 | This Wikipedian is deceased. His user page is preserved here in his memory.
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I've been asked by my good friend, Mattisse, to inform the Wikipedia community of Philcha's death on June 4, 2012. I really didn't know Philcha well, he was one of those editors who was always there, always helping, with very little drama. I've just spent the last few minutes looking over Philcha's talk page. His interests were broad, from science fiction to zoology. While our loss is not as great as that of the wife he leaves behind him, it is still considerable.
While Mattisse is not able to edit directly, I think I can do no better than quoting what she says in her email to me.
Philcha struggled for three years with his aggressive brain tumor, always continuing to try to edit wikipedia. Others knew of his struggles and were kind about his obviously failing abilities. He kept in regular contact with me. I can't write this without becoming overwhelmed with a painful sorrow. He was so upbeat and special and above all, kind. He had just written me that he had already lived two years beyond the one year he was given after diagnosis, but his deterioration was evident. He never complained.
--Wehwalt (talk) 21:23, 10 June 2012 (UTC)
Philip Chalmers, called Philcha at Wikipedia, was taken ill on 3 December 2009 and diagnosed as having a brain tumour – a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme. Following a debulking operation in Kings College Hospital, London, on 31 December 2009 (cutting out the inside of the tumour), Philip has received radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Maidstone Hospital from mid-February to the end of March 2010, and courses of chemotherapy at times later.
The average life expectancy for patients with grade 4 primary brain cancers is 1 year. To date Philip has survived for 2¼ years and is hoping to have several more productive years.
Please mention no names!