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Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 1:58 am
by QTCut5
With a very heavy heart and profound sorrow I am sad to report that my best friend, Brian Sorenson, our beloved AAPK knife brother who was known as Ivoryman, passed away after suffering a sudden heart attack at his home in Seattle in the early morning hours on Monday, June 16, 2025. I was notified by his wife, Cindy, who, knowing of his relationship with the AAPK community and the many individual members whom he considered friends, asked me to post a notice to inform the membership. I would also like to invite and encourage any members who knew Brian/Ivoryman either in person or through interactions with him on the forum to add a personal tribute, memories or any appropriate words they may feel inclined to share.

I have known Brian and Cindy for almost 40 years; we first met as college students in Utah in 1988. We enjoyed many outdoor activities together especially skiing and mountain biking as well as attending sports events and concerts. Brian asked me to be his best man at his and Cindy's wedding in 1991 in Corvallis, OR. Some years later Brian & Cindy drove down to CA where I was working in Victorville, and took me on a wild road trip to Tijuana, Mexico (I must confess that my memories of that trip are a little hazy!). Eventually, Brian & Cindy settled down to raise a family in Seattle and I moved to Hawaii. The physical distance between us did not diminish our friendship, however, and we continued to stay in touch through letters and email, our preferred methods of communication as neither of us were ever big telephone talkers. Sometime in the early 2000s, I introduced Brian to the world of knife collecting and, being the tool-using craftsman he was, he took to it instantly. Before long, his passion for quality pocketknives surpassed mine and he alternately blamed and thanked me for his obsessive addiction :lol:

Many here can attest to his passion for modern GEC and quality vintage knives as well as his artistic and creative knife photography. I may be guilty of introducing him to the hobby, but in the end I learned much more about knives from him than I ever taught him about the hobby. He was an avid user of the knives he collected, a carver of ivory with an exquisite attention to detail and artistic sensibility. Many AAPK members own one or more of his hand carved pieces. As many of you know, he was also very generous with knife "Bombs" and loved being part of such a generous and giving community that shared knives as easily and freely as they shared knowledge. He was my best friend and I will miss him terribly.

Rest In Peace, brother Brian.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 2:16 am
by FRJ
Well, that is really sad news. I'm very sorry to hear of his passing.
I will pray for comfort for his family. A sudden passing like this just puts everything upside-down.
Some years ago he sent me these ivory carvings and I always had them on display.
He will certainly be missed here.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 2:16 am
by bestgear
Oh Q, thank you for sharing your friend with us. Brian was one of a kind and it’s going to take some time for our hearts to heal. My life is richer because of my exchanges with Brian including his most recent pledge to support the monthly giveaway, a preemptive bomb if you will.

Cindy, Donovan and Jade; we grieve with you and pray that time will heal the immense void that you feel right now. Godspeed ::pray::

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 2:18 am
by Railsplitter
So sorry to read about this. He was such a great guy.

Rest in peace Brian. We will miss you.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 2:26 am
by Mumbleypeg
Always sad to learn any AAPK member has passed.

R.I.P. Ivoryman. ::pray::

Ken

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 3:17 am
by New_Windsor_NY
My sincere condolences to Ivoryman's family and friends.
R.I.P. Ivoryman.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 5:32 am
by MissouriGuerrilla
Very sorry to see this. My condolences and prayers for his family. :( ::tear::

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 9:37 am
by royal0014
Terrible news!
His passing will leave a giant hole here at AAPK.
Rest In Peace Knife Brother

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 10:17 am
by garddogg56
😢 RIP Brian
We lost a good one
My condolences to his family ::pray::

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 11:11 am
by OLDE CUTLER
Truly a tragic story, condolences to the family on their sudden loss. May he RIP.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 11:37 am
by orvet
I always looked forward to seeing Brian every year ar the OKCA show. I will miss him. My prayers for his wife and family.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 12:15 pm
by Dinadan
RIP Ivoryman. You will be missed.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 12:23 pm
by 1967redrider
I'm floored, unbelievable. Condolences to his family, prayers going out. 🙏

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 12:23 pm
by Paladin
Sad news, indeed. RIP Brian. ::pray::

Ray

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 1:20 pm
by bighomer
Unbelievable! such sad news. I-man was one fine man, generous to a fault.
My condolences to his beautiful family and many friends.
I always enjoyed his photos and posts, very creative with his camera.
1000001457.jpg
A bomb from him several years ago.
RIP my friend. Prayers for the family in their time of great sorrows. ::handshake::

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 1:45 pm
by wlf
So sorry for his family and your loss ~Q~. He was always here and had a passion for GEC that I too shared.
Prayers.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 2:30 pm
by philco
Prayers for those he’s left behind. He will definitely be missed. Rest in peace Ivoryman.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 6:16 pm
by Unk
Sad news.

R.I.P. Ivoryman. Prayers for his family.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 8:55 pm
by KLJ77
Although I never had direct contact with Brian, except through this site and replies in threads, I always enjoyed the wonderful knives he shared on AAPK through photos. This news of his passing saddened me. May Cindy and his children be comforted at this time. My condolences to them...I know the emotions they are contending with.

Thank you QT for sharing a bit of yours and Brians personal life. May you too be comforted in the lifelong memories you shared with Brian and his family.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 9:32 pm
by Bryan
This is heart breaking. Prayers to Brian's family and friends.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 10:52 pm
by danno50
Very sad news, hard to process. I counted Brian as a good knife friend even though we only saw each other at the OKCA shows. The first time I met him he gave me on of his elk tooth carvings. I am very saddened and shocked by this news.
Brian sold me the below knife at a price much discounted from what he could have got for it, including a carved ivory bead and an antler tip pendant.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 11:05 pm
by danno50
Do you have a reference to an obituary, Q? I tried searching Seattle obituaries but couldn't find one.

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 1:14 am
by knifeaddict1965
So Sad... Sorry to hear this tragic news of the loss of your good friend, Q. I have enjoyed his beautiful pictures & knives for several years and his presence on the forum will surely be missed.
Condolences to his family and friends.

R.I.P. Knife Brother!

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 2:46 am
by Jeffinn
Sorry to hear this.
R.I.P. Ivoryman

Re: Tragic death of one of our own

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 3:16 am
by Reverand
I am saddened to hear this news.
I will be praying for his family and friends.