Friends I have very sad news to share. Our beloved founder, the Inventor of the famous Gadgetman Groove, and Snake Oil, has passed away..
Ron, was driving on a dark road in late evening on January 30th, outside of Great Falls, Montana. I still do not know all the details of just how it happened, but the truck he was driving was in a terrible accident. He was (as far as I can tell) ejected from the truck and gravely hurt. He sustained three broken discs in his neck, one arm was nearly or completely severed, broken ribs, and other multiple major trauma.
He was taken to a hospital in Great Falls. I was told that the doctors were able to re-attach the arm and temporarily stabilize Ron. He was in the ICU unit for nine days. During that time ex-Gadgetman Michael Lee (with whom Ron had a major falling out with several months earlier) was able to visit and see Ron. Though Ron had banished Michael Lee from all Gadgetman and SnakeOil operations, it was still a decent thing that Michael did, and I thank him for that, whatever secondary motivations he might have or not have had.
Ron obviously suffered terribly. He was on life support and oxygen. He was I'm told pretty much paralyzed. It became obvious certainly to Ron, that he would likely never have any normal quality of life again. I was at work on Monday February 8th when my cell phone rang. It was a nurse at the hospital, saying Ron wanted to speak to me. So they got a phone close enough that Ron could talk a little, but only barely. He said that he was paralyzed, could not move or even eat. He told me that he did not want to go on like this, that he had asked to be removed from life support. I was absolutely stunned.
Hearing this, knowing that time was short because of how hard it was for poor dear Ron to speak, I told Ron that I loved him, that I understood his decision. I asked him what he wanted done. Ron then told me to keep his business going.
Right after that there was a kind of sound like rushing air, then the nurse came back on the line. She said they would Keep Ron comfortable. I asked to be called if anything happened. About an hour and a half later, the hospital called me again, the nurse said that Ron had passed on quietly.
I was shaken and stunned. Even this much later, it's hard to believe that Ron is gone. He spent a few months with me here in Reno last year, and I have constant reminders of him, from things he left behind.
Ron worked with a very capable Administrator for some time. He and I have been working together these past 2 months plus to transition his business, while keeping the existing one alive. Some parts of this have been very difficult, not least because we lost all the records, info, contacts, etc.etc. that Ron had in his personal electronics and computer. The situation Ron was living in and dealing with in Montana, was hectic to say the least. As a result, the business and websites are still OK, up and running, but it has bee quite challenging. It has been a bit like a puzzle without all the pieces.
This is why there has been such a delay in announcing Ron's passing. I had to keep it quiet, because we didn't know the whole situation. This has bothered me every day since we lost Ron. Some have speculated of foul play being involved. Again we don't have many facts. A friend of Ron's from his time in jail in Montana, Mark, was on the phone with Ron when the accident happened and told me he heard it.. Ron had told Mark of me, so he called me late that same night to tell me of the accident. He was familiar with the area around Great Falls, and knew of the intersection where the accident happened. Mark said this this was a very bad spot on the road, that there was a curve with a blind spot or similar. We have also heard that another vehicle was involved but still no details of this.
So, to honor Ron's last wish we are keeping on with Ron's Legacy. We have lost one of the most creative, helpful, loving, intelligent people ever. We are incredibly blessed and fortunate that his technologies and teachings are preserved. We have his Youtube videos. We have all the information here in the archives of this website. We have the amazing information found in the Personal License Training kits. Believe me, there is MUCH more in those Kits than just how to do the Gadgetman Groove. We have the secrets of the SnakeOil formulas. We have the secrets of the unique Gadgetman bits. In a sense, it is as if Ron somehow knew that his technologies needed to outlive him, and they have.
We have lost Ron. but his Inventions live on!
I invite any of you who have memories and stories of Ron Hatton, to share them here. This, by telling of our times with him, can be a Memorial to him.
All he gave us and left with us, will be a Living Memorial for Ron Hatton.
I want to give special thanks To Martin, Greg K, and others unnamed, who knew Ron, and have given support to me and those of us involved in preserving his Legacy. thank you.
Tracy G
