At Cryptomundo, the well-known, the modestly-known, and those unknown until today are equally worthy of a remembrance when they pass away. Such is the case of Tod Emerson.

Tod Emerson

Tod Emerson, 44, an American father and partner living in Wales, had started work on a renewable energy degree at Glyndwr University. Adventure called, however, and Emerson was injured while rockclimbing at a quarry at Llanferres on Wednesday, September 24, 2008. He was airlifted to Glan Clwyd Hospital, where he died from his injuries the following day.

In reading tributes to him, this from his mother Jo Emerson caught my attention:

“My son Tod was born on a Sunday evening, in the summer of 1963….Even as a young man he was an outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting with his buddies and we lived in the perfect area for that. There was only one game that escaped him: His quest to hunt down and befriend Bigfoot. He tracked him for days on end.”

Emerson, originally from California, joined the US Air Force after leaving school and was stationed at Greenham Common, Berkshire. He decided to stay in the UK and later moved to north east Wales, where he worked in the printing industry and settled in Ruthin.

Emerson was a former employee of NWN Media, publisher of the Evening Leader, in Mold, where he had many friends and colleagues.

Former colleague and fellow rock climber Raymond Tunley said: “He was a keen cliff climber, surfer and outward bounds enthusiast.”

Tod’s partner Rachel added: “His appetite for adventure and zest for life was made manifest in his love for climbing and surfing, where he had made many close friends from these activities and he loved them all dearly.”

Family and friends from both sides of the Atlantic sent in tributes to the Welsh media noting Emerson was a “kind, loving, thoughtful, charming and good-natured” climber from Ruthin, who happened to be a Bigfoot hunter too.

The father of three, his daughter, Ashley is at the university in Manchester. Tod Emerson is also survived by his sons David and Chris, his long-term partner Rachel Hunt, his parents Jo and Ralph, and his sister Laura.

Cryptomundo sends out condolences to his family, partner, and friends.