RIP Peter Neilsen

I first met Peter in the late 80's when he signed up as a customer for my bulletin board system (BBS). This was part of a full featured global network with email, files, forums and social networking, all years before the Internet became a public thing. It all ran on dial up modems and at 33k (modern broadband is 256-5000k typically) it ran well and rarely seemed slow. The cost of telephone lines, phone calls and the computers meant most BBS operators begged a subscription from their customers. Peter was my first subscriber and the most generous, taking the "premium package" without question.

We chatted online for hours before we ever spoke on a phone or met in person. We became the most unlikely of friends. Peter was a devoted Christian and of course I'm a Pagan. But religion never got in the way, in fact later on his church were most accepting and never made me feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. I continue to support them to this day through donations of computers.

Peter was practically house bound. There were a number of heart attacks and increasing "turns" where he blacked out, sometimes for hours, sometimes for a day or more. Apart from his insistence that chain smoking was the only thing that kept his synapse firing, Peter never complained and soldiered on. He often told me The Lord wasn't ready for him. Despite the differences in our beliefs, I have to admit this one made a lot of sense.

Later we started a business together around '94. I had a pile of used computers thrown out by my IT customers. They needed them removed, wiped and disposed of appropriately. This was years before anyone talked of e-waste or recycling. Peter suggested we re-furbish them and sell them to those that couldn't afford the latest and greatest. Peter was heavily involved with the Uniting Church and the Wesley Mission. He knew poor people. But rather than prey on them for a few bucks, Peter wanted to offer computers to those that couldn't buy one, but at a price they could afford. The sale price always reflected what they could afford. Many computers were "sold" for no money at. This was never a problem. Although we did trade a Mac which I wanted to blow up and Peter talked me out of it. (funny how my attitude to Macs has changed!)

Being the generous Christian he was, Peter helped out many less fortunate than himself. His wife Beryl became a minister and when she was posted to Queensland, Peter stayed, preferring the cold climate which better agreed with his medical condition and their husky dog.

A neighbour experiencing some kind of psychotic break attacked Peter with a knife, nearly killing him. Peter insisted on turning the other cheek and I believe no charges were ever laid. Beryl did step in and Peter joined her in Queensland.

Given his poor health and the years that followed, awful as it is to admit, I had assumed The Lord had Peter some years ago. News of his passing reached me a few weeks ago. So Jonathan and I will take a lunch in Peter's honour and remember our friend, the generous, the undefeated Peter the Great.