Star Walker Commenteors
A Few Messages From Over 400 Posted on Yahoo at the Time of
Paul Allen Knopf’s Tragic Passing
Sascha, you probably don't remember who i am and that's okay (my name is Karen
and my best friend and i went to Europe and met Paul a few years ago)
(and we hung out with him and went to sushi when he came to visit LA a
while ago) i just wanted to say hello and tell you that i read so
many of these emails and it makes me really happy to see that you are
smiling more. i read about the grateful dead concert and that made me
really happy. I have a picture of Paul on my closet across from my bed
and I see it everyday-its a pic of him making a huge Paul smile-it
makes me smile and I know that he's around. Alex, my best friend, and
i talk about him all the time. its funny because we didn't really know
Paul so well but we really do love him. We always called him bellushi
and even my friends from college know who im talking about when i say
'bellushi.' oh my god my eyes are getting all teary. Well, I just
wanted to say hello and wish you the best and let you know that your
brother continues to effect people you don't even know about.
Love,
Karen Lewis
I was put on skis when I was 5 years old and pushed down the
slopes at Stowe, Vermont. So, when Paul invited us all to
Killington last year for New Year's, I was not only looking forward
to some good times with great friends. I could not wait to hit the
slopes with Paul, whom I had come to know as an avid skier.
Like all die-hards, Paul had already talked my ear off about the
conditions on "his mountain" (mine is in Vail, Colorado), and we
were both eager to see just how good the other one was. Well, it
was an unforgettable experience, to say the least. I'm not usually
an early riser, but place me anywhere near a mountain with
snow and I'll get up as early as you want me to....even earlier!
Paul and I dragged as many people as we could out of bed that
morning, and made them ski their asses off! I've never met
anyone like me who refused to take breaks (no pee breaks, no
eating breaks, and definitely no "warming up" breaks)! We just
skied until everyone else complained that they couldn't feel their
legs anymore, and then we made them take one more run. Well,
Paul was better than he ever led me to believe, but we were a
pretty good match for each other, it was the last time I was on
skis, and it is a day that I will never forget!
-Kasey Weil
A laughing Paul
Message #8 of 466 < Prev | Next >
Back in the summer Paul had picked me, my sister beth, and her now fiance
Ross to go see Trey Anastasio in NJ. Although driving with Paul was not
always a stress free process, this time it was a funny one.
Ross had learned the song Jay sings at the beginning of jay and Silent Bob
Strike Back. He was singing the song, and Paul began to laugh so hard he
started to cry. Ross wouldn't stop and Paul got even more hysterical. By
this point the car was beginning to veer off the road, and Beth and I had to
get Ross to stop so Paul could catch his breath and we make it to the show.
Paul was a man who loved to have a good gut wrenching laugh, the kind you to
take a deep breath to stop, and then you keep giggling for a while after.
We had many of those, and I am sure you did too.
-Michael Turi
Driving to Get Supplies
Message #23 of 466 < Prev | Next >
I remember last New Year's Eve day, Paul was going to go out to get
party supplies for everyone at the Vermont house. Kasey and I decided
to join him, thinking it would be a 20 minute thing to just pick up
some beer and chips and stuff. It actually turned into about a 4 hour
romp around the town. Stopping at about every store I think they had
out there. Paul was just the best host and wanted to make sure that
everyone was happy. We listened to Tenacious D the whole ride and
from then on we became fans and will always associate our love of
their music with Paul.
-Billy Ziff
Great Paul Memory...
He was the perfect host last new years at his Vermont home...We were
a large group..yet...Paul made every one of us comfy and happy...
I remember sitting around the fire, and Paul announcing he's going to
make drinks for us all...Well, in comes Paul with this huge tray of
Hot Toddies... They were HUGE ;) I couldn't feel my toes after a few
sips...
That mixed with the 10 pounds of smores ingredients he bought... oy!
There could of been no other food in that house, yet we all could of
lived on smores alone :)
Took me a while to even look at chocolate again after that weekend.
Everything he did, made it memorable for all of us...
It really was one of the best New Years EVER!!!
Thank-you Paul!
-Terri
Yet Another Great Paul story....
During New Year's last year, Paul invited several of our friends to his
house up in Vermont, which of course, was so nice and generous of him. We
all had a great time that weekend, in part because of Paul's wonderful sense
of humor, hospitality, and spirited way about him. Anyway, on the last
day, many of us went skiing. We all did our own thing during the day, but
thought it would be fun to meet up and ski down the mountain, as a group, at
the end of the day. By that time, the conditions had gotten very icy.
Well, I am the least skilled of all of our friends, as a skier that is, and
was in the back of the group the whole time. Paul kept waiting for me to
make sure I was okay...NO ONE ELSE DID!!! I was so grateful. Almost toward
the end of our journey, I noticed a few feet ahead of me that people were
stopping. We had hit a crazy patch of ice and everyone that tried to ski
over was falling. I was scared out of my mind, but Paul didn't let me fall.
No, he held my hand and helped me over the icy patch. What a gentleman!
I was so impressed by his character and patience that day. He could have
zipped through that last run, but he decided to help out a friend. I'll
never forget how sweet Paul was and how he saved me from falling on the
mountain that day. We'll miss him dearly.
~Debra
Another Fine Pdiddy Story
Message #28 of 466 < Prev | Next >
Hey all, A really great story about Paul. (this is long)
Paul and I have seen phish probably about 10 times together, pretty much
once a summer in the late 90's. We saw the Clifford Ball, Great Woods 99,
Hartford 00, and more here and there. Here is a great story from Great
Woods. A few of you probably know this already, but its worth sharing to
those who don't.
Paul and I set out in the Warrior (my car) to go see phish in July of 99.
We were to meet up with my friend Dean and Aaron; Dean was returning
directly from the airport from a 3 month trip from Kenya where he was
teaching AIDS/HIV awareness to the Kenyites (thats not a real word).
Anyway, I arrive at Paul's house that morning and Paul comes out with a
cooler that could feed a small army or large mammal. Dean had just been in
a country where he slept on a hay and basically hadn't eaten meat for 3
months.
When we go to meet him, I introduce him to Paul. Dean asks Paul if we
packed any food as he was hungry. Paul brings Dean to the trunk of my car
and opens the cooler. And offers Dean the following:
"Dean, what do you want, we got eggs, bacon, sausage, and I don't mean just
sausage. I got turkey sausage, honey sausage, peppered sausage, etc. I've
got chips, dips, pretzals, sandwich meats, three kinds of bread." Paul also
had about ten different types of cheeses, as he loved making cheese plates.
Paul had premarinating flank steaks (which were amazing), chicken breasts,
creamed corn, and about seven different uncut fruits. And of course, he had
all the utensils, condiments, and other things you would need to do these
right.
Dean, upon seeing all this food almost threw up. Dean had eaten virtually
nothing for 3 months and out comes this loud, friendly, and proud Paul.
Dean returned to his car, he had lost his appetite.
As we get to Great Woods, Dean and Aaron having followed us from Newark to
Mansfield, we get separated by the parking cops in the lots and lost track
of Dean and Aaron. Now Paul and I had all the food, as well as some other
things we all wanted. Dean and Aaron and Paul and I spent the first half of
the weekend looking for eachother, they more than us as we had everything.
Finally, during the second show, while people watching, I see Deans head in
the crowd. I turn to Paul and tell him to stay where he is.
I then ran to Deans location, told him to hang right there, and the group
was reformed. Now Dean and Aaron, low on funds, high on a lot, had
forgotten how loud Paul could be. Paul arrives to them and starts telling
them how much great food they missed, and how much more we have.
He also starts and in depth conversation about how Dean was to become a
surgeon, and malpractice. Dean had to excuse himself once again, b/c after
not being around white english speaking people, he just wasn't ready to
handle Paul.
Finally, after we'd all hung for the evening, and all was cool, we check
into our hotel. Paul falls asleep before any of us and starts snoring quite
loudly. Me, Aaron, and Dean can't help but laugh due to the pure of volume
of Paul. Paul then woke up from the volume of our laughter. This cycle
continued for about an hour until finally Paul sat up and put us in our
place, saying how he didn't give a shit if we can't sleep, he's cool. After
calming down, this hilarious night ended.
One other note was the night before. Paul and I, being last minute folks
that we are never made preparations for sleeping in a hotel, but we had our
tents with us. We had to drive 1 1/2 hours in the rain out to Cape Cod to
find a campground that wasn't full. Finally we did, and set up camp. The
next morning I wake up to Paul making his famous breakfast burgers, which is
one fried egg, a burger, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and
salt/pepper/ketchup. I step out of the tent to find Paul handing me this
concoction. Recanting almost any of this weekend to Paul always gave us
both a good laugh, to which we'd say, "good times, my friend, good times."
It was a good time.
Now Paul wasn't all about food, but he was about knowing when to be
excessive. He rarely did things small and never did things half-ass.
If we was to put his effort into it, it was done right.
Sorry for the length, but this trip had lots of good memories.
We tried repeating it the next year, and after being late to a show, a flat
tire in the parking lot, there were more adventures.
We had so many, and I'll treasure each one.
Michael Turi
The Best cousin ever!
Message #34 of 466 < Prev | Next >
Hey sascha and Ilene -
I just remembered a story from Liz's bat mitzvah, It was getting
close to the end of the party and i had just been siting by myself,
because I didn't really know Liz's friends that well. Then it came to
last dance and everyone was dancing I! Well, I was just siting at the
table all by myself pretty bummed out when, Paul came asked me to
Dance! He was the coolest sweetest guy in the world! I just wanted to
tell you guys that story!
love, Laura!
Paul Always Went the Extra Mile!
Message #33 of 466 < Prev | Next >
Here's one short but recent Paul memory:
Over Columbus Day Weekend this last year (2002) Paul invited the
entire alumni of the fraternity up to Killington to have a reunion
weekend. It basically started when Paul posted the invitation on our
fraternity's message board, and about three hours later we were all
whipped up into utter hysteria over what a great time we all were
going to have. Paul, as some have mentioned previously, was the
ultimate host. Here is an excerpt from one of his posts leading up
to the big weekend, slightly edited to protect the innocent:
Paul wrote:
"What's up all?
First Congrats to Mangual. Sorry I couldn't make the journey like my
other Jewish Bretheren, I was with the fam for the holiday.
As for you drunks, sounds like it was a great time. Otherwise, real
glad people are interested in coming to VT.
Eventually I will post specific directions to the house if anyone
needs it. As of now of course guests are welcome, but no
lightweights. If we get over 25 people which I doubt, then guests
will have to sleep in their cars. But seriously, I have like 1500
dollars worth of liquor up there, I'm buying a new grill, and
hopefully the hot tub will be up and running. All you guys need to do
is show up with a few duckets for beer and food.
I am looking to see if the alpine slide will be open which may be
fun, especially if someone crashes.
I am going to go up early to make sure there is cold beer in the
fridge and red meat ready to grill.
Looking forward to seeing you guys, and hey Stolf, if you find your
way from Chicago to NY, I will find a way to get you up to VT. Check
you later fellas"
******
Paul & the Hot Tub
My contibution to this story ties in to Paul's line about the hot
tub. See, as it turned out, one of my favorite parts of the Knopfski
house experience, the hot tub, was broken. Paul knew I would be
devastated, so what happened next really summs up Paul. He had one
brought in! Over the next few weeks, Paul and I spoke on the phone
setting the whole thing up. As it turned out, it would only be $180
to rent a "soft tub" hot tub for the weekend. Paul was always
flawless in his research when it came to such things. Paul worked it
out that we would collect 10 bucks from everyone, and then worked out
all the delivery and set-up of the tub. When I arrived at around 1
A.M. that Friday/Saturday night, low and behold there was the tub.
Hot, bubbling, and on the deck! It was awesome. It even had a
light!
That weekend was the first time we had seen some of the older
brothers in more than four years. People came from as far away as
North Carolina, Arizona, and Chicago Illinois for the reunion. Paul
made it all happen through his unbelievable generosity, and
willingness to put up with jerks like me who demand hot tubs.
I miss you Paul!
Scott Sumner
A Star in PAUL ALLEN's HONOR!!!!!*************
Message #45 of 466 < Prev | Next >
I got home from a pretty horrific day to a box from the Ministry of
Federal Star Registration...! Adam registered a STAR for Paul!** It
was such a beautiful thing to do. I am touched to no end. You a
gift, Duke.
I love you!
xoxo
Sascha
And all of us here xoxoxoTHANK YOU
Casa De Campo 4 Grandma's 80th B-day w/Paul Allen :) Part I
Message #49 of 466 < Prev | Next >
I was thinking about our last family vacation that we went on for
Grandma's eightieth birthday last year, and if it weren't for Paul, I
think Ilene and I would have had a major fist fight, I might have
beaten up one of the twins, or I might have tried to "escape" the
family "compound" any which way I could(--maybe by hitchhiking on the
fishing boats that came there.) Let's just say, it was no vacation.
I was shipped in from LA on three days of no sleep and was woken up
by my nieces and nephews after flying one of those days of no sleep
and jet lag. I was a single, actress, who's lived alone for 2 years,
that hadn't slept in 3 days on a different time zone after 2 plane
changes and a long layover somewhere, that just flew from the West
coast to NY the night before and if that wasn't enough, my dear sister
wanted me to be SWEET to her SCREAMING children at 6:30 AM!!!!
(That's 3:30 am for me too!)
So brotherman to the rescue... He swoops down the stairs...grabs me
as I recall, I couldn't hear a thing under my sister's screaming and
the babies, and my mom chimed in too...and saved the day, so that
there was one. He brought me into his room, gave me ear plugs ( he
snored) and put on the a/c full blast (to drown out the noise). We
both got some sleep, and then I slept up in his room for the rest of
the trip and used the bathroom downstairs for reasons which I don't
need to elaborate on!
-Sascha Knopf