According to operators of FreeNode.net, Rob Levin, who was the President of the Peer-Directer Projects Center which operates irc.freenode.net, has passed away in an accident. Slashdot has a summary here: http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/09/16/2152243
I've only interacted with lilo (his IRC nickname) a few times, but I have a long time connection to the FreeNode community. About 6 years ago, when it was still known as openprojects.net, I created a channel there for a website which I run. It grew very rapidly and then moved to another network, but I stayed with OpenProjects/FreeNode, where we started the #wikipedia IRC channel in December 2001.
Back then, it was often only 3 or 4 people who would hang out occasionally, while I'm now counting 263 people on the channel. Since then, the Wikimedia community has created countless other channels on the FreeNode network, which are invaluable to our commmunity on so many levels. Every now and then lilo would drop in and see how it goes.
Rob Levin was very much part of the fabric of FreeNode, and he helped turn it into a place that is generally pleasant and vibrant, a home for many, many open source and free content projects.
Fortunately, FreeNode will continue to operate. Truly, this vast international communication network is a powerful legacy. But lilo had many more ideas, and the passion and intellect to pursue them. His passing is a great blow to all who knew him and who worked with him, and a fatal personal loss for his loved ones.
I will miss him. :.-(