Woods Walker in Memorium

[Canadian Guy]

Long time ZS member and Moderator "Woods Walker" Kevin Renkavinsky passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on January 8th, 2020. He was reported to have been out hiking (as always!) and had returned to a family members house where he collapsed and died from what is believed to be a cardiac event.

Forum member Andy in NH created this tribute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2l4ljG6XB0

From the Connecticut Post on Jan. 13, 2020:
Kevin J. Renkavinsky, age 50 of Trumbull, passed away suddenly, Wednesday, January 8, 2020 in St Vincent's Medical Center. Kevin was born in Bridgeport, devoted son of Mildred Renkavinsky and the late Louis Renkavinsky III and was a lifelong area resident. He is a graduate of Masuk High School and received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University. Kevin was a self employed videographer and a member of the Masonic Lodge Corinthians No 104. Also known as "MegaWoodswalker" by his many devoted youtube channel followers. Kevin was a passionate outdoor enthusiast. He was skilled in deep woods survival camping and backcountry trekking. He had an extreme love for nature. Above all Kevin's first love was his family and friends. Survivors, in addition to his mother include his sister Wendy L. Renkavinsky, beloved nephew Brayden L. Renkavinsky, uncle Richard Renkavinsky, uncle John Nevelus, aunt Betty Nevelus and a cousin Aron Renkavinsky. Friends may call Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., in the Redgate - Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. A Masonic Ritual will be conducted at 10:00 a.m., Words of Remembrance will be offered at 10:30 a.m., and a Prayer Service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in St John's Cemetery, Monroe. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492. To send online condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com

[majorhavoc]

Ah, fuck. Seriously?

[the_alias]

Wow.

Woods was one of the nicest guys here. He was always so friendly and willing to share his knowledge.

RIP Woods. May you hike on forever.

[JeeperCreeper]

Oh man....

Rest in Peace buddy....


It's odd to think how much he affected so many of us "strangers" on this internet. I'll never forget him even though I never met him.

[RickOShea]

Wow. I'm stunned and saddened. One of the greats on this forum. He will be missed, and he will be remembered.

[MPMalloy]

His posts are mainstays. We need to keep them (& the pics) in perpetuity.

[NT2C]

His posts will be preserved as best as we are able. The pictures might be difficult to do since they aren't hosted here but the text will be saved and plans are currently in the works to try and gather all that we can into a special section of the forums that will likely be named the "MegaWoodWalker Memorial Library".

Some of this though requires access above my pay grade so messages have been sent to the admins requesting assistance.

[Lettuce Pray]

Woods Walker's vast amount of thoughtful, useful, and accurate information that he regularly posted is one of the reasons I kept coming back to this site as a guest early on. I finally told my wife last week about the "sacred bacon". Of course, she loved the tag. We should all prepare some in memory as we are able.

[Ellywick]

His posts will be preserved as best as we are able. The pictures might be difficult to do since they aren't hosted here but the text will be saved and plans are currently in the works to try and gather all that we can into a special section of the forums that will likely be named the "MegaWoodWalker Memorial Library".

Some of this though requires access above my pay grade so messages have been sent to the admins requesting assistance.

Glad to know something is trying to be done to keep his memory and exhaustive knowledge around. He'll definitely be missed, which is probably the best any of us can ask for in the end.

[flybynight]

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost


I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
Henry David Thoreau

[absinthe beginner]

He seemed like one of those guys that's going to be around forever. I'm in shock this morning. I corresponded with him several times and was always impressed by his generosity yet humility when it came to sharing his knowledge and providing his perspectives. RIP, brother.

[raptor]

I am at a loss for words here. This is a tremendous loss for us all. To the extent possible we will keep his posts and try and set up something as a memorial to honor his memory.

He will be missed.

I will keep WW/MWW and his family in my prayers.

"The woods are lovely dark and deep....but I have promises to keep...and miles to go before I sleep..."

Rest in Peace Woods. You are home.

A link to his obituary:
https://www.redgatehennessy.com/tribute ... enkavinsky

[dogbane]

"Benedicto: May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets towers into a dark primeval forest where tigers belch and monkeys howl, through miasmal and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock, blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottos of endless stone, and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm where bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs, where deer walk across the white sand beaches, where storms come and go as lightning clangs upon the high crags, where something strange and more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you -- beyond that next turning of the canyon walls." ~ Cactus Ed

Very sorry to learn of his passing. He was one of the best things about the ZS forum.

[PistolPete]

He was the best of us and will be sorely missed. Happy trails, friend.

[BullOnParade]

Wow, just popped in on a whim, haven't been around in nearly a year. Very sad news.

[FlashDaddy]

He was so inspiring to me personally. I tried a lot of different skills because he showed me how. I will miss his happy demeanor and easy explanations of how to survive.

[tony d tiger]

Only 50 years young, and such a storied soul. Life is short.
WoodsWalker's videos, reviews and experiences were also a big part of the draw for me. The night hikes, snowy trails and yes, bacon (you could almost smell it cooking) or something tea...
Sad day, to hear he's passed. Blaze a trail for those of us still on the planet, friend.

[Andy in NH]

We are diminished.

[moab]

I know posts can be saved as PDF's. But I don't know how to do it.

It is amazing how much a complete stranger can affect your life so much. He will be missed.

[dpayette]

Very sorry to hear this, I have enjoyed his photos and skills while off the beaten path. My prayers to his family and plenty of new trails for him to show us later.

[SMoAF]

He was definitely one of the "strawberries" of life.

Prost!

[echo83]

I'm at a loss for words. This man was a treasure, and his contributions here are immeasurable. Rest in peace.

[flybynight]

As much as we might think of Woods walker as our own. He was a member of several forums where he was equally revered. Hopefully before he passes the next bend in the trail he looks back and see's how much he was valued .

[Ad'lan]

An exemplary member of our community, I am shocked and saddened by his loss.

My thoughts are with his family, I hope they are comforted by his great impact for good on the world.