Saying Goodbye to Martin (lazerzubb) Schaedel

[Brett_Tabke]

There are many members who knew Martin (Lazerzubb) Schaedel. If you don't know, Martin was tragically passed away in an airplane accident yesterday far before his time.

Martin had the uncanny ability to make friends faster than anyone I think I have ever met. You couldn't just know Martin in passing - you either knew him as well as a best friend, or didn't know him at all.

I first met Martin at PubCon in London (circa 2002). He was sooo young, but after just a few minutes of talking, it became clear that he not only knew SEO, but he was one of the few doing actual empirical testing of the algos.

Martin was at times a bit of an enigma. It was tough to figure out how a young teenager could be living alone in London and could be so successful. We often joked that he must have a sugar daddy or worked for MI6. Good friend Shakil Kahn once said to me, "Give up trying to figure it out man. He is what he says is and it all checks out.".

Martin was well known here at WebmasterWorld for his string of Google update calls. He would spot a Google update (dance) before anyone else would and post it. He got so tired of the normal "no it isn't an update" initial posts that he finally just started calling me direct to post it so everyone would believe it. He would just call and say one word, update and hang up. He was so accurate, that I actually nicknamed him update and joked that we had to figure out a way to name an update after him.

I saw Martin last summer in New York city where he was living in a fabulous loft. We had lunch and I quizzed him a bit about his background. He went into great detail about his mom & dad and what they did. He was so proud of the work his mother was doing - he just beamed ear-to-ear telling me about her. At the time he was concerned that his visa was about to run out and he had to leave the US for awhile to reapply. I asked if it would help if he needed to use me as a reference for employment. He said thanks, but was finally looking forward to seeing his family and spending some time in Europe again.

My wife (Erika) saw Martin walking into PubCon with a candy bar once, and joked to him that the price of admission was that you had to bring the conference organizers wife' chocolates. Sure enough - every PubCon after that, Martin would bring Erika a box of Swedish or German chocolates.

You will be missed sir.

Links:

• Morten Lund
• Fred Wilson
• Danny Sullivan
• Dave Naylor
• Todd Friesen
• Howard Lee Morgan
• LA Times
• Silicon Alley Insider
• All Things Digital
• Fare Compare blog entry
• megsmakeup.com entry. Martin had been staying with her.
• Martins Flickr Stream
• Martins Blog
• Twitter @martin

Having fun at PubCon London 2002, Oilman and Martin:

Getting Goofy at PubCon Boston 2003

Relaxing at PubCon London 2003

Danny Sullivan and Martin

[mivox]

I just heard about it this morning ... I'm absolutely stunned. Like others have said, it's just so hard to believe he won't just turn up at some get together, and entertain everyone with his unbelievable stories again.

Posted some old photos from 2003 on flickr: [flickr.com...]

[IanTurner]

Wow - so many names from the past posting at WebmasterWorld again. That in itself is a tribute to Martin.

[anallawalla]

It seems we were in the same room at a few Pubcons but we never connected. Still, it is certain that the SEO industry will be poorer by his passing. Vale Martin.

[skipfactor]

Sounds like he was headed out to create another terrific story before he was on to the next one. Thanks for letting those of us who didn't know him glimpse a few slices of a brilliant mind and a different way to look at business, people & life. And thank you Mr. Schaedel.

[Hawkgirl]

I keep coming back to this thread, and then leaving, speechless. I have some really incredible memories of Martin and I am so sad that he is gone. I hope his family is comforted by knowing how much he meant to so many people.

[lawman]

It was good seeing the name "Mivox" pop up. Thanks for the pix Teresa.

[makemetop]

This is truly shocking news! I was fortunate enough to have given Martin his first "official" job. At the end of 2002 he wanted to show to his family that, despite his age, he was highly sought after in SEO circles and so asked me if I would write a letter offering to employ him. So I did.

He did a lot of work for us (and for himself and others) - never turning up in the office but dispatching his amazing stuff from all regions of the World!

Within a year we were sending his payments to an ever growing network of offshore companies and shaking our heads that one so young could have such a mature plan for the future.

An amazing talent - a great friend who will be very sadly missed - and a person with whom I shared a lot of good times in earlier (and more innocent?) days of SEO.

Martin, it was an honour to know and work with you for the brief time we did. A lot of us will miss you.

[vitaplease]

a great loss of an amazing person

[brendan]

I remember meeting Martin back in 2001 at pub con.

It really was an amazing time back then and I remember everyone I met around that time very clearly especially Martin. I am sad I didn't get to know him better.

R.I.P.

[caine]

shocked.

Pubcon 2002 - I think he was 17 in this photo, and it was the first time many of us got to meet Martin, and I and most others were impressed by him.

Martin with Ian & RC
[pubcon.com...]

Very sad.... lost for worlds.

[Receptional]

I remember Martin giving me a ring one day - or was it a sticky from here? And getting my name added to a Go-Karting event that E-Spotting were putting on. He was joking that he was going to buy a Ferrari before hecwas legally old enough to even drive. I was never quite sure if he was joking or not! He certainly went for it on the go-karting track as I recall.

You're in my thoughts, Martin.

Dixon.

[peteyoung]

I unfortunately never had the opportunity to personally meet Martin, however what is certainly apparent is the respect from peers in the industry he gained during his short time with us. Think some of the messages posted above have been truly touching, and I am sure he would have been proud of himself if he could read some of the bits written about him.

Prayers to family an friends at this time

[johnser]

Martin sure was a very distinctive guy. First met him in cittie of york years ago & bumped into him a few times since.

Very sad news indeed.
My thoughts are with his family & friends.

[nicebloke]

What an amazing chap he was.

So sad. They say the brightest stars burn out fastest.

[fliks]

Wow - impressive lineup of oldschool people gathering together to mourn a loss of a friend.

I only knew martin from very short conversations at some pubcons starting with the 2003 one. But it's impressive to see how he lived his live and I'm sure he doesn't regret a single step. Most likely not even the last step into the airplane.

Enjoy your time - whereever you are...

Randolf

[limbo]

How very sad. A great loss.

[deMib]

It is so very, very sad!

I got to know Martin around 2000. He lived not far from me in the south of Sweden. I met him first time in 2001 when he managed to convince Karen DeWeese to give him a free ticket to SES in Copenhagen, that I hosted, in exchange for helping out - which he very much did - he was there on the spot at 6am. He did what he have to do to get what he wanted.

Martin managed to do more in 23 years than most people do in 80. Still thats no reason to die this young. Imagine what he could have done by the age of 80!

It's people like Martin that can change the world and make it better. Now he is gone and will be sadly missed - but never forgotten.

Martin, rest in peace

[rogerd]

What a great guy, what a tragic loss. I worked with him on a couple of small projects, and was amazed at how connected he was. At an age when most people are struggling their first entry-level job, Martin seemed to know everybody who was anybody in the Web biz.

At least Martin accomplished a lot and enjoyed himself a lot in his short time.

[Chris_R]

Martin was the one who got me to come to my first PubCon.

He was truly one of a kind.

He lived life to the fullest.

[trillianjedi]

Incredibly sad and my condolences to Martins family.

I met him at Vegas Pubcon '07 (I think it was). Very bright guy - devastating to lose him at such a young age.

[pmac]

He was one of the brightest guys that I ever had the pleasure of meeting. I think I first met him in London in 2002........ had lunch with him with a few old timers at pubcon a couple years ago. So very sad. :(

[Brad]

How sad. I never met Martin but I always enjoyed his posts, back in the day. Lazerzubb will be missed.

[Commerce]

I echo Brad's thoughts. Somehow it seems that all too often the bright stars never stay with us as long.

Having also lost a friend and business associate in 2008, I wish all Martin's family and friends peace for their heavy hearts and strength in getting through this tragic time.

[jpjones]

Martin was a great guy - full of life, full of stories, finger always on the pulse, and something on an enigma. For someone so young, he certainly knew how to live!

I've only met him a few times - mainly at pubcons; but each time was like seeing an old friend again. We've also shared emails over the years on his numerous projects - so determined, such drive.

Martin was taken way before his time. My thoughts are with his family & friends. I'm honoured to have known him - and am still in shock at such a tragic loss.

RIP Sir, in that big VIP room in the sky

[Go60Guy]

I, too, am shocked and saddened. I first met Martin at the 2002 Pubcon in London, and saw him, and spent time with him, at several subsequent Pubcons. We kept up correspondence by IM and otherwise.

I think it can truly be said that a day in Martin's life was like a year in the lives of many others. He was brilliant, absolutely brilliant, and lived his short life utterly to the max. What a loss!

[edit_g]

Sad to hear about this - I only met him briefly at pubcon 2003, but clearly remember trading insults with him about where we came from (I'm Norwegian). My condolences to his family and friends - I hope they know how many people he touched.

[feeder]

I met Martin, in London, at the Cittie of Yorke.

At first, I couldn't reconcile the young guy in front of me with the lazersubb nick. He was too young to be that smart.

Then he opened his mouth.

Yes, the guy was that smart.

And one hell of a nice guy, too. He spent a lot of time chatting with my brother, who knew nothing of search, but had tagged along for the drinks. Yet he and Martin got on like a house on fire. That was Martin. He liked connecting with people.

As I sit here reading the posts, it seems that everyone had much the same experience. Martin made friends - easily - with everyone. He charmed the whole damn lot.

He used to send me stuff about cars, just because he knew I liked cars.

A true character. I'll miss him.

Peter

[BroadProspect]

WOW! I did know him and we share(d) somethings ....
Took me quite time to recover.
what a huge reminder of that fact that life's too short and #*$! happens, make the most of TODAY
/BP

[edited by: BroadProspect at 12:38 pm (utc) on Feb. 1, 2009]

[pshea]

Condolences to Martin's family from NYC on this sad news.

An uncle of mine, a missionary priest in the Philippines, passed away last year under natural circumstances, much different than this. But as his students and friends took to the web to post their thoughts, experiences and kind words my family was really touched and surprised a half a world away. I am in that picture Brett posted of the group at Pubcon Boston and I hope in these sad days for the Schaedel family they will find some comfort in reading these vast and warm words about a remarkable young man.

[Clark]

I can't believe Lazerzubb was only 23. Haven't conversed with him in years over here and never met him before, but remember his nick well. Wow, one of those special guys who lived life to the fullest. Enjoying every minute. Condolences to the family.