Gary Warzin Age 56, of Indianapolis, passed away Saturday, August 27th, 2005. Gary was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Anne (Valentine) Warzin of Geneva, Ohio. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Julie; daughter Tracie, son-in law Jarrod Bunce, and two grandchildren, Jaden and Dawson of Noblesville. Gary Warzin was the founder and CEO of Audiophile Systems, Ltd. of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a cum laude graduate of Purdue University, majoring in Industrial Management. Interests included electronics, bicycling, attempting to solve the Kryptos Code, and collecting Japanese arcade games. Gary was also a 30-year member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Gary served as Chair of the Audio Division of the Consumer Electronic Association. He was also on the PARA Manufacturer's Advisory Council. Friends may call at the Flanner Buchanan Funeral Center-Broad Ripple on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 from 4 p.m. until the time of the service at 5 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association. www.flannerbuchanan.com

Gary and I were co-founders and moderators of the Kryptos discussion group. I just heard about his death this evening, and then immediately called his home and spoke with his daughter Tracie. Though she and her mother did not share Gary's passion for cryptography, they both recognized that it was an important part of his life -- so much so that they even mentioned Kryptos in his obituary! "Interests included electronics, bicycling, attempting to solve the Kryptos Code, and collecting Japanese arcade games."

I first met Gary face-to-face in Fall 2003, when he and I attended the NSA Crypto Symposium in DC. We also had the opportunity there to meet both Kryptos Sculptor James Sanborn, and Cryptographer Ed Scheidt.

Though I usually list Gary and myself as "co-founders" of the Kryptos Group, it was really his idea. Gary was one of the people who first wrote to me about my website back in early 2003, and it was during correspondence with him, that I was inspired to come up with my own alternative solution for Part 3 of the sculpture. Gary's hard work on the puzzle seriously impressed me, especially the way that he would take the time to write his work up into formal easy-to-read papers. I didn't agree with all of his conclusions, but he was always an inspiring and motivating force, and he will be missed.

Elonka