But Not Forgotten
As the years push on, we face the reality of the immortality of our youth as we lose some of our favorite people in our Bigfoot community. Unfortunately this page will constantly be updated as I attempt to honor our fallen comrades that shared our quest in the truth regarding our hairy cousins. If you know of someone that is well known in our community that needs to be on this page, please let me know.
2019
The Low Key Researcher: Lady In Waiting
Lady in Waiting left our world December 3, 2019 due to complications of cancer. She preferred a low-keyed presence, but she was a big contributor to our community with her YouTube channel “bigfootresearch” that had 1.57K subscribers and over 200 videos dating back to October 2012.
She dedicated hundreds of hours in the woods to bringing us superior sounds and vocalizations to both learn from and enjoy. “Sitting alone in her truck at night, she sparked curiosity in the Forest People and respect and admiration in all her viewers.” Her ashes will be returned to the woods she loved so well. Some of the info here is from Impossible Visits. Click the image to see a tribute to “Lady in Waiting” by Christopher Noël.
Famed YouTube Host: Brenton Sawin Mysteries
Brenton Sawin of Brenton Sawin Mysteries To Search succumbed to the complications of Kidney cancer on November 21, 2019 and was laid to rest in Lexington Cemetery, Lexington Kentucky. Brenton’s YouTube channel had nearly 58,000 subscribers and was host to stories from “viewers of the unknown and mysterious”. Brenton also discussed his own encounters with the “Dero” people from hollow earth which he had experienced from the age of five.
His channel has been left to his two daughters who plan to keep it available to the public and possibly continuing his quest at a later date. I will keep you updated as I learn more.
Taxi Driver Researcher: Tim Fasano
Tim passed away in his home of heart failure on November 14, 2019 at 63 years old and will be buried in the family plot in Plattsburgh, N.Y. His YouTube channel “Florida Sasquatch” had 12,020 subscribers with over 1,300 videos spanning from March 2009 to his last video on November 10, 2019.
He was as controversial as he was loved in this community, but no one doubted his passion in searching for the Skunk Ape! I’m unsure who to credit for the tribute image Tim pictured here (possibly Enigmatic Anomalies), but it really hits home. You can also find a great article about Tim’s by Christopher Spata of the Tampa Bay Times.
Sasquatch Jim: Jimmy M. Smith
Jimmy M. Smith, known as “Sasquatch Jim” passed away on June 29, 2019 at the age of 62. Known to many of us for his YouTube channel called Alabama Bigfoot Society with nearly 5,000 subscribers and 250 videos, Jim took us on many adventures involving Bigfoot, but also shared his interest in UFO’s, ghost, “Nessy” and even stories of Black Panther encounters and often on site.
He also had a series called “A Moment To Pause” in which he reflected on life’s little lesson’s and events complemented with scripture. Jim struggled with diabetes, losing much of his vision and cared deeply for his fellow man.
Jim had a Bigfoot sighting in 1971, and after said: “Here in Alabama you have to be careful who you mention Bigfoot, ghosts, UFOs or anything paranormal to. Mention it to the wrong person and you’ll be labeled crazy, laughed at, ridiculed and made fun of, for the remainder of your life … Oh, how the close-minded, or ignorant people as I call them, love to ridicule!”
With that he started the Alabama Bigfoot Society along with a website as a means for his many friends and followers to express their encounters. It included a well rounded list of blue collar, doctors, lawyers and police. Jim was dedicated to the research and preservation of Sasquatch and their habitat and was tied to “no kill” ethics. Click here to go to his 1971 encounter.
2018
Cryptozoology Pioneer: Dr. John Bindernagel
There was a two part video series of wildlife biologist turned cryptozoologist Dr. John Albert Bindernagel that was his last interview before his death in 2018 with Nathan Reo and a small group of others, but it seems to have been pulled because of copyright issues. If I find out more I will post a link.
The Dr. John had also authored two books, North America’s Great Ape: the Sasquatch in 1998 and The Discovery of the Sasquatch: Reconciling Culture, History and Science in the Discovery Process in 2010. He was a very humble and most interesting human being. His YouTube channel was opened in 2013 and features thirteen videos and 1,550 subscribers.
Crypto Four Corners: JC Johnson
Cryptozoologist John “JC” Johnson passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2018, due to complications with pneumonia. He was known as the “Indiana Jones of Cryptozoology”. His study area was primarily the “Four Corners” region which is where the borders of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet, hence the name of his cryptozoological investigation team “Crypto Four Corners”. They were know to investigate a variety of cryptids, including Bigfoot, giant snakes, living dinosaurs, werewolves/dogman, dragons, giant birds, pterodactyls, centaurs, and skin walkers.
His YouTube channel came under his name; JC Johnson and has been going since February of 2010 with a total of 15.2K subscribers and 66 videos. It is still active.
2015
Mogollon Monster Hunter: Mitchell Waite
The Mogollon Monster hunter passed away April 19, 2015, due to heart failure at the age of 64. As a retired Major of the Air Force he became a bone fide Bigfoot YouTube pioneer. His YouTube channel, “Bigfoot Research” remains open. He had 9,260 subscribers with videos dating from April 2015 to October 2008. His Facebook page, Mogollon Monster, Arizona’s Bigfoot remains active as a tribute to him.
He owned Southwest Publications and has authored many books, including The Continuing Search for the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, Blood, Gold, and the Superstition Mountains, and Gold Panning Equipment-Build Your Own. He also co-authored a book with Susan Farnsworth;More Mogollon Monster, Arizona’s Bigfoot.
2013
Bigfoot Encounters: Bobbie Short
California researcher Bobbie Short passed away on May 16, 2013 from a heart disorder. She was most known for her global travels searching for Bigfoot as well as her website “Bigfoot Encounters”, which is a wealth of information to this day and surprisingly still functioning, but has a few glitches. She was also known for putting a little Bigfoot gossip to rest involving Academy Award-winning makeup artist John Chambers in which it was rumored he produced/hoaxed what was later known as the Patterson-Gilim Bigfoot film.
My thanks to Loren Coleman for allowing me to summarize this brief based on the full obituary written and published by him. To read that highly informative tribute in full go to CryptoZooNews.