Ill health, family issues and financial distress can happen to anyone, as it apparently did to him.
Many years ago when working at a bike shop I ordered 6 custom bicycle frames from a superb framebuilder in my state.
About a year later after repeated calls and messages, I got a hand-written reply in a small envelope.
My inquiries as to delivery of our frames or return of our deposits were met with:
"At this point, basic psychological survival is my primary concern."
Cazalea