I never personally knew Dragoneer. I am friends with a couple of furs who did know him, and have heard nothing but good stories from them.
What I do know, is the impact he has personally had on my life as a furry and an artist. Without this website, I wouldn't have met anyone that comprises my friend group right now. Everyone that I hang out with today, I met through connections with this site. I honestly don't know where I would be in life if I didn't have these people in it and that is what I owe Dragoneer and the staff.
As an artist... well I may not even draw if it wasn't for this site either. I was an aimless hobbiest who sketched on the corners of my school work. I never thought about posting anything online for total strangers to look at. Through this website though, I found artists who inspired me to improve, people who encouraged me to draw more, a reason to continue to work on a little hobby of mine and turn it into something more.
As a person, I have grown to accept the weird little interests of mine and that overall has made me more accepting in general. I've matured and have developed an open-mindedness that I'm proud of and have come to be known for in my family.
I open this site literally every day. Even when I found myself in despair or when I was out on a vacation, I usually ended my day by turning on my phone and checking this site. It's something that I honestly took advantage of, being a few clicks away from a community that has become part of my identity. I'm not the only person here that feels the same.
Hearing the news of Dragoneer's passing really did hit me, because even if I didn't know him and he may not have known me, he has helped shape my life into what it is today. It's like losing a musical artist you listen to every day for 14 years. He is leaving a legacy behind him of doing that same thing to thousands of other furs.
I will be purchasing FA+ in his name. I dont know how else to show support of his memory than to support what he has done for me. I did keep up with his journals and as someone who believes in the afterlife, it's comforting to think he is no longer dealing with everything he was.
So, goodbye Dragoneer. From the thousands of people that you helped influence, and from this raccoon that draws weird art, thank you. You will be missed.