acemcmac

[Tyrant987]

I've been informed through close friends of his that Richard Smith, AKA acemcmac on these forums, was struck and killed by a drunk driver at 2:30 AM Saturday morning while crossing the street with a friend of his.

I never actually met him in person, but just from the many times I talked with him via Ventrilo, I knew he was a great guy.

I also knew he was a very active member (a "lifer") on these forums and thought that you all would like to know.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Chester County Council BSA, 504 S. Concord Road, West Chester, PA 19382

The other victim of this tragic event, Aaron C. Stidd, is still in critical condition. Please keep Aaron, his family, and friends in your thoughts and prayers as well. Thank you.



News Releases

--- 10/28/06 ---

Police: Driver in fatal crash was drunk

--- 10/29/06 ---

Student charged in fatal collision

--- 10/30/06 ---

Pedestrian still in critical condition

--- 10/31/06 ---

Alleged Drunk Driver 'Flying'

Druken Driver Kills WCU Alum

Fatal DUI Victim ID'd

New Details in Deadly Weekend DUI

--- 11/1/06 ---

Hearing Delayed for Man Accused in Pedestrian Fatality

---- 09/27/07 ---

Torsell guilty on all counts

The jury in the trial of Anthony Torsell, who was charged with driving drunk and striking two men downtown in October 2006, found him guilty of all charges, returning its final verdict at just after 5 p.m.

Rick's last thread

I live in an "encyclopedia home." It's very tall and thin. 4 stories if you include the basement (basement exits to grade, front door is in the front of the first floor and also at grade if you were wondering).

This means I have a lounge behind my master bedroom with a view of the whole valley. That's where I put my lazyboy. The whole sky was orange and pink. It was pretty cool.

I should have poured a scotch thinking back to it....

I just wanted to post that.

Our condolences to his family and friends. [img]i/expressions/rose.gif[/img]

AnandTech Moderator


Quotes from his good friends

Originally posted by: Rogueverve
this is very real in case anyone has any doubts.

Rick was a close friend of mine. Tyrant knows him as myself and another close friend of Ricks play css with him. Rick would always come on ventrilo and talk with people and such just being his general friendly self. This has been a rough day for everyone and I thank you for your condolences.

I saw the sunrise this morning


Pic of ace

This picture is much more recent (was taken this past august) and is the best photo we have of him.

There will be more information sometime in the next few days as his family begins to sort everything out.

Again, thanks for everyone's comments and support. It really means a lot to myself and his family to see how much the atot community will miss him.


figured it was about time i added some memories of my own.

Rick was the first person to share a beer with me on a college campus, First person to share a cigar with me, First person to get me a handle of booze, First person to get me to a LAN, First person to comment on my appearance when I started to lose weight (and the only to say something every time I saw him). He was so giving to those whom he cared about. I cannot remember once where he wasn't the first to offer to cover the check regardless of whether or not he actually had the money. His friends always came first for him. I cannot begin to describe how awesome that is. I'm reminded of a line from Jackson Browne - The Late show

"Maybe people only ask you how you're doing
'cause that's easier than letting on how little they could care
But when you know that you've got a real friend somewhere
Suddenly all the others are so much easier to bear."

Rick was that real friend. He always made time for his friends, was the one searching for things to do, wanted to be together and having fun, would listen and offer advice. Life called and he more so than anyone I know had the gumption to answer it screaming demanding more. All the while still taking the time to reflect, appreciate it (the sunrise thread enough proof?) and listen.

I will miss him so much. I can only hope that I was the same for him as he was for me, but sadly I would probably guess I was not.

Originally posted by: DNvCross
I don't post here much myself, but I'm a close friend of ace's from highschool.

I recently spoke to ace's parents, and they informed me that at least he didn't suffer. he died instantly. The other pedetrian that the same driver hit did not, and is still in critical condition. I understand his outlook is grim. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts as well.


Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Rick was killed while visiting another friend from our group who goes to PSU. More of us were invited to be there, but we lived farther away and none of us were up to driving that far. In the past day I've wondered about a thousand times if my being there could have prevented something. I just don't know.

What that article doen't tell you is that the friend he was visiting was standing 2 feet away from the accident as it happened, and one second later it would have been him killed. At the moment he is completely traumatized, a few of us have grouped up here at my apartment in Virginia to make our way back today to talk to him. He was the one who called me yesterday morning to tell me about Rick, and the only thing I could think the whole time was "This is some sick, twisted, not-funny-at-all joke".

Although Rick was an highly opinionated guy who got under everyone's skin from time-to-time (myself included), he was still someone to be respected. He geniunely cared about other people, especially his friends. He was there at a moment's notice when anyone needed them, and he was always ready to listen when one of us needed to blow off steam. His apartment was where we all went to hang out and relax, or hide from our parents when we couldn't take home anymore (I did that myself a couple times) and he always took us in without a single question for as long as we needed. That's just the kind of guy he was - he really did his best to be a good friend.

If you take nothing else away from this tragedy, at least take this: don't drive drunk. Ever. Walk home, call a friend, sleep in your backseat, whatever. Just please don't drive.

Rick is the one on the right with the orange shirt (I'm on the left):
Better pic of ace

Edit: One of just him: Rick.jpg

R.I.P. Rick, I'm sorry I wasn't as good a friend to you as you were to me.
A message from Richard's family's post, posted in this thread 11/02/2006

Originally posted by: familyofacemcmac
To the friends of acemcmac,

We wanted to thank you all for your kind words and support in memory of our son and brother, Richard Smith. He was an amazing young man, and we will miss him greatly. Reading your words has meant so much to us. It is a great comfort to know that he has touched so many lives. Computers were his passion, and we know that it would mean so much to him that you all remember him so fondly.
Thank you all so much, and God bless.

~The Smith Family

If you would like to send any notes of condolence to us directly, you can email them to Rick's sister at dismith2007@yahoo.com
But please, no spam Only Rick knew how to block that stuff...

[flxnimprtmscl]

Sorry to hear that. R.I.P.

[Sukhoi]

:Q!

[yankeesfan]

whoa. :shocked:

That sucks.

[img]i/expressions/rose.gif[/img]

[Goosemaster]

what the ......

[Goosemaster]

I thought I just saw him posting ...the alien dude?

WTF

[Razgriz]

[Goosemaster]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1945031&enterthread =y

this guy? :Q

[HamburgerBoy]

:Q

[HaxorNubcake]

WTF :shocked:

[img]i/expressions/rose.gif[/img]

[newParadigm]

Very sorry to hear. I never spoke with him, but I've read many of his posts. You will be missed AceMcMac. [img]i/expressions/rose.gif[/img]

[Ika]

I don't know what to say...

R.I.P.

BTW

How are you associated with him? How did you come by this information? Why is this your first post?

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Aflac
I don't know what to say...

ditto.....it's.....no words...******

[mugs]

I hope this is not for real.

He did live in Conshohocken though

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
R.I.P.

BTW

How are you associated with him? How did you come by this information? Why is this your first post?

[KarenMarie]

...

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: mugs
I hope this is not for real.

seriously. the whole dennifloss thing was too much

[Slew Foot]

Anthony Torsell should fry.

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: mugs
I hope this is not for real.

He did live in Conshohoken though

Yeah...same here. I honestly can't believe it. :Q

[Furyline]

:Q
that's terrible

[trmiv]

Wow, sorry to hear that. His last post was in this thread it appears.

[Sphexi]

Dang...that's horrible ...yet another senseless DWD related death.

[MeowKat]

Last Visited On: 10/27/2006 06:29 PM

Damn. I liked his thread responses, good or bad.

[img]i/expressions/rose.gif[/img]


edit: So many young lives ruined.

[Kalvin00]

oh my god



this is horrible [img]i/expressions/rose.gif[/img] rip brother..