steve cisler is gone

Steve's death came as a shock, but not a surprise. He had been fighting cancer for some time.

He was one of the kindest and most interesting people I've known. We first met in the early 90s doing some community networking and I was fascinated by his librarian - almost anthropological - approach to understanding the world.

There was nothing like traveling with him. Rank or station meant nothing and his fierce dedication to those without means was an inspiration to me. On a trip with him in 1996 it struck me that I was traveling with the first librarian of the Internet.

He convinced me that I should tithe time to causes and people I believed in. I have been doing this for years and it is the greatest gift he gave me.

I was his backoffice partner in the unconnected project. He was traveling and observing the unconnected and, to better understand things, kept himself from the Internet. Every few weeks I would get a memory card with his notes and images for posting on the blog. I have arranged that this blog will be hosted indefinitely.

I feel cheated - we should all feel cheated. Far too young.