Looking for Paul C. Pratt

Paul C. Pratt is the person behind the Gryphel Project, an bold software program and documentation effort to protect and prolong basic 68000-based Macintosh computer systems. He’s the writer of the wildly-popular Mini vMac emulator, in addition to different nice instruments like disassemblers and ROM utilities. Paul’s been a pillar of the basic Macintosh neighborhood for many years. Though I’ve by no means met him, I’ve exchanged many emails with Paul through the years, and he’s all the time been useful.

Paul has gone missing. Not lacking within the sense of a household emergency and police search, however lacking for over two years from the basic Macintosh neighborhood the place he’s been an lively member for thus lengthy. His Gryphel Undertaking website continues to be up, however there have been no new posts there since April 2021. He hasn’t appeared anyplace else on-line both, and he’s not responding to emails, nor to messages despatched via neighborhood boards the place he’s a member. Paul doesn’t have a lot social media presence, and no one’s positive of his real-world deal with or telephone quantity.

Possibly some household emergency or well being disaster has demanded Paul’s consideration since 2021? Possibly he merely bought burned out on basic Macintosh subjects, and determined to desert his on-line identification and stroll away from all of it? For the previous yr, involved members of the neighborhood have attempted to get in touch with Paul via numerous methods on-line and real-world to verify he’s OK, or to determine what might need occurred to him. They’ve not been profitable, which is irritating and unhappy.

I sincerely hope that Paul’s sitting in a sunny meadow someplace, having fun with a stunning day and never giving any thought to crusty previous Macintosh computer systems. However with each passing day that he’s not heard from, all of us concern the worst. If he’s died, it’s fully potential that Paul’s heirs won’t assume or care to inform anyone outdoors of his instant household and mates. From his bio we all know that Paul was born in 1969 or 1970, which makes him about 52, and the identical age as me. That’s not previous, but it surely’s a cautionary reminder that none of us dwell endlessly.

Listening to Paul’s story has motivated me to draft a continuity plan for BMOW, in case of my sudden surprising incapacity or dying. I’ve made preparations to make sure the weblog and the shop can be gracefully wound down, and product designs can be transferred to accountable arms to make it possible for nothing vital is misplaced.