Farewell letter to Schuhmann – Our team mourns

Farewell words from the editorial team

A farewell like this is not easy. Our editorial team is thinking of Schuhmann, and part of it wants to publicly express its grief and gratitude for the last years.

Lydia

You were so proud to always say exactly what was on your mind, and you thought that I think far too much before I say something. I think of this conversation often while I sit here trying to find the perfect beginning. Even now, you still help me when I get stuck writing.

But you were not just a mentor to me; over the years you also became one of my best friends.

I miss the exchange with you about the series we watch, the games we play, laughing together at the latest internet nonsense or discussing current developments. Everything seems a little less interesting since you’re not here to share it with. You had a special way of seeing things and people. Your unique perspective will be missed forever.

No one can ever replace you, but it’s nice to see every day how a piece of you continues to live on in each of us whose lives you touched.

Like no other, you could get excited about people and their big and small stories. You understood how people tick and what moves them. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your own story.

Dawid

I will never forget the turbulent early years with you – how we discussed and tirelessly worked day by day to make our vision of MeinMMO come true. Even the nerve-wracking Xur server downs we endured together. And even afterwards, you were always there. This deep connection between us, the trust to build something great together – I felt that from you every day. You were my daily drive. You enriched my life. Without you, none of this would have happened. And my life would have taken a different course.

My God, I miss that. I would have loved to experience even more with you.

Thank you for everything, Schuhmann. You will always remain in my thoughts.

Karsten

When I joined the – from my older Boomer perspective – young wild ones of MeinMMO in March 2024, Schuhmann was the experienced silverback of the team. From then on, I wanted to help him give something back to the young ones and hoped that he would not see me as an equally aged competitor who was sharp on his stone – to stay with the gorilla metaphor. 

The opposite was the case. He treated me with respect from the very beginning. Asked for my opinion. Praised. Gave constructive feedback. The chemistry was right. And in the much too short time, he taught me more about storytelling in headlines than I had learned in the previous 15 years. No one can do that as well as he did. 

Now the stone is empty, and Schuhmann is missing. He leaves a gap that cannot be filled. Personally and professionally. But one thing is clear: In every article, every text, every headline on MeinMMO, a bit of Schuhmann can be found. He has given so much to all of us here.

Thank you for that, silverback.

Sophia

We both didn’t always have it easy together, dear Schuhmann.

We both only wanted the best for MeinMMO and kept getting into arguments while trying to reach peak MeinMMO. Our discussions were intense, sometimes exhausting. But they were always important, right, and honest. And although I occasionally had to take a deep breath during these moments, I miss them already now.

Thank you for that.

Thank you also for the random news you sent me – you just knew what I liked and was especially good at writing. Thank you for your dedication to the team – both internally and in the comments under the articles. Thank you for supporting me whenever I needed it: in writing, planning, and new projects.

Thank you for your honest feedback. And for your dry humor.

And thank you for saying “Yes” back then.

Dariusz

Schuhmann, I miss you. Your humor, your advice, but also your criticism is something that accompanied us every day. You shaped the everyday lives of all of us for years, and it is hard for me to come to terms with the fact that you are no longer here. You were a mentor and an important guide for me and many others from whom we learned a lot. Without you, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today, and for that, I will always be grateful.

Alex

Dear Schuhmann, 

I wish you could see how much you are missed here and how much you were liked. Despite your often hard, but fair, and professional criticism – or perhaps because of it – you were greatly appreciated and discovered and fostered the potential in each of us.  

I am very grateful for everything you taught me during my time here, and I am very sad that I could not learn even more from you. You were a wonderful mentor and person who always had a good sense for us and was always there when something was amiss. With you, one could always talk, whether about work or personally. 

Without you, I certainly wouldn’t have arrived in the team so quickly. You leave a huge void in the editorial team that you always held together with your passion and sense of humor. Your comments and your advice will be greatly missed here. I hope you know how much we appreciated you. Farewell, we miss you dearly.

Cortyn

When MeinMMO was founded nearly 12 years ago by Dawid, you and I were the only staff. For me, it was no more than a side job during my studies. A simple way to write about my hobby and earn some money while doing it. For you, it was different. You had early on the ambition that I completely lacked.

You didn’t just want your own texts to be recognized more; you also wanted it for mine. And later for everyone else who joined in the years afterward. The conversations with you were often not just part of the job; they were part of my everyday life. They are something that is already missing now and will continue to be missed in the coming years. Even though it often took a long time for me to accept your ideas, you managed to constantly push me to evolve, and in the end, I can proudly say: That was good. That was better than before.

I can no longer count how many absurd stories, exciting tales, or silly memes I have seen in the last weeks and my first thought was: ‘I have to show this to Schuhmann!’ only to realize in the next second that the gray ‘offline’ mark next to your name will last forever. Without you, MeinMMO would not be where it is today. Without you, I would not be who I am today. You were the core essence of MeinMMO to me. And I hope we can all carry that forward in a way that makes you proud.

You will be missed, Schuhmann. And I believe I will need a while to understand how much.

Mary

Dear Schuhmann, 

Thank you. For everything. For your engagement in community management, for your dedication to giving players a voice every day, for the moments we talked about books or games, and someone always said “Write this down.” Thank you for your hidden compliments and your belief in each one of us. We miss you.

Jasmin

Dear Schuhmann, 

If I could speak to you one more time, I would love to tell you how grateful I am to you. Grateful that you always believed in me and supported me on my way to becoming an editor. You always made me feel like a valued member of the team. 

Your criticism was always tough but fair. You never made me feel that your criticism was personal, which is why I managed so well with your instructions and even enjoyed it when I could improve somewhere.

You leave a gigantic gap in the team that no one can fill. Whether as a boss, colleague, or good friend – you were there for everyone and had a sixth sense when someone was sad or agitated.

I will miss you and hold on to our last hug in my memory. Back then, it didn’t feel like a final goodbye, but now I know that I can no longer receive farewell hugs from you.

Benedikt

You accompanied and supported me every day in everyday life, but now you are simply gone. And it is incredibly difficult for me to fill this gap in any way.

You were always honest with me and never hesitated to tell me your opinion, even if it could hurt. Your honesty is missing in my everyday life and has also spared me from mistakes.

Thank you for your constant support; I will never forget that.

Niko

When I started writing for MeinMMO, I thought Schuhmann was a strict manager, but that idea changed after a short time.

He was not only passionate about the site but also about the colleagues. No matter whether one had been there for 8 years or just a few weeks. He taught me so much and also supported me. For that, I could never thank him enough.

Without Schuhmann, I would probably not be here now and could not do what I love professionally.

Even though you never really saw each other, he always created a team feeling where one felt well cared for. Bad jokes, of course, were also part of the deal.

What I will probably miss the most is the daily conversations about movies and series that we had last watched.

Benedict

With Schuhmann, we not only lose a colleague but also a friend and anchor point. I learned many things from him that I can do today, and still, there was always time to get lost in conversations about the biggest nerd topics ever. His advice enabled many works that I am especially proud of today. Therefore, I want to say something again that I too rarely said to him: Thank you.

Anna

Dear Schuhmann,

It is so hard for me to write these lines, as it feels unreal that you are no longer here. Since I started as a video producer at MeinMMO in October 2021, you have been an incredible support. You could be strict, but at the same time, you always had very encouraging words ready. And your sense of humor was unmatched – I always waited to see how you would react to certain things, as it always led to funny discussions. 

You were so much more than just a colleague. You were the heart of MeinMMO, the “king of headlines” with an unerring sense of topics. The gap you leave is enormous and impossible to fill. Every day feels like you’re just on vacation, and in every morning meeting, I wait in vain for your voice to open the day. 

The team event in 2024 was the last time we saw each other live. Your commitment to the team and your pride in us were incredible. We miss you immensely, dear Schuhmann. And if you’re watching us: We will do our best and continue to make you proud.

Cedric

When I first met Schuhmann, he told me directly how bad he found my headline. Because that was him: honest, direct, straightforward. That’s what set him apart. He never beat around the bush, clearly stated when he didn’t like something, and promoted wherever he saw potential.

His first words hit me like a board, but the last ones he directed at me were full of recognition. He said how much I had improved and how satisfied he was with my development. Just from him, whom I had always regarded as a true genius in his job, that was the highest compliment.

Schuhmann also persuaded me to write one or the other story or headline that I initially thought wouldn’t work. Yet, precisely through this impulse, some of my best articles emerged.

I am grateful to have had Schuhmann as a colleague. I will often think of him, especially when a headline simply doesn’t fit.

Max

Dear Schuhmann,

It has been about 7 years since I joined MeinMMO. In this time, I have learned an incredible amount. And so much of that is thanks to you.

You were omnipresent at MeinMMO. Countless headlines passed through your hands; ideas were sparked by you, stories brought to the table by you. It was not always easy to keep up with you. But I wish you would still keep us all on our toes.

I really enjoyed working with you, and I read your texts with great pleasure. Often I thought, “Okay, how do you make something out of this?” only to read your text and think, “Ah, that’s how you make something out of it.”

You were impressive. I will miss hearing your opinions on texts, ideas, and topics. An editorial day without you is almost unimaginable for me after all this time. Without you, this site wouldn’t be what it is, and neither would we as authors.

I hope you can look back proudly on what MeinMMO will become – from wherever you are now.

Caro

To Schuhmann,

Writing something like this text is extremely difficult for me. I have no idea where the right beginning or the right end is. Just a very cerebral thing, so I try (as you advised me) to approach it humanely, “because that reaches people!” – and hopefully, in some way, also you.

We didn’t know each other for long, but during this short time, we had conversations that meant a lot to me and still do. And the fact that even a short acquaintance can be so important to someone already speaks volumes. Your words do not fade into oblivion and are a constant companion. They came at the right moment, in the right way, and I hope I was able to make it clear to you how urgently I needed to hear some of these things and how grateful I am for them.

You cared about the smallest novice (me), asked questions, made (some bad to grandiose) jokes, helped, supported, and built up. And I am so incredibly grateful for that and hope that the authentic “Schuhmann way” stays alive through the editorial team and all those who had the privilege to accompany you. 

Take care, Schuhmann. Your legendary quotes will continue to adorn my workplace (and maybe a little the soul). We are thinking of you.

Johanna

Thank you for everything you were able to give me during the short time. You have sustainably inspired and motivated me. I will always remember you.

Linda

Sometimes there are people who only accompany you in life for a short time but still shape you forever. I can proudly say that you have become such a part of my life.

For a year and a half, I had the honor of working with you. From the beginning, you believed in me and saw something in me. Without us both perhaps realizing it, that was exactly what I desperately needed at that moment. For that, I will be eternally grateful to you.

The passion with which you practiced your craft was unmistakable and likely inspired everyone around you. Every time I was impressed anew by the apparent ease with which you could generate texts. How I would have liked to learn so much more from you. And how I would have liked to ask you for advice for this difficult text.

But all I can do, and will probably often do, is to ask myself, “What would Schuhmann do?” Maybe Schuhmann would talk about the relaxed but simultaneously honest and assertive manner that made you so special. Or he would muse over the many nerd discussions in which we loved to lose ourselves.

I just want to say one thing above all: thank you. Thank you for your trust, your honesty, and our time together, even if it was far too short.

Paul

When I read the terrible news, I couldn’t believe my eyes. All of a sudden, I felt a deep sadness and emptiness within me. I couldn’t believe what I had read. Yet even after reading the news for the third time, the words did not change. And neither did my feelings. In the last 1.5 years, I have so many times heard your voice. Read your words. Honored your ideas, creativity, and hints. And now it ends abruptly. Just like that. Out of the blue.

In the first morning conference after the news, everything felt different. Strange. Wrong. Although the conference was filled, a key person was missing. You. One could feel how everyone was waiting for your name to appear so you could open the conference. Yet your

voice was absent.

I thank you. For all the hints you have given me over the years. For all the articles we have worked on together in any way. For your warm and funny remarks in the conferences. For saying, “Have a good work day, take care.” For every smirk and every laugh you sparked in me.

Thank you. Thank you for everything.

Christos

Every beginning is difficult, and so is writing these farewell words to Gerd. I will miss the conversations with you when it comes to Bungie and what they messed up again. We were both among the last Destiny veterans in the team, and this loss came far too early and unexpectedly. Your heart always burned for this community, and I will honor that. I hope that wherever you are now, you have found your peace and watch over us.

Rest in peace, Gerd.