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There’s a photo of Aaron Swartz from many years ago that is forever etched in my mind. Aaron was just a child then, and he’s sitting with one of my heroes, Lawrence Lessig.

I was a university student back then, and working on our little start-up called Vesess. I felt small in front of Aaron. I still do.

In his brief life, Aaron has created, achieved, and shared more than most of us ever will. He was a genius, and a hero of our time.

I cannot hope to write better than Tim Berners-Lee:

Aaron is dead.

Wanderers in this crazy world,
we have lost a mentor, a wise elder.

Hackers for right, we are one down,
we have lost one of our own.

Nurtures, careers, listeners, feeders,
parents all,
we have lost a child.

Let us all weep.

timbl