Mark,
My sympathies, unfortunately I know exactly how you feel.
I too suddenly had my best "Net" friend drop out of contact in the past month due to things beyond our control. Reasons were different than what happened with Snowy leaving GA (and you, as collateral damage), but the end result is the same. He's gone, leaving sadness and depression. I'm sure you'll work your way around to the other emotions if you haven't already; like being bewildered that such an important change could occur in your relationship without you being warned, feeling pissed off at the world because he's not there to share something you KNOW he would crack up over, wondering what you might have said to possibly change the current situation, realizing at the same time it was outside your control anyway and ultimately hoping contact will be re-established. It's a remarkably vulnerable time.
I can't tell you it gets any better, I'm not there yet and it's been just over 4 weeks. The sting of it has lessened slightly, but the raw emptiness has remained. I've since spent time online with some terrific people , yet not one person "gets" the whole of me like he did, just bits & pieces. We would often type the exact same words at the exact same time when IMing. Sometimes it happended 3 or 4x's in one evening alone, that's how well we knew each others thoughts and thought processes.
Reaching out to others has been the one thing that has saved my sanity these past weeks- that additional connection does help. If you ever feel like venting, give a shout. I'll know exactly where it's coming from. Been there, living that.
Kel