I intended on making this post about France but I just found out about the untimely death of a friend named Thomas “Axel” Roerig. My friendship with Axel started in Bishop a number of years ago when I hung out and climbed with him for a few months. After that I would run into him at random climbing areas across the continent or talk to him on the phone infrequently. Maybe 4 or 5 months ago I decided to call him out of the blue to see what he was up to and a very different Axel answered the phone. While we talked, Axel struggled to remember simple things. He told me that he had brain cancer and that he had gone through two surgeries to try and remove it. I didn’t know what to say.
Thomas “Axel” Roerig, of Golden, Colorado, formerly of Springville, died Monday, August 7, 2006, in the Exempla Lutheran Medical Center, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He was born in Perth Amboy, NJ, on December 14, 1965, a son of Carolyn Roerig Mostek, Springville, and the late Thomas D. Roerig.
I have attached a couple photos of Axel the talented climber. He will be missed.
I will always remember the gourmet meals in Bishop, post dumpster-diving at Vons with Axel. He was a kind and generous soul who was just a great addition to any crew of folks.
We miss you man.
Aaron–glad you posted the photos… after I heard from his mom that he had passed on, the first thing I thought of was the star trail photo and that month in Bishop.
peace,
Ben
Comment by Ben Moon — August 24, 2006 @ 6:02 am
Aaron-Thank you for letting us know. I can’t even begin to imagine how many people will be affected by Axel’s passing. No matter what state I was climbing in, it always seems someone had a great story about him.
Axel-thanks for the friendship, King Cobras, and great conversations. You are truly missed.
janice
Comment by Janice Pfeiff — August 24, 2006 @ 6:42 pm
I climbed with axel in bishop, yosemite and other small cal spots. We always laughed our asses off wherever we were, good climbing day or bad. I stood outside many a dumpster center fielding the goodies axel blidnly tossed, including 8 dozen eggs in one famous heist. Heres one to you buddy…
Comment by david — September 6, 2006 @ 1:43 am
I had the privilage of knowing and dating Axel for the last 10 months of his life. Even with all he was going through his amazing personality outshown most. Aaron, he talked about you a lot, and was very inspired by your photographs. I wish I had the chance to know him longer, but I’m glad I knew him at all. Thank you for posting this.
Comment by Aurora Bouchier — December 6, 2006 @ 11:57 pm
Axel’s passing has been more than a year now and I still find it hard to write these words to you Aaron. I was as close to Axel as a little sister could be in Colorado. I considered him my friend, my brother and my family. He would tell me stories of Bishop and your time together and sometime tell them twice; though I would continue to listen as if it was the first time. Near the end of his life he was inspired by your photos and spent his last dollars on a camera to start his “new life” as a photographer. He knew that the time would come when he could not longer “crank” but still wanted to be part of the climbing culture. He figured his best chance was as a photographer. He would still join us on our climbing adventures and take photos as well as tell us how to climb or how to improve our rope technique. He was still the same old Axel. I loved Axel and my life has changed so much from knowing him and loosing him. Thank you for this post and thank you for your photos. xoxo jenny Crawford
Comment by jennifer crawford — September 18, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Thanks for all the kind words. He was a great brother and is missed a lot.
Adam
Comment by Adam Roerig — December 14, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Axel will be, and is missed dearly. I only recently found out about his passing. I had talked to him a couple times while he was going through the surgeries and treatment. Im glad you posted this aaron. I was there when we took that first picture in the middle of the night in bishop. I climbed with axel from bishop to wyoming to canada and all over. I dont know what to say except your missed buddy. RIP.
Comment by bill huston — April 19, 2008 @ 3:54 pm