consider his book ‘Flim Flam’ to be seminal and ahead of its time. A real pity for us all that he never got the recognition in the mainstream media that he deserved - he should have been the’Go To’ guy whenever some pseudo science story is being reported. I’m personally also sad that I never got to see or meet him in person.
Hon W Yau
2020-10-22 04:26:45 +0000 UTCThank you SGU for introducing me to Randi. We lost one of the greats today but man did he live an AMAZING life
KylePezz
2020-10-22 04:17:18 +0000 UTCDammit, 2020 is truly the year of suck! Meeting him was one of the great honors of my life. He was with his husband, Deyvi Peña and the two of them were incredible people. Very few people will ever do more for skepticism or humanity than James “The Amazing” Randi. He truly earned his moniker. We love you, and your legacy will last forever.
Garry
2020-10-22 01:59:00 +0000 UTCWhat an Amazing! life well lived! He'll be missed by so many, yet his impact will last generations.
Arthur Kepler
2020-10-22 01:28:36 +0000 UTCSad news....I was hoping to donate to the JREF in his honor, but it doesn't look like its accepting donations anymore. I'll stick with upping my SGU membership. Thanks for carrying the torch Rogues
Jeff Schulz
2020-10-22 00:13:56 +0000 UTC😢
Dave Visockis
2020-10-21 23:57:27 +0000 UTC2020 strikes again. :(
Eric Wadsworth
2020-10-21 23:37:34 +0000 UTCOh, such a loss. I truly loved James Randi from the first time I met him. We were neighbors in NJ for awhile, and I had been aware of his passion and activism since high school. Now, my 60’s, our grown children were raised in a fascinated, skeptical engagement with the real world, and Randi was a touchstone. You Rogues have been hit with so much these last couple of years, and I am so sorry you lost a good friend. Love and condolences to Deyvi, to you, and to all who were fortunate to see the great heart of an Amazing human.
Jeanne H-B
2020-10-21 23:22:07 +0000 UTCA skeptic of some note. He will be missed.
Benjamin Hayes Wilson
2020-10-21 23:01:50 +0000 UTCSad new. He had a long life making the world a better place. It's good to know his efforts made a large difference.
James Joyce
2020-10-21 22:48:38 +0000 UTCWhat sad news. A great man. I had the pleasure of seeing him live in 2014 in Sydney (along with the SGU team). Who will take on administering the $1M challenge now?
Gavin Hirst
2020-10-21 22:47:47 +0000 UTCSuch a sad loss for the skeptical community, but his legacy will live on in all of the people he has inspired.
Kelly Burke
2020-10-21 22:47:21 +0000 UTCArrggh. Such a great human.
Peter Stokes
2020-10-21 22:37:51 +0000 UTCI am so sad. Met Randi at an Amazing Meeting when my son was 13. Randi walked over to us to do a card trick. I wondered why the star of the show with hundreds of friends in the room would seek out a kid and perform for him. The only thing I can come up with is that he was an incredible and unique and very special person.
Hirsh Leff
2020-10-21 22:26:46 +0000 UTCDefinitely disheartened by this news... RIP James Randi. Learned about him from the SGU and watched every YouTube vid and documentary I could find! Will be missed
Jack Butler
2020-10-21 22:25:02 +0000 UTCFlim Flam! was my intro to skepticism.
David Zafman
2020-10-21 22:11:47 +0000 UTCSomehow a heart on this post feels wrong. I feel fortunate for having met Randi and the world is a better place for having had him in it.
Gold
2020-10-21 22:05:39 +0000 UTCMourning with you, for sure. I attended TAM London once and met Randi briefly to get some of his books signed. I was struck by how gracious and polite he was. Not only a fierce defender of reason, but also a true old-school gentleman. He will be sorely missed by so many of us.
Mike Torr
2020-10-21 22:03:53 +0000 UTCWhat a gut punch! A huge loss for a world that desperately needs more of his brand of skepticism. He was an icon.
Daniel Dorn
2020-10-21 22:03:50 +0000 UTCShocked and sad
Marshall S Pimenta
2020-10-21 21:54:13 +0000 UTCI have truly lost a hero. I went to 9 of the Las Vegas TAMs. I'm glad that I got the chance to tell him that he was very important in my life. He was my connection to the SGU, George Hrab, and many other great skeptics.
Paul Kohlmiller
2020-10-21 21:50:32 +0000 UTCHe was amazing
Wayne E Dize
2020-10-21 21:49:03 +0000 UTCI had the privilege of tying James Randi to a chair.
Wayne E Dize
2020-10-21 21:48:52 +0000 UTCVery sad. A life truly well lived.
Derek
2020-10-21 21:48:07 +0000 UTCI'm sure we will all be talking about Randi in this week's livestream.
John P
2020-10-21 21:46:21 +0000 UTCAmazing wasn’t just his name. The legend will be missed and I am sorry for your, and the worlds, loss.
Jason 'Jake' Kennedy
2020-10-21 21:45:14 +0000 UTCSad sad day.
Edward Hennis
2020-10-21 21:44:51 +0000 UTCHe will be missed. So sad that there's hardly any news about this in the mainstream media. We need more critical thinkers in the world.
Albert Nakano
2020-10-21 21:42:32 +0000 UTCI am so sorry to hear about his death. Although it was a long life, Iit would have been nice to have him with us a few more years.
lothian53
2020-10-21 21:40:50 +0000 UTCSo true. He will be missed!
Randall Bessinger
2020-10-21 21:39:12 +0000 UTCSo sorry to hear that. Emotional whiplash! I was still basking in the asteroid news, now I'm bummed again.
Mad Brad, Virginia's ONLY skeptic
2020-10-21 21:38:00 +0000 UTCWow. I’m stunned. 2020.
NATHAN SIMMONS
2020-10-21 21:33:27 +0000 UTCThis is sad indeed. I had the privilege of spending a little time with the guy. I could have listened to his stories for days. I loved his Carson stuff and he really was part of the movement.
Louis Goldberg
2020-10-21 21:30:26 +0000 UTCNooooo! I genuinely feel like someone just slapped me in the face. Randi always said he would make it to 100 years old and I really thought he would do it. Such a huge loss to the skeptic movement/community. Condolences to his nearest and dearest, especially husband Deyvi. The JREF I'm sure will continue his good work. Randi's website just says "due to age-related causes".
John P
2020-10-21 21:30:18 +0000 UTCSo sad to hear. I’d like to think he lived his life to the full. Always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye.
Manu from Belgium
2020-10-21 21:29:11 +0000 UTCOh wow. We all knew it would happen at some point but still such a loss. But lets be thankful for all that he achieved in his lifetime. He gave so much to Skepticism that we can be grateful for.
Nub
2020-10-21 21:28:31 +0000 UTCWhat a legend. 💝
Derek Jackson
2020-10-21 21:27:59 +0000 UTCthat is sad news. But he taught us well, and we carry on with The Work he started
Steve Truglio
2020-10-21 21:27:02 +0000 UTCA wonderful man with an amazing legacy
George Markessinis
2020-10-21 21:26:39 +0000 UTCSorry for the loss of your friend Jay.
Lee Marsh
2020-10-21 21:26:15 +0000 UTCSo sad to hear. A great man.
Christopher Pell
2020-10-21 21:25:51 +0000 UTCEvery one dies but some deaths are still devistating
Lianne Reitter
2020-10-21 21:25:38 +0000 UTCA personal hero and a giant in the field.
Asher Green
2020-10-21 21:24:11 +0000 UTCHe will be missed! His memory will live on.
Claudia Mastroianni
2020-10-21 21:22:48 +0000 UTCSo sad to hear. Heart goes out to his family and everyone that knew him and was inspired by him and loved him.
Mark Penney
2020-10-21 21:22:48 +0000 UTCWhat a great man who has shaped and influenced the minds of so many. RIP James
Benjamin McCartney
2020-10-21 21:21:22 +0000 UTC
