I’m just going to copy and paste this comment from Prestidigititis’s long time partner, Eddie.

 

 

I don’t know the etiquette for strangers coming in and posting, so if I am doing the wrong thing, someone please correct me and I’ll make whatever changes are necessary.

Through the years some of you may have come to know a member amongst your community who goes by the name Prestidigititis. Funny guy with a beard and one of the cutest cats this world has ever seen. To many folks offline he’s Matthew, and to me he’s Minz. My fella, my partner, the love of my life. 

Well, I’m heartbroken to have to tell you, but he passed away on Thursday July 23rd after a medical procedure. His passing was sudden and unexpected.

Minz had a big heart with a lot of sadness locked inside of it. He had an enormous capacity to love, care, and connect, and yet he had a lot of difficulty letting himself actually *be* part of a community. 

Minz and I have known each other for over twenty years, and in that time I have seen the many lovable and heartbreaking faces of this man. His struggles and triumphs, his blistering humor, his capacity to love, all of it. And in that time I have never seen him open up to a community the way he did with you all.

You really were his community. The way he would light up talking about the progress as Janet and Chrissy warmed up to their new home, or how he explained the goodness of Dad’s Casa, it was apparent just much he loved you all. He’d get so excited for the holiday gift exchanges. He’d spend a lot of time making sure his recipient would get just the right gift.

He loved you guys. He loved this community. 

I just want to thank you guys so much for being the kind of people who could give him this kind of experience. You guys meant so much to him, and that means so much to me. Thank you for being a beautiful part of his purpose.

If any of you want to make any sort of meaningful gesture, consider donating to a cat rescue in his name. I think that would’ve made him happy.

 

I don’t have anything to add to this except to say that he will be very much missed. Share your memories here.