I’m sad to report that Roy Trumbull, a maker, podcaster, and happy mutant, died of cancer last week. He was 74, and died peacefully in his home. I was an avid listener of Story Spieler, Roy’s podcast, where he read aloud all manner of odd and fascinating public domain materials (he was a Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame inductee, and a legendary engineer). I was deeply honored when Roy agreed to read a story for the audio edition of my short story collection With A Little Help (Roy also recorded great readings of my stories Craphound, The Super-Man and the Bugout and To Market, To Market).
Roy often suggested great Boing Boing stories (like this one, about some lost Yippee! movement footage) and was a warm and thought-provoking correspondent. I was lucky enough to meet him a few times in San Francisco, and he was just as funny and warm in person.
Our deepest condolences to Roy’s family. They have asked for donations to the California Historical Radio Society (which is fundraising to purchase a new site (they’re presently housed at radio station KRE, where Roy began his career). Roy’s friend Dan White produced a great video memorial to Roy, with highlights from Roy’s audio memoirs, his Hall of Fame induction, and his personal life.
Good bye, Roy, we’ll miss you. You lived a life that was an example to us all.