Finding an old friend with no internet presence

duncan48

Hi, I've found this site so useful over the years for a variety of things. Not sure that this is even possible, but I am at a loss about what to do at this point.
I've arranged for 6 of a group of 7 of us who were great friends at University (nearly 30 years ago now) lived together etc, to meet up for an evening back in the city where we spent that time together. There is 1 guy who I can't get hold of and it would be a big shame. I've checked facebook obviously, no joy. We lost touch in early twenties, and in the age before social media that was so easy to allow to happen. Does anyone have any ideas about what I could do at this point? Six weeks today is the meet up, so still have enough time. I guess I can't be the first person to be in this situation . Thanks, Duncan

elsien

If you know where they were last living, posting on local Facebook or NextDoor group for the area to see if anyone knows anything? Do you know where their family were based or remember any family names? 

You wouldn’t  find me on social media because I don’t use my real name but my friends would probably recognise me and pass the message on. 

Although it is also possible that they’ve passed away, hence the lack of presence. 

Grumpelstiltskin

Have you tried LinkedIn?

Depending on what career path he took.

Brie

Phone books?  Online ones would be easiest (assuming actual paper ones still exist....)  Search of family names in the area he was from?

Line of business directory?  

University alumni association??

Emmia

I'm sorry to ask this, but have you tried their name + death notice as a search? How easy/accurate it will be will depend on the common-ness of their name though. 

I lost touch with my former partner, and one day I decided to see if I could look him up... curiosity more than anything. There was no online presence (which was odd, knowing him, as although he and I were together pre-facebook, he was someone who had his own website etc then - so would probably have been on LinkedIn at least)

His website had also reverted to the domain seller which made me consider the possibility he had died, and after a bit of searching, I found a death notice that had been published in NZ a few years previously. I'm almost certain was for him, as he had an unusual name, the age was right and he had connections to NZ...

Ms_Chocaholic

How common is their name - hope it's not Smith or Jones, apologies to anyone here with that surname, I am not being offensive but this will impact on the ability to search for them.

Misslayed

Have you tried just googling their name? If they are for example a CEO, general manager, in a client facing role in an organisation of some size, they are likely to be featured on that organisation's website. I once found a potential date (many moons ago!) listed as the chair of a Parish Council, another as a school governor. 

Ath_Wat

Ms_Chocaholic said:

How common is their name - hope it's not Smith or Jones, apologies to anyone here with that surname, I am not being offensive but this will impact on the ability to search for them.

Sorry, but how on earth could this be considered offensive?

Emmia

Ath_Wat said:

Ms_Chocaholic said:

How common is their name - hope it's not Smith or Jones, apologies to anyone here with that surname, I am not being offensive but this will impact on the ability to search for them.

Sorry, but how on earth could this be considered offensive?

I think she's worried that "common" could be interpreted negatively e.g. peasant.