I remember he was battling cancer at one time and posted that he thought he wasn't going to make it. Anyhow he seemed to bounce back and was a regular here again for a while but then there's been nothing for a few years now.

Actually just searching back through the forum some of the threads he started are truly amazing. He pioneered some amazing techniques for effects etc. Worth a look if you get time.

http://joevinton.blogspot.com/