Robert Guskind, Founder of Gowanus Lounge, Dies

My condolences to his family and friends indeed. This is truly a shock.

So people know, I’m the Jack who has contributed some photos over the past few months. And even when he had a small break a few months back I was the one who strongly came out and posted comments saying the details of his hiatus are nobody’s business but his own and he really doesn’t owe the blog community anything if he simply wants to stop. Do we know the details around this?

I was incredibly appreciative when he shared photos I posted near—and of—the sweatshop my mom worked in in Gowanus. I e-mailed him privately about them and thanking him. And he made sure I knew when any clowns would pop-up disputing my claims.

But past that I also know that recently he was incredibly upset that he re-blogged that Jewish Daily Forward piece making false claims about the non-existent Israeli product ban. I posted comments on the piece but I wrote to him directly to let him know I held no ill will towards him about that whole mess. Not his fault. But part of his response to me was “I feel like shit about that whole thing. I take no pleasure in drawing attention to a bullshit story. And it is my fault. If I hadn’t reblogged that story no one would have known about it.” I actually reassured him over and over, that it wasn’t something he should be stressed about.

I don’t want to draw larger conclusions about what happened or whether this death is natural or not but you know what? A lot of crappy local bloggers have really given Gowanus Lounge grief for no valid reason. Fucked in Park Slope, Angry New Yorker, the squatters in the Gowanus and such… The recent Jewish Daily Forward/PS Food Co-op stuff as well. I know because I e-mailed back and forth with him about this stuff.
I never met him, but I know he was a good man based on the work he did. These other folks who have trashed him and caused him stress recently? You should be beyond shamed of yourself.

Posted by: Jack at March 5, 2009 12:15 PM