RIP Hugh Daniel, Hacker

[beamjockey]

Hugh Daniel has passed away. He was a good friend for more than three decades

Comments

[serge_lj]

He was an awesome fellow, it looks like.

[andybeals]

He was. He most assuredly was.

[apostle_of_eris]

Thank you for your initiative. I wouldn't know how to find his family.

[beamjockey]

Actually, Hugh's cousin, whom I have met a few times, called me. Which was very thoughtful of him.

[wyld_dandelyon]

Oh, no! What happened?

[beamjockey]

We don't yet know. His housemate found him.

One of his friends said he exchanged messages with Hugh about 6:30 Monday morning, at which point he said he was going off to sleep. As you may know, Hugh often kept irregular hours, so an early-morning bedtime wouldn't be too unusual.

I imagine we'll hear more eventually.

[andybeals]

"Heart attack" is what's floating about.

[figmo]

I heard that, too. Steven Silver posted that on sfsite.com. I don't know what his source was, though.

I'm still in shock. Like you and Bill, I knew him for over 30 years.

[ext_1939659]

According to one fan site, he died of a heart attack. The world is a colder, sadder, and lonelier place now.

Hugh's death reminds me of the volcanic destruction of Mt. St. Helens; for years after I would look up as I headed north on Barbur Blvd., looking to see the perfect ice cream cone mountain ahead of me - and it was no longer there. Hugh was a force of nature, and like the mountain, it seems impossible that he is gone.

I met him through my husband, Michael McClary, who had known Hugh since the early days of the Ann Arbor Computer Club. Time spent with Hugh was always fascinating, enlightening, and amazing. Only a couple of weeks ago he called us on the phone and he and Michael and I spoke for quite a while; the range of subjects went the gamut from one end to the other. To realize that we shall never have such a conversation again in this life is depressing; to realize that all he had to contribute, to do, to enjoy is gone is an unbelievably sad experience.

[beamjockey]

Thanks for your thoughts.

A lot of families are feeling the same way you are. Hugh was an occasional guest here at the Nuclear Arms, where we'd have the same kind of wide-ranging conversations you describe.

[cannibal]

Bill, anyone, please talk about Hugh if you make the "Fans who built the Internet" panel at the NASFiC, 10pm thurs the 17th. McClary too!

[ext_1942004]

I knew hugh for as long as I could remember. It's saddening he's gone.

I heard about it via Kabuki Duke yesterday, once I collected my thoughts I wrapped up some thoughts over on my blog ( http://indrora.tumblr.com/post/52189871663 )

He was definitely one of the most pragmatic, interesting people I've met. The world is quieter, if not out of respect for him. I'll never forget the occasions he spent with my family when I was younger.

[beamjockey]

I appreciated reading your blog entry about Hugh.