Cumming, GA
So I was contacted off Pinside and asked to comment on this thread. I'm a bit confused in what I should say. Here's why. I admired Gene. I really liked him and his passion for Pinball and his desire to be remembered fondly. And there's no denying that he built almost 200 BBBs. But (you knew this was coming), he really screwed most of the people he was in business with at one time or another. He also made bad business decisions that came back to haunt him in the end. Those are both facts so I don't want anyone to think I'm speaking ill of the dead. Anything that happened bad to him (with the exception of the fire) was of his doing. He was also a great father and grandfather who loved his family and did the best he could to make their lives easy. And personally, he never did anything to hurt or defraud me.
I owned a BBB. I made a documentary about the game and him and showed him in the positive light he deserved because of the challenges he defeated. I know so many positive and negative things about him that I think it's best that I don't say much more. I do know that I'll miss him and he made a difference in my life for sure.
Victoria, BC
