October 2, 2011
I first met Bob Arihood last Easter at the Mars Bar. He saw me giving someone my corny-ass Marty After Dark card and came up and introduced himself. I already knew who he was though, I was a big fan of his photography and the way he documented the East Village on his wonderful blog, Neither More Nor Less. I remember saying to him, “You really get into the shit, don’t you?” And he just smiled that big-ass Bob smile and shook his head in agreement and replied, "That I do." We had a few beers and had a great conversation about New York and how it was changing for the worse. He left early that night, but we started exchanging emails and became friends. I was happy I had met Bob, he’s the kind of person I wanted to meet and hang out with when I moved to New York City over 18 years ago. Bob was somebody driven by passion, not by money and that’s a rarity these days. I always had a feeling he couldn’t stop what he was doing even if he wanted to, and I can identify with that.
Today I was looking for a place to go get a cheeseburger and I went to my computer and checked out the EV Grieve blog. I was shocked when the top post read: RIP Bob Arihood. It seems Bob died of a heart attack last week in his apartment. Shocking and sad news. I felt like someone had hit me in the face with a loaded snow shovel. You can’t put the loss of a friend and a hero into words, so I’m not even going to try. As Johnny Thunders once sang, you can’t put your arms around a memory.
The last time I saw Bob was on September 10th of this year. My friends Britta and Tom were in town and we were going to Manitoba’s, but we thought we’d stop by Ray’s Candy Store first. Bob was there chatting with his friend Chrissy. I took this photo of the two of them.
We made plans to get together soon, but that’s not going to happen now. R.I.P. Bob, we’re all going to miss you and the East Village just lost a true original person. We love you, Bob and what you did. You will be missed here in New York City, I thank you for your contribution to New York City and for your friendship. Sending love to you wherever you are.
25 Comments
Reader Comments (25)
Lovely, Marty.
Sorry for your loss, Marty.
A pity...so sad.
"Bob was somebody driven by passion, not by money and that’s a rarity these days."
Thank you Marty.
I am glad to have known Bob too--after discovering his blog nmnl--I wanted to meet him. I asked a few photographers in the park who he was and they told me he came out later in the afternoon to photograph. I changed my schedule and finally met him. After many conversations...I miss him.
Oh wow. I'm so sorry Marty. He seemed like a really nice, easy-going guy. RIP, Bob.
:(
RIP Bob,,,,sorry to hear about this,,,,he seemed to really have a pulse on the goings on in the area,,,I was just at his site,,,,some great video interviews.
Beautiful tribute Marty. So sorry for the loss of your friend.
Such a fine tribute, Marty.
el-f*ck. When Arihood's blog went static, I thought he was on vacation or something.
raise a glass.
you aint gonna see the likes of him no mo'.
To your friend Bob, Marty.
My Sincere and Heartfelt Condolences.
I became familiar with his passionate work as a result of you writing about him.
Truly an original.
One of a kind.
Peace Within Bob.
Cherish the Memories, for that is why we are given them.
Strange, as you and I were talking the other evening about the road narrowing in our lives
and the losses we've both experienced the past few years.
How we should do the things we enjoy, make time for our lives and try new avenues.
Another example of that now.
To continue to make new memories we can take with us and cherish forever.
I never met him but of course was aware of him and his blog. The East Village just got a little poorer. My condolences to his family and friends.
wow. my heart just stopped when i read your post. as an outsider looking in i found bob's two blogs to be an amazing look at the cast and characters of the LES. when he was gone for a while there some time ago i was so downtrodden, then i found out that he was blogging on another site and eventually Nadie Se Conoce came back as well...it was one of the first blogs i checked out on a daily basis.
i am truly at a loss for words. RIP Bob. you will be missed more than you could have ever realized. :(
Sad.
I still can't believe this is real. He touched so many people - well beyond the EV - and leaves a gigantic void.
R.I.P. BOB...he not only could capture "a picture's meaning can express ten thousand words" but also capture a picture not justified w/ a thousand words...Neither More Nor Less and Nadie Se Conoce (both brought to my attention by 365 and/or MAD) will be missed...
Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated.
~Lamartine
rr
So So So Sorry Marty about your friend..
RIP Bob..
I'm glad you got to meet him and he affected your life.
recently I asked myself if you knew everyone you would meet would die someday.
would you avoid making friends?
what a sad sad life that would be..
enjoy the time you have with everyone you cross paths with.
learn from everyone that irritates you.
gets under your skin
and love the stuff about yourself that others bring out.
It's why we weren't put on earth alone...
Do you think a tribute should be posted on his blogsite? It just...... hangs there, last entry 25th September, and maybe, we can spot a lil' something to keep it up for a bit so we can repect the life that it represents and as a memorial to him......
Beautiful, Beautiful Marty. What an amazing piece about Bob, what a tribute!! Gone much too soon, a bittersweet reminder we must cherish every moment we have with each other. I will certainly always remember times when we were all together at Mars, Chillmaster or just out on the street. So thankful to know you (and Goggla and Ed and Kate and Melanie and others) mostly due to Bob. Glad we have the memories and his amazing photography to remember him by. May the memories and photographs keep him alive in spirit for generations to come.
Marty, so sorry for this big loss for you and the City. TO BOB!
@Biff: Thanks: TO BOB!
Hey R.I.P. Bob, we’re all going to miss you and the East Village just lost a true original person.
@Handyman Brisbane: We sure did, R.I.P. Bob.