Those who have been reading my blog for a while are probably aware that I did three interviews last year for Nick Barksdale’s YouTube channel The Study of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. At the time Nick and I recorded my last interview with him for his channel in late July 2021, he was only thirty years old and he seemed completely healthy. Then, on 4 August, he suddenly fell gravely ill with what turned out to be a septic heart infection. He has been in and out of emergency care for nearly the past year. Sadly, on 2 June 2022, Nick passed away. His wife and two very young daughters, one of whom was born in the past year while he was in the hospital fighting for his own life, survive.
In my experience of him, Nick was an extraordinarily caring, generous, and charismatic person. I share some personal stories about my experiences with him and his kindness below, but, more urgently, there is a GoFundMe page to raise money to help support Nick’s surviving family in this trying time. If you are able, please consider donating money to support Nick’s family, who will (I presume) need to pay his medical and funeral costs and somehow support themselves in the meantime. I’ve already donated $125 of my own money, but I’m sure that any amount you can donate will help, even if it is just a few dollars.
Continue reading “Help Support Nick Barksdale’s Family”