In Memory – Cassidy Robinson

January 15th, 2024 | POSTED BY Allen Almachar

The following was written by Keith Foster, cohost of The MacGuffin Podcast. Transcribed with his permission.

It is with a heavy, heavy heart that I have to tell you last weekend Cassidy Robinson passed away. He was my best friend for almost thirty years, we’ve known each other since the 6^th grade and were pretty much inseparable ever since. Through many misadventures in our highschool and college years. And being roommates through most of that time. Cassidy introduced me to just about everything I would think is cool. Whether it was movies or music I pretty much found out about it if he told me about it. He also convinced me to audition for The Comedy Project back in 2007, which introduced me to two great loves of my life; comedy and my wife Ashley Laurence. He was the best man at my wedding, I’m glad he was there, I’m glad I have that. I have so many things to look back upon with fond memories. I’m also incredibly grateful that over the tenure of our friendship we had always remained close. Not everybody gets that.

We hosted a podcast together for almost 8 years where I got to speak to my friend about movies almost every week. He was one of the smartest people I know, especially when it comes to movies and music. He had a catalog of knowledge that Wikipedia would have been jealous of. He was the brains and the lifeblood behind the podcast. He did all the real work to make sure it came out week after week, and he had been doing some version of it before me, with our friend Richard back when it was The Jabber and The Drone and even before that when he was doing a public access TV show. I can’t imagine continuing to do the podcast without him, and I also don’t think he would want it to die with him, so we’ll see what the future holds there I suppose. I just don’t have the heart for that conversation yet.

A lot of people have been asking if I am ok, and I am doing as ok as you can with something like this. I still think I’m largely in shock and that it hasn’t fully hit me yet. I’ve never lost a close friend like this before. My dad passed away in 2018 and that was my first real encounter with death. I don’t recommend it. Zero star. But that was still different. Everyone grows into the knowledge that they will likely have to bury their parents at some point. It doesn’t make it easier, but at least I could take some cold comfort in the natural logic. This is different. He was young. He should still be here.

I’m so grateful that I got to see him one last time over the recent holidays. As some of you might know, he’d started having serious health issues back in November, and I was almost too afraid to see him in that condition. But I’m so incredibly glad I did. It’s so hard to write these words, because once this is posted then this suddenly becomes real and I have to say goodbye to my friend. But I know that’s not how it works and he’s gone whether I say it or not, so I need to at least try and say goodbye while I can. I loved Cassidy greatly and I am glad that I do not have to look back on any of my time with him with regret. The last thing he said to me before he died was that he implored me to get a good record player setup. Yes, he actually used the world implored. Not so bad as far as last wishes go, but I guess now I have to go shopping. Goddammit Cassidy. Rest in peace buddy.

-Keith Foster-