Thomas Doerflein, dead at 44.

September 22, 2008 7:24 PM

Herr Doerflein, R.I.P.
posted by felix betachat (23 comments total)

Does Sarah Palin have an alibi?
posted by Dave Faris at 7:28 PM on September 22, 2008 [4 favorites]

Dave Faris, I never thought I'd say this, but 'too soon.'
posted by crataegus at 7:32 PM on September 22, 2008

.
posted by aheckler at 7:35 PM on September 22, 2008

What a bear.
posted by parmanparman at 7:37 PM on September 22, 2008 [1 favorite]

aw crap

:(
posted by matteo at 7:39 PM on September 22, 2008

When I saw this, I grew very worried about Knut. Who's taking care of Knut now? Does he have other people friends who love him like Doerflein did? Will he be able to understand a loss like this? Knut doesn't need so much tragedy in his life.

Please, world, don't let the polar bear be sad.
posted by Ms. Saint at 7:53 PM on September 22, 2008

We were just discussing how much tummy polar bears have available for tummy rubs *yesterday*! And yet Doerflein actually knew. So sad.

.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 8:01 PM on September 22, 2008

.
posted by schyler523 at 8:05 PM on September 22, 2008

This is one of those "extreme suckage" things that people keep talking about. :-(
posted by illiad at 8:08 PM on September 22, 2008

the man who touched the bear that touched my heart is with the angels now. the bear angels. the baby cuddle bear angels. in snuggle heaven.
posted by breakfast_yeti at 8:21 PM on September 22, 2008 [2 favorites]

sad.
posted by Surfurrus at 8:26 PM on September 22, 2008

That is so freaky. This showed up in my reader right next to the cuteoverload post about the same thing.
posted by juv3nal at 8:30 PM on September 22, 2008

Knut has since been diagnosed as a 'psycho bear', missing his keeper and addicted to attention.

Uh oh.
posted by lukemeister at 8:35 PM on September 22, 2008

Oh, no.
posted by yhbc at 8:37 PM on September 22, 2008

Knut was the perfect mascot for the Green moment, splashed on the cover of Vanity Fair. Now? He's a quivering, angry mess. A cautionary tale of animal celebrity.
posted by homunculus at 8:44 PM on September 22, 2008 [1 favorite]

How sad all around. Please don't let Knut watch that Global Warming video posted here last week.
posted by Sailormom at 8:47 PM on September 22, 2008

Psycho bear
Quest que cest
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh....
posted by stbalbach at 8:49 PM on September 22, 2008

* imagines John McCain ad blaming Barack Obama for doing nothing to prevent this *
posted by lukemeister at 8:53 PM on September 22, 2008

of course john mccain will attack obama about this. and he should. that insane liberal celebrity bear just wallows in it's own filth and self-loathing waiting for a handout from the state. duh.
posted by breakfast_yeti at 9:30 PM on September 22, 2008 [2 favorites]

Well, Obama did go to Berlin this summer!
posted by lukemeister at 9:32 PM on September 22, 2008

awww. What a tender-hearted, handsome man. Such a pity Thomas Dörflein died so young. Knut is going to miss him. Condolences to his girlfriend and sons. At least he did what he loved and brought good to the world in his way.
posted by nickyskye at 10:31 PM on September 22, 2008

I heard it on the news last night (here in Berlin) and was really saddened. He seemed like an a nice guy who worked hard and was well liked.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:22 AM on September 23, 2008

Snark aside, this is really sad.
posted by lukemeister at 4:28 PM on September 23, 2008