Aaron Swartz (1986—2013)
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.
