Comments on: Farewell to a Legend: Mourning the passing of Nate “nnenn” Nielson

By: Matt Freese

Matt Freese — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:18:52 +0000

nnenn was my inspiration for getting back into Legos. I always anticipated his latest release. Farewell to the greatest builder I have ever seen.

By: Liam Faris

Liam Faris — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:47:53 +0000

I never knew nnenn. I think that goes for a lot of people here. Yet I have seen all of his creations with a sense of pride and a sense of wonder. I was proud that the Lego community had nnenn as our vanguard of creativity, and his creations were truly spectacular. I am utterly at a loss for words to express how sad this makes me. I just hope he knows he is truly missed by every single member of the Lego community.

By: Brian Cooper

Brian Cooper — Sun, 02 May 2010 11:43:25 +0000

I was randomly browsing brickshelf and saw something that alluded to the demise of nnenn. An anxious, increasingly unhappy web investigation led here.

nnenn was the sort of creative spark that you’d like to think was preserved, somehow…

Imagine an alien race, in another dimension, fighting a war, at the edge of defeat, resources drained, bereft of ideas… then one engineer slumped over a drafting table, half asleep from exhaustion, sits bolt upright and shouts, “I have an idea for a new fighter! It’s beautiful! It just popped into my head! We can win this!”

By: Aegrus

Aegrus — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:41:55 +0000

Nnenn was one of the first builders I stumbled upon a year or so ago that motivated me to pursue Lego as an adult hobby. Although, I’m not a confident builder I can say with the utmost confidence that Nnenn is one of the most creative and skilled builders around. His builds are so clean and colorful, so intricate and technical, so fun and inspiring.

I only had the pleasure of interacting with him once, briefly. However, being pretty consistent lurker of the community I know that Nnenn was definitely a good and kind soul.

Kevin

As is evident by these postings he will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

My sincerest condolences to his family as they have lost more than just a hero they have lost a husband and a father.

By: mark rushworth

mark rushworth — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:51:06 +0000

i caught some of nnenns work by accident on flickr which lead me here, now i get lego for birthdays and xmas as he fuelled my desire to get back into it. i could never understand how he achieved the fine finnish on pieces and this is something i strive towards.. rip dude.

By: David Hamilton

David Hamilton — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:24:58 +0000

I’ve never really participated here before, and only been reading the past few months, but as I read through the Brothers Brick archives, Nnenn’s models never failed to jump out at me, so I felt I should put my own two cents’ worth in. I’ve been in my own Dark Ages for probably fifteen years now, but I can cite Nnenn’s endless array of fantastic spacecraft in all shapes and sizes, more than anything else, as my personal inspiration for getting back into building. Every time I would see another of his works highlighted here, I would invariably find myself thinking “This guy is amazing… I wish I could make stuff as awesome as this.” If just the sight of his work can have such an effect on a random stranger browsing a website, I can only imagine the kind of positive influence he was on his family and everyone else in his own life. My sincerest condolences to his family… And for my own part, I will just endeavour to honour his memory by building as cool and as interesting space creations as I can. I considered building a Vic Viper in his honour, but I can think of no better tribute to a builder like him, who stood out for his creativity and originality, than to just take those as lessons from him, and to be as creative and original as possible in my own work.

By: Ramone

Ramone — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:18:59 +0000

I’m so sorry to hear this news. I only knew of Nnenn as his online/Lego persona and his brilliant builds. It’s so disheartening to think there won’t be any new ones from him in the future. I wish his family all the best.

By: The Lego Loᴙikeet (flickr)

The Lego Loᴙikeet (flickr) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 09:38:18 +0000

Nnenn will be missed by us all, just like portaldude this is very saddening news. May he rest in piece. ;_;

By: Steve Roe

Steve Roe — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 06:33:43 +0000

For years I was amazed at Nnenn’s artistic talent and obvious passion for the craft of LEGO building. I hope the afterlife met him with an ample supply of colorful bricks.

To his wife and children, I trust you can take some solace in the fact that his creative vitality touched so many lives in such a wonderful, edificating and positive way.

May he live on through his influence in all LEGO builders, and in those to come who will no doubt wonder at his legacy.

By: Imagine Rigney

Imagine Rigney — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:42:19 +0000

Both my mom and I have been clicking through all the amazing builds Nate posted and feel awed all over again by his ability. What a sad, sad thing for his boys to lose such a great dad. Probably one of the coolest dads ever….really.

By: Paul B. Hartzog

Paul B. Hartzog — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:59:50 +0000

I am greatly saddened to hear of this tragedy.

I did not know Nate well, hardly at all in fact, but am deeply indebted to him for provoking the entire Lego Space community into a deep, meaningful, contentious, furor of activity around pushing the limits of building styles and attitudes.

We all learned a lot from his work and his presence. He will be sorely missed.

:-(

-Paul B. Hartzog

By: Oliver Beasley

Oliver Beasley — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:45:15 +0000

I’ve only been on here as a viewer and not a maker, but it’s truly shocking for any community when a truly spectacular contributor is lost. I have few words for I barely knew him, but I mourn the loss as much as anyone.

By: Chris L

Chris L — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:38:00 +0000

I didn’t know Nnenn personally. But followed his work for quite a while since I first stumbled across it I think on Brickshelf originally.
This is certainly a tragedy, for his family, and for us in the Lego community.
He was an inspiration to a lot of people, and will continue to be so.

By: Glen

Glen — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:04:22 +0000

I was building yesterday, and I came across an elastic holder. Only I didn’t call it an elastic holder anymore. To me, it is now a “nnenn brick”. I set it on my shelf, so that everytime I go to build, I will build in his memory.

RIP

By: Crimso Giger

Crimso Giger — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:07:43 +0000

There’s already 293 comments on this very sad information, so I won’t be original. The community has lost a legendary builder… I didn’t knew nnenn since a very long time, to be honest – But every time I saw one of his MOCs I was deeply amazed. I love his unorthodox approach of Lego, his art of presentation, his skills and his sense of colors. He had also made something really cool with the NoVVember Vic Vipers challenge. He was a great designer and artist. RIP nnenn, hope you’ll in a Lego paradise now. Condolences to your family…