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RIP James Caple-Nisby, aka “AlphaMeridian”: friend, moderator, Arsian

Long-time Arsian James Caple-Nisby has passed away at the age of 29.

James Caple-Nisby, right, at an Ars meet in 2001

A devoted member of the Ars Technica family and long-time leader in our gaming and hardware communities has died suddenly. James Caple-Nisby, known by nearly everyone as AlphaMeridian or just “Alpha” for short, leaves behind family and friends who remember a kind, giving übergeek who left us far too soon. While all details are not yet clear (we will provide updates as we get them), it appears that James died in his sleep from a heart attack on Monday, March 28. He was 29 years old.

Alpha joined Ars within months of its birth, registering back in 1999 and quickly becoming one of the most helpful and selfless people on Ars. In the summer of 2001, when James was only 20 years old, he became one of the first volunteer moderators in the OpenForum, first taking on Other Hardware and then eventually Gaming, Extra Strength Caplets, our gaming forum. Alpha was always gregarious, whether he was laying down a verbal beating on a terrible poster, dealing with the Ars staff in IRC who always teased him for his choice in gaming (GUNBOUND? GUNBOUND!), or threatening to post office furniture questions in Other Hardware.

I will remember James for being an amazing peacemaker who always looked on the bright side of life. Idiotic things like IRC channel fights (which seem doubly idiotic in retrospect) could suck in all kinds of people, but it was usually Alpha who led people back to their senses. He even wrote a code of behavior for one of our channels, because he cared so much about people getting along and moving beyond stupidity. If there was ever a man who was a real mensch, it was Alpha.

We will update this thread throughout the day with details on how you can honor James’ memory, details on the service, and other matters.

Update:  A memorial-graveside service will be Friday, April 8, 2011 at 10:30am in Eastwood Memorial Gardens, 7500 Wares Ferry Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 with Rev. William C. Larkin, officiating.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of James to your local AHA (American Heart Association).

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218 Reader Comments

  1. Thank you for this.
    32172 posts | registered
  2. I don't go on the forums so I didn't know who he is, but it's sad he died at only 29. Condolences to his family.
    51 posts | registered
  3. Aw crap :( I'm not even a diehard and I saw him around the forums plenty. He'll be missed.
    4733 posts | registered
  4. Wow, that sucks. I'm going to miss him.
    13444 posts | registered
  5. Damn, when we know what we can do for his family let us know.
    4755 posts | registered
  6. R.I.P.

    It was easy to tell from his posts in the GESC that he was a genuinely interesting, nice person. He will be missed.
    1241 posts | registered
  7. Condolences to the staff, community, and all other friends and family
    668 posts | registered
  8. heart attack at 29?!
    9067 posts | registered
  9. R.I.P. man, gonna miss seeing your name around the forums.
    15397 posts | registered
  10. :( that really, really sucks.
    69965 posts | registered
  11. Heart attack at such a young age...

    Rest in peace.
    3386 posts | registered
  12. :(

    RIP Alpha
    11404 posts | registered
  13. My goodness, what a shame. 29 is far too young for anyone to go for any reason. My condolences.

    :(
    4069 posts | registered
  14. hobgoblin wrote:
    heart attack at 29?!


    That's what pauli said the EMS called it. There must have been some underlying condition, though. Still, it's definitely not something you'd expect at his age (considering he's only 2 years younger than me).
    32172 posts | registered
  15. Oh, that is awful news :( So sorry to hear this.
    1674 posts | registered
  16. :( RIP Alpha :(
    Strength to your relatives and friends :(
    7736 posts | registered
  17. I never knew him either, but he sounds like a person worth knowing. :( It's a shame to lose good people so young.
    1684 posts | registered
  18. This guy looks familiar. Was he... a grad student? In physics or chemistry?

    Either way, sorry to hear it -- I hope everyone who survives him is all right.
    141 posts | registered
  19. As a regular in the GESC he certainly was a respected contributor and was a genuinely nice person.

    So sad. :(
    6168 posts | registered
  20. He will definitely be missed. RIP
    43255 posts | registered
  21. RIP :(

    As a regular in GESC, Other Hardware and a fellow DC area resident, I'm super :( about this.
    13866 posts | registered
  22. So sudden, I see his posts all the time. This is terrible.
    :(
    RIP
    271 posts | registered
  23. Oh man, that's horrible. I wish his family all the best to get through this, I'm sure he was as loved and respective in the real world as he was here.
    1700 posts | registered
  24. Like I said in the GESC when I got the news, Alpha is one of the people who, to me, are Ars Technica. He will be sorely missed, and my deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and really anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.

    RIP Alpha

    Thanks for posting this as well, Ken. He deserves the recognition.
    15841 posts | registered
  25. Such a shame. Condolences to his friends and family.
    5668 posts | registered
  26. Oh my. Alpha, you will be missed.

    I would have left eve much sooner if not for you and Flipmode. o7
    14254 posts | registered
  27. Oh man, I remember that meet. Guapos in Tenleytown. RIP.
    4881 posts | registered
  28. This is truly a loss to his family, friends and ARS community. My thoughts go out to all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
    199 posts | registered
  29. 33583 posts | registered
  30. Wow - I'm shocked and saddened. So young - he was definitely a pillar of the social side of the site . . . best wishes to his family, and may his memory endure.
    13521 posts | registered
  31. Yeah, if there's something we could all (digitally?) sign and send to his family that would be nice. I'm newer to this site, and am enjoying the community quite a bit. Because James seems to be so respected among you guys - even if I never came across him over the forums, I still feel obligated to give him my condolences. A death at 29 is horrible.
    341 posts | registered
  32. When I first joined the site he was already a veteran of the forum, and his name was always a part of gaming discussions. He was a part of what this community so great, and we're all poorer for his absence. He'll be missed. :-(
    27180 posts | registered
  33. RIP Alpha.
    7953 posts | registered
  34. My sincere condolences. Alpha was always a friendly voice and I'm going to miss his usually well thought out posts.

    :(
    5451 posts | registered
  35. :(
    6558 posts | registered
  36. Condolences to all Alpha's family and friends.
    375 posts | registered
  37. May you Rest In Peace, Alpha.

    I did not know him, but I feel sad that an Arsian, that too so young, has passed away.

    I wish his family my condolences.

    Also, could ArsTechnica facilitate a relay to his family? I am sure, others too wish to send his family gestures of condolence.

    His family should know how much he shall be missed.
    1 post | registered
  38. :(
    22878 posts | registered
  39. My condolences to the family and friends.
    120 posts | registered

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