Slashdot Mirror

Several Debian Developers have submitted this, and I'm sorry for the delay. I just didn't want to rush something like this: Joel Klecker has passed on. I never knew his real name, but as Espy, he answered lots of dumb questions for me on IRC over the years. The Internet makes connections between people from around the world, but from opposite sides of a dozen routers, many things... like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy aren't readily apparent. I've attached a more complete comment about this from SquadBoy if you follow through. The Debian 2.2 release will be dedicated to Espy. The dedication also is attached.

This is the first public announcement of this intention. Some may notice two new files in our archive (or on mirrors) and on the new Test Cycle 3 CD's. This is a dedication of this release to a recently daparted member of our Project, Joel Klecker, who died unexpectedly at age 21. Here is the dedication (which also appears below)

You will also find a file with it called dedication-2.2.sigs.tar.gz, which contains close to 200 PGP signatures from our developers for the dedication.txt.

Joel's death was the result of a life long battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Information for donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association can be found here and will be greatly appreciated (please make donations in Joel's name, if you so desire):

Sincerely,
Ben Collins

The contents of the dedication follows

Dedicated to Joel 'Espy' Klecker

On July 11, 2000, the Debian Project, and the Free Software Community as a whole, lost a very dear friend and developer. For most of Joel's life he had been fighting a disease known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Since July of 1997, Joel has been a Debian developer, and for most of that time was bed-ridden because of this disease. Joel was 21 when he died, far from the ripe age we imagine most people in our field will reach. His great dedication to the project is an inspiration to us all, and will never be forgotten.

He was known by most of us as "Espy", his IRC nickname, and also as the outspoken voice we heard on the mailing lists, never afraid to speak his mind in a way that only Joel could do, with humor and directness. He maintained a level of excellence in many important packages for Debian. His expertise and knowledge was never questioned. Those of us who have the honor of carrying on the work that he has done for us, will try to maintain it to his degree of technical perfection.

Most of us had no idea the trials that Joel endured every day of his life. Not until near the end did any of us know he even had this disease. Only now are we realizing his dedication, and the friendship that he bestowed upon us. So as a show of our appreciation, and in memory of his inspirational life, this release of Debian is for him.

* The "Joel 'Espy' Klecker" release

-- The Debian Developers