I was set up to have a conversation with Gabe over at Kurt Vonnegut Radio, and I was really looking forward to getting to know the dude. I really missed out, and there's a hollow place here on Substack that we can honor Gabe by trying to fill by being supportive of good writers.
Gabe put out a challenge on Notes to write a self-important parody article about getting 10 subscribers in 6 months. We took him up on the challenge and published about a week later. He liked and shared our work with others. He supported us when he really didn’t have to.
That was our only interaction with Gabe, but he was clearly a positive, supportive person who made the Substack community amazing.
Dec 10, 2023·edited Dec 10, 2023Liked by Michael Estrin
I’m so happy for you and all of the writers with whom Gabe interacted. He sounds like a true friend to so many humans. Very few people have a friend such as Gabe and it’s astonishing that he was able to share that feeling with so many of you. Now I have to go listen to more of his podcasts. Thank you for sharing.
Dear Michael, my heart aches for you and all who knew your friend Gabe. Comedians are court jesters, the fools who reveal truth to Power and comfort to the not-Power. Hi ho. Thank you for introducing me to your friend. May his memory be a blessing (but I think it is).
This is a beautiful tribute. I didn't know Gabe but I am grateful to have a glimpse of him through your words. Our sincere condolences on the loss of your friend and to all those whose lives he touched in some way. RIP Gabe.
I was very new to Substack and at some point this summer, or perhaps September I posted a photo of my dog. Huge Bernese Mountain dog chilling on his back with his tongue hanging out. Gabe posted a response and made some comment. We back and forth’d a bit over dogs. His and mine. I didn’t know this person that was being so kind and as I was new to Substack I was curious about who I was speaking with. I was gobsmacked when I clicked on his post. He was a “real” writer. Like a successful one. And he commented on something I wrote. It felt like wind beneath my very fledgling wings. Kind of like being the nerdy wallflower and the popular guy just talked to you. That’s my one Gabe anecdote. I cried when he died. My heart hurt. I can’t imagine what it must be like for those of you who really knew him. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.
A beautiful and moving tribute. And I love that way of thinking about death - that all the moments, past, present and future, are all existing simultaneously ❤
Holy cow. I am so sorry to hear this news. I am one of the many, maybe thousands, who followed Gabe on Xitter, back when it was Twitter. I responded to one of his tweets. He responded back. I followed him, and he followed me, a nobody, back. I was so glad to see that he had turned up here. I think he was one of the truly kind, remarkable people in the world, and we are a poorer place without him. I'm so sorry for his loss, especially to those of you who knew him well. A light has gone out here.
This was well and tastefully done. This sounds like the kind of connection that makes pushing the boulder uphill worthwhile. Gabe's faith in you was well placed, you have a human lens that the world needs more of. And the work's great, but I think he saw something more essential.
I never knew Gabe but constantly saw his name pop up when I joined Substack. Thank you for holding space for your friend. Your words make me want to spend some time getting to know him even in his absence. It speaks volumes to see the mark he left on this community. Again, thank you for your vulnerability, Michael. I’m going to start with the podcast you did with him.
Gabe interviewed me for Kurt Vonnegut Radio about 6 weeks before he died. Our conversation was never posted, for obvious reasons, but I'm so glad I got the chance to speak with him, however briefly. Like you, Michael, I was shocked he even asked me, someone who's barely been writing for a year, just starting out compared to Gabe, who was an important figure in the literary game for decades. It was my first and only podcast interview. We had a conversation split over two days about my work on Substack, and although I can't claim to truly know Gabe on the basis of a 4 hour conversation, every kind word you've said about him in this post rang true for me. Such a warm, kind-hearted person. He seemed so excited about the potential for his podcast, and extended that excitement to my project for no other reason than he seemed to want writers to succeed. I remember leaving the call with him so full of energy and inspiration from the kind words he said about my work. Because of the time difference it was quite late by the time we got off the phone, but I couldn't sleep - I just wanted to go write something. At one point, I was trying to stress to him that on all of the various topics that I write about - history, art, anthropology, geography - I'm not an expert. I'm just an amateur enthusiast who distils the work of others. He paused for a second, almost looking annoyed, and said, "Mikey. Humility is all well and good but I've read your Substack. What else do you think scholarship is but building off the work of others? You're a scholar." That vote of confidence from Gabe, an award-winning author, and aside from this conversation, an otherwise complete stranger to me - I'll never forget it. RIP Gabe.
Thanks for this note, Mikey. That confidence boost you get from talking to Gabe, or even just interacting with him online, is so right on the money. Also, you’re totally right about feeling energized after speaking with him. I’m usually and early to bed guy, but after talking to Gabe I was too energized to sleep.
Oh, this is so beautiful, Michael. What a fucking loss. I feel like I should say something more profound, but that's all that's happening in my head as I ponder all this: What a fucking loss. And: this fucking world. What a fucking loss. And this fucking world. I'm sorry you lost such a magnificent friend. But I'm glad you had the time you did. From the sounds of it, you're forever changed.
Thank you, Jane. What a fucking loss is exactly how I feel. And lucky to because we did get to be friends for a little bit, but yes, what a fucking loss.
I had been hoping someone would write this exact piece, Michael. I didn’t know Gabe, but based on how devastated people were and how consistent their characterizations of him were, I felt like I wanted to. Thank you for making me understand the magnitude of this loss. My condolences to you and to those who cared about him.
This is difficult to read. Unfathomable. My heart goes out to his loved ones. Greatly missed. He’d always give such great and personal responses! Absolutely lived his work here on Substack. Not familiar yet with hus other works. I cannot believe this… RIP Gabe… huge loss.
I was set up to have a conversation with Gabe over at Kurt Vonnegut Radio, and I was really looking forward to getting to know the dude. I really missed out, and there's a hollow place here on Substack that we can honor Gabe by trying to fill by being supportive of good writers.
I’m bummed you guys never got to speak, Andrew. He told me he was looking forward to chatting with you.
Well, damn. RIP Gabe!
I'll do what I can to encourage other writers.
Gabe put out a challenge on Notes to write a self-important parody article about getting 10 subscribers in 6 months. We took him up on the challenge and published about a week later. He liked and shared our work with others. He supported us when he really didn’t have to.
That was our only interaction with Gabe, but he was clearly a positive, supportive person who made the Substack community amazing.
I remember that challenge. I’m so glad you shared Gabe’s impact here. Thank you.
That challenge or a similar one got me connected with so many substackers. It was the mist organic growth. I’m lost for words. The world feels empty.
I’m so happy for you and all of the writers with whom Gabe interacted. He sounds like a true friend to so many humans. Very few people have a friend such as Gabe and it’s astonishing that he was able to share that feeling with so many of you. Now I have to go listen to more of his podcasts. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you.
Dear Michael, my heart aches for you and all who knew your friend Gabe. Comedians are court jesters, the fools who reveal truth to Power and comfort to the not-Power. Hi ho. Thank you for introducing me to your friend. May his memory be a blessing (but I think it is).
Thank you for this comment, Betsy.
This is a beautiful tribute. I didn't know Gabe but I am grateful to have a glimpse of him through your words. Our sincere condolences on the loss of your friend and to all those whose lives he touched in some way. RIP Gabe.
Thank you.
I was very new to Substack and at some point this summer, or perhaps September I posted a photo of my dog. Huge Bernese Mountain dog chilling on his back with his tongue hanging out. Gabe posted a response and made some comment. We back and forth’d a bit over dogs. His and mine. I didn’t know this person that was being so kind and as I was new to Substack I was curious about who I was speaking with. I was gobsmacked when I clicked on his post. He was a “real” writer. Like a successful one. And he commented on something I wrote. It felt like wind beneath my very fledgling wings. Kind of like being the nerdy wallflower and the popular guy just talked to you. That’s my one Gabe anecdote. I cried when he died. My heart hurt. I can’t imagine what it must be like for those of you who really knew him. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.
Thank you, Kim, I love this Gabe anecdote. It so perfectly captures what he was all about.
A beautiful and moving tribute. And I love that way of thinking about death - that all the moments, past, present and future, are all existing simultaneously ❤
Thank you, Vicki. Vonnegut left us a lot of wisdom.
Holy cow. I am so sorry to hear this news. I am one of the many, maybe thousands, who followed Gabe on Xitter, back when it was Twitter. I responded to one of his tweets. He responded back. I followed him, and he followed me, a nobody, back. I was so glad to see that he had turned up here. I think he was one of the truly kind, remarkable people in the world, and we are a poorer place without him. I'm so sorry for his loss, especially to those of you who knew him well. A light has gone out here.
Thank you, Anne. Gabe Twitter feed was so great, wasn’t it?
It really was.
Such a beautiful tribute! I only learned about Gabe after his passing. I wish I had gotten to know him!
I wish you had gotten to know him too, Jillian. He would’ve made a fantastic subject for a contemporary issue of Noted.
This was well and tastefully done. This sounds like the kind of connection that makes pushing the boulder uphill worthwhile. Gabe's faith in you was well placed, you have a human lens that the world needs more of. And the work's great, but I think he saw something more essential.
Truth-telling. That's worth some more thought...
Thank you, Dennard, this means a lot. And you’re right, connections like this one make everything about the boulder worthwhile.
RIP
I never knew Gabe but constantly saw his name pop up when I joined Substack. Thank you for holding space for your friend. Your words make me want to spend some time getting to know him even in his absence. It speaks volumes to see the mark he left on this community. Again, thank you for your vulnerability, Michael. I’m going to start with the podcast you did with him.
Thank you, Marc.
Gabe interviewed me for Kurt Vonnegut Radio about 6 weeks before he died. Our conversation was never posted, for obvious reasons, but I'm so glad I got the chance to speak with him, however briefly. Like you, Michael, I was shocked he even asked me, someone who's barely been writing for a year, just starting out compared to Gabe, who was an important figure in the literary game for decades. It was my first and only podcast interview. We had a conversation split over two days about my work on Substack, and although I can't claim to truly know Gabe on the basis of a 4 hour conversation, every kind word you've said about him in this post rang true for me. Such a warm, kind-hearted person. He seemed so excited about the potential for his podcast, and extended that excitement to my project for no other reason than he seemed to want writers to succeed. I remember leaving the call with him so full of energy and inspiration from the kind words he said about my work. Because of the time difference it was quite late by the time we got off the phone, but I couldn't sleep - I just wanted to go write something. At one point, I was trying to stress to him that on all of the various topics that I write about - history, art, anthropology, geography - I'm not an expert. I'm just an amateur enthusiast who distils the work of others. He paused for a second, almost looking annoyed, and said, "Mikey. Humility is all well and good but I've read your Substack. What else do you think scholarship is but building off the work of others? You're a scholar." That vote of confidence from Gabe, an award-winning author, and aside from this conversation, an otherwise complete stranger to me - I'll never forget it. RIP Gabe.
Thanks for this note, Mikey. That confidence boost you get from talking to Gabe, or even just interacting with him online, is so right on the money. Also, you’re totally right about feeling energized after speaking with him. I’m usually and early to bed guy, but after talking to Gabe I was too energized to sleep.
Oh, this is so beautiful, Michael. What a fucking loss. I feel like I should say something more profound, but that's all that's happening in my head as I ponder all this: What a fucking loss. And: this fucking world. What a fucking loss. And this fucking world. I'm sorry you lost such a magnificent friend. But I'm glad you had the time you did. From the sounds of it, you're forever changed.
Thank you, Jane. What a fucking loss is exactly how I feel. And lucky to because we did get to be friends for a little bit, but yes, what a fucking loss.
I had been hoping someone would write this exact piece, Michael. I didn’t know Gabe, but based on how devastated people were and how consistent their characterizations of him were, I felt like I wanted to. Thank you for making me understand the magnitude of this loss. My condolences to you and to those who cared about him.
Thank you, Amy. I’m sad you didn’t get to know Gabe. But his work remains and in that way, he’s still here for everyone.
This is difficult to read. Unfathomable. My heart goes out to his loved ones. Greatly missed. He’d always give such great and personal responses! Absolutely lived his work here on Substack. Not familiar yet with hus other works. I cannot believe this… RIP Gabe… huge loss.