[FSPA] Scott Sidley

Sat Sep 5 08:48:21 EDT 2020

That is very sad news.  Scott will be truly missed.

He could solve any pinball problem and, once you could muster up the courage to get past the gruff exterior, he was always willing to help out.  He was very intelligent, but didn’t throw that in your face, rather he treated everyone as if they had the same aptitude for pinball repair and electronics as he did, as he would explain in great detail how a particular circuit worked, while almost all of it went well over my head.

He came to my house on multiple occasions to help repair games prior to events, and he was always fun to have around, offering his unfiltered opinions about just about anything.  His opinions were set in stone, and he would happily tell you why he was right (or why you were wrong) about almost anything.  But he was a different person around kids and pets.  While over fixing games, he had dinner with my family several times, and he could not have been more gracious around my wife and two young daughters, displaying a kinder side that was not usually shown around the pinball crowd.  The kids thought he was very nice and funny, and often asked when Scott was coming over again.

I always had difficulty paying him for his pinball repair services, because he simply wouldn’t take any money!  He would just ask for gas money.  I always told him that he was undervaluing his services, but he wouldn’t hear it — he was truly in it for the love of the game and the challenge of fixing a problem.  But I always forced some form of payment on him for his time and expertise (and his car full of pinball parts!) that he so graciously offered.  And when I found out that he liked Mexican Coca Cola in bottles, I scored a bunch and started paying him with those in addition to cash.  I still have some bottles, and will drink one in his honor today.

Here’s a story about Scott’s amazing troubleshooting abilities:  A friend of mine had an issue with the lower playfield ball kicker on an AC/DC, and I enlisted Scott to come take a look.  He came over and spent a couple of hours testing, tracing, etc., but the problem persisted.  Ultimately he concluded that it must be a problem in the game code.  To myself I figured that was unlikely, and that here was the only time I had seen a problem that Scott couldn’t fix.  But the next day, my friend contacted me to say that he had updated the code and the problem was gone!  At that point I truly realized how much Scott really understood pinball machines, and I never doubted him again.

The FSPA community owes Scott Sidley a great deal, more than we can ever say.

- Todd

On Sat, Sep 5, 2020, at 7:39 AM, Mike F via FSPA wrote:
> Damn.  I’ll always remember Scott as one of the original fspa guys (along with Bernie, joe,  Julie, Dave Stewart, lee, deb, Serg, etc), that I met when I joined my first league at the old Vbh.  Loved him.  Was part of my rekindled love for pinball during college (well.... that and the lineup at howies).  Used to look forward to the “scottitude” as kosack put it, even though it got under my skin once or twice lol.  Tends to happen with anyone you know for over 20 years.
> 
> He did a great job dialing in games at Kevin’s, robs, Vbh.  I admired him for getting those games ready, only for them to be pummeled again by 40-80 of the mid-Atlantic’s finest.  The games played incredible at the last states tourney at Vbh in 2019, and he did it all, even while battling cancer.  I made sure to let him know that day, and other days, that his hard work was appreciated... but especially that day at Vbh.  
> 
> I’ll miss you, Scott.  We lost a great talent in our community, and a great friend.  Rest In Peace.
> 
> Mike F
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Sep 5, 2020, at 6:45 AM, Joe Kosack via FSPA <fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>> This really sucks. 
>> 
>> I remember meeting Scott for the first time in September 2008 as a wide eyed newbie who had just found out that there was competitive pinball not only in the world, but 20 minutes from my house.  Scott took it upon himself to be the unofficial VBH welcome ambassador and showed me, Lee, and Jude the ropes that night and made me feel right at home. 
>> 
>> When I eventually started to help run VBH league and then fully run it, I could always count on Scott to provide helpful advice, encouragement when I was down, and a little special Sottitude when I was smelling myself too much.  I literally could not have been successful without Scott by my side.  Hell, I couldn’t have ever tuna tournament without him.  
>> 
>> At major events, Scott was always a major cheerleader when one of our players or alumni were doing well.  When I made my only run in the Pinburgh A finals in 2015, Scott was there asking if he could get me anything to eat or drink to keep me focused on the task at hand.  
>> 
>> Right now, I feel the same as when Scott wasn’t there for our last season of VBH and a lot of us didn’t know what was going on yet, and that is lost.  For those of us who played with Scott, he was a constant in our league lives.  From Scott informing us that we’re putting the quarters in wrong to telling us that he sucked after playing a twenty minute ball, Scott could always be counted on.  Scott will be missed terribly my all of us, and league pinball for me won’t be the same without him.
>> 
>> Joe K
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Sep 5, 2020, at 6:18 AM, rw55dodgers--- via FSPA <fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>>  
>>> Joe: 
>>> 
>>> Yes this is very sad news, I've only known him since early 2012 when I started to play for FSPA and he started to work on my machines that summer that have't been played on for 15-20 years.  He got 4 of 5 working great and they are still being played on today.  Yes he was always checking with me about my machines before any tournament, league party or personal function and was always there to check things out.  Whenever I got a new machine he was always here to check it out and fix any issues.  It was always nice having him over as he got to know part of my family as he worked on my machines.
>>> 
>>> He will be missed by all, RIP Scott Sidley.
>>> 
>>> Rob T
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Joe Schober via FSPA <fspa at fspazone.org>
>>> To: FSPA main discussion list <fspa at fspazone.org>
>>> Cc: Joe Schober <afljoeys at aol.com>
>>> Sent: Sat, Sep 5, 2020 12:08 am
>>> Subject: [FSPA] Scott Sidley
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I am heartbroken to say that Scott Sidley has passed away.  As most of you know, he's been battling cancer for a couple years.  Things were improving for awhile, until they weren't.
>>> 
>>> For me, Scott isn't just a guy at pinball... we've been friends for almost 35 years.  He was incredibly intelligent, creative, and generous with his time and talents.  I have so many great memories with him... creating projects, playing games, roller coaster madness, so much more.  Despite his gruff exterior sometimes, he could be very caring and supportive.
>>> 
>>> For our pinball community, Scott has been involved with the FSPA more than anyone since its beginning.  He has done everything from helping run several of our leagues, managing scorekeeping, fixing machines everywhere, and on and on.  He could always be counted on to help tune up games for parties and tournaments, and on the day of an event, he would often be the first person there, helping to set things up, and the last one to leave, cleaning everything.  And I don't think anyone will know how to put quarters into the games correctly without Scott around.
>>> 
>>> I love Scott dearly, and already miss him very, very much.
>>> 
>>> Please, y'all stay safe and healthy.
>>> 
>>> --Joe
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