KupoCon:In Memory of Andrew Protsko
Donation protected
Posted to the KupoCon Forum: http://forum.kupocon.com/index.php?topic=405
When we started this journey back in March, nobody knew if KupoCon would be successful. Thanks to the people who work with me behind the scenes, we’ve been able to create a wonderful project that hundreds of Final Fantasy fans are looking forward too. We’re driven by our success and driven by you, the community.
Anyone who knows KupoCon knows KupoCast. Just a month after we launched, we started chatting with a group known as Nerdstrodamus based out of Pennsylvania. They were interested in producing our video podcast.
The first time I watched an episode, I remember turning to my wife and saying “we have to have these guys”. Ever since then, we’ve been working with them to create KupoCast. What was meant to be a simple event information show became our highlight. Scott (Dr Pants) and Corey (Lambo) became the faces of KupoCon. Their hilarious antics pulled us into their world —and what a great world it was.
It was only in the later episodes we were introduced to Andrew (Protsko). He was the guy behind the camera and he brought all of the episodes and sketches to life spending many hours editing the footage for our fans. He finally made a vocal appearance in a special podcast with me and later made a visual appearance in episode 7. In fact, his clip was so funny that we had him open the TriPom Rap video just a few weeks ago. The three of them became the signature of our event.
In these past few weeks KupoCast became such a key element of KupoCon that we arranged for them to be involved with almost every activity at the event. They are the true stars of KupoCon. Not me. I put the success of the event down to them and their chemistry. I truly mean that.
As many of you know, Episode 8 was filmed over the weekend and was scheduled to be published on Friday. The episode has been in post-production for the past few days.
Last night I received a message from Scott’s wife, Sarah. It seemed urgent, so I called her. As the words crossed her lips I truly felt the energy of KupoCon be drained from me.
Yesterday morning Andrew was involved in a road traffic accident. The driver behind Andrew was distracted and pushed Andrew into the path of an oncoming vehicle. It’s with the heaviest of hearts this morning, that I inform you, he didn’t make it.
In the later hours of yesterday, I spoke with all the senior staff of KupoCon here in North America and those in the UK. We’re all in shock and feeling a severe sense of loss. Many of us had never met Andrew, but in the weeks to come, we were all going to come together at The Big Pom and complete this mission together. Unfortunately, we’ve been denied that moment.
I’ve never met Andrew, but I feel this loss. I’ve spoke with him almost daily these past few months. His energy, his creativity and his humor was unmatched. He had the brightest of futures ahead of him and we’d already discussed projects following KupoCon.
I hold KupoCon close to my heart and everyone that works with me to make it happen. An event like this is truly heartbreaking.
Myself and the KupoCon team offer every ounce of our energy and love to the friends and family of Andrew at this difficult time. Our thoughts are with his partner Lindsey. Please know that the entire community is behind you.
There is very little I can do in a situation like this but offer a guiding hand. We’d like to dedicate this years KupoCon in Andrew's name. We’ve also started a GoFundMe to raise some funds to allow his family to grieve and not worry about their financial obligations and I ask everyone of you who are part of the KupoCon family to give what you can.
Andrew's life may have been cut short, but his impact on those around him and this project is eternal.
When we started this journey back in March, nobody knew if KupoCon would be successful. Thanks to the people who work with me behind the scenes, we’ve been able to create a wonderful project that hundreds of Final Fantasy fans are looking forward too. We’re driven by our success and driven by you, the community.
Anyone who knows KupoCon knows KupoCast. Just a month after we launched, we started chatting with a group known as Nerdstrodamus based out of Pennsylvania. They were interested in producing our video podcast.
The first time I watched an episode, I remember turning to my wife and saying “we have to have these guys”. Ever since then, we’ve been working with them to create KupoCast. What was meant to be a simple event information show became our highlight. Scott (Dr Pants) and Corey (Lambo) became the faces of KupoCon. Their hilarious antics pulled us into their world —and what a great world it was.
It was only in the later episodes we were introduced to Andrew (Protsko). He was the guy behind the camera and he brought all of the episodes and sketches to life spending many hours editing the footage for our fans. He finally made a vocal appearance in a special podcast with me and later made a visual appearance in episode 7. In fact, his clip was so funny that we had him open the TriPom Rap video just a few weeks ago. The three of them became the signature of our event.
In these past few weeks KupoCast became such a key element of KupoCon that we arranged for them to be involved with almost every activity at the event. They are the true stars of KupoCon. Not me. I put the success of the event down to them and their chemistry. I truly mean that.
As many of you know, Episode 8 was filmed over the weekend and was scheduled to be published on Friday. The episode has been in post-production for the past few days.
Last night I received a message from Scott’s wife, Sarah. It seemed urgent, so I called her. As the words crossed her lips I truly felt the energy of KupoCon be drained from me.
Yesterday morning Andrew was involved in a road traffic accident. The driver behind Andrew was distracted and pushed Andrew into the path of an oncoming vehicle. It’s with the heaviest of hearts this morning, that I inform you, he didn’t make it.
In the later hours of yesterday, I spoke with all the senior staff of KupoCon here in North America and those in the UK. We’re all in shock and feeling a severe sense of loss. Many of us had never met Andrew, but in the weeks to come, we were all going to come together at The Big Pom and complete this mission together. Unfortunately, we’ve been denied that moment.
I’ve never met Andrew, but I feel this loss. I’ve spoke with him almost daily these past few months. His energy, his creativity and his humor was unmatched. He had the brightest of futures ahead of him and we’d already discussed projects following KupoCon.
I hold KupoCon close to my heart and everyone that works with me to make it happen. An event like this is truly heartbreaking.
Myself and the KupoCon team offer every ounce of our energy and love to the friends and family of Andrew at this difficult time. Our thoughts are with his partner Lindsey. Please know that the entire community is behind you.
There is very little I can do in a situation like this but offer a guiding hand. We’d like to dedicate this years KupoCon in Andrew's name. We’ve also started a GoFundMe to raise some funds to allow his family to grieve and not worry about their financial obligations and I ask everyone of you who are part of the KupoCon family to give what you can.
Andrew's life may have been cut short, but his impact on those around him and this project is eternal.
Organizer and beneficiary
Alex Maine
Organizer
Richmond, PE
Tara Protsko DeMelfi
Beneficiary