Sad News

[Fred in Skirts]

May he rest in peace. Carl will be missed at the cafe. He kept the cafe running and managed the software and the computer we operate on..

[mikeu]

It was about 30 years ago that I met Carl and another guy Dave. The three of us shared a passion for vintage computers. We started collecting "minicomputers" - each one is the size of a refrigerator. We started a computer museum called the Retro-Computing Society of RI. Carl was one of my best friends. I was devastated when I heard the news.

-mikeu

It is with great sorrow that I notify Skirt Cafe' of the passing of our Master Barista

- - Carl Friend(crfriend) - -

From Mikeu, our newest member and Carl's co-founder of the Retro Computing Society of RI at https://rcsri.org/

He had a brain hemorrhage. The damage from the stroke was too severe to recover from. It was quite sudden.
There won't be a funeral. He will be cremated. His ashes will be scattered at sea. He loved sailing.

I will post obituary information, once I get it.

May he Rest In Peace

Uncle Al

[Coder]

This is terrible news - I still am in disbelief and shock. He always had an encouraging word, and for that I’m grateful!

[mikeu]

There's a photo here of Carl with one of his favorite computers:

http://users.rcn.com/crfriend/

Living Computer Museum in Seattle, April 2013.

-mikeu

[Dick Ackerman]

May he rest in peace.

[Uncle Al]

Save from his museum website.

C.R. Carl Friend JPG 2026-03-05.jpg

This pic is from his trip to Seattle, to help restore this unit.

Uncle Al

[mikeu]

FYI, our computer museum saved a backup of Carl's website. It is preserved at:

https://rcsri.org/crfriend/

-mikeu

Save from his museum website.
C.R. Carl Friend JPG 2026-03-05.jpg
This pic is from his trip to Seattle, to help restore this unit.

Uncle Al

[brionacmkw]

Rest in peace, this has come as quite a shock

[TSH]

I never met CJ in real life, nor had the pleasure of speaking to him on Zoom, but we did interact on occasion. It really is a shame that's he gone, because I really enjoyed his writing style, in spite of his perspective on the world being possibly more dour than mine. Some members here noted his stress at work, compounded with what's happening in the States, might've exacerbated his condition, which also might've bled into his posts.

R.I.P, Carl.

[Ray]

I’m stunned by this news; shocked, like others.

Carl has been the rudder for our MIS ship for so many years, leading from the front with his fabulous outfits. His dry humour, powerful intelligence and humanity were all tangibly present.

Damn you, Carl. You went too soon.

There’s a big hole in this community, and the world is a little darker.

Ray