It is with great regret that we need to confirm that Cynthia
Ashley-Nelson (User:Cindamuse,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Cindamuse ) passed away on Friday,
April 11. Our thoughts are with Cindy’s family, friends and the
Wikimedia community. Her next of kin have been informed prior to
releasing this announcement.
Cindy was elected vice-chair of the Wikimedia Affiliations Committee
on April 10, 2014. She had traveled to Berlin in order to attend the
Affiliations Committee’s annual meeting during the international
Wikimedia Conference. Both a long-time Wikipedia editor and an expert
in organizational development with a professional background of 25
years, she devoted her time, passion and vast expertise to contribute
in numerous ways to the free knowledge movement. Cindy was deeply
committed to supporting the Wikimedia Foundation’s Global Education
Program and to tackling the gender gap issue on Wikipedia.
In the short time since January that Cindy has been with us in the
Affiliations Committee, we have come to value her thoughts, passion
and refreshing ideas. She was working very enthusiastically with us,
and we are all saddened that we won’t have the chance to learn from
all of her ideas, insights and experiences. The months we shared
proved her to be a very valuable and engaged member of the committee,
which led to her election as AffCom vice-chair.
We are sad beyond words and so is everyone who came to Berlin to
participate in the Wikimedia Conference. Her passing is a great loss
for everyone in the Wikimedia movement. This morning all the
conference attendees gathered together to grieve and talk about the
loss of Cindy. We decided that all of us at the Wikimedia Conference
could choose to continue the conversations about the future of the
movement Cindy cared so much about, as well as spending our time here
to remember and celebrate her. She will be greatly missed.
You can share your condolences and memories of Cynthia on her user
talk page (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Cindamuse ).
On behalf of the whole Affiliations Committee, and the other community
members gathered here in Berlin:
Carlos Colina,
Chair, Wikimedia Affiliations Committee
Bence Damokos,
Outgoing chair, Wikimedia Affiliations Committee