Robin "Roblimo" Miller, a Long-Time Voice of the Linux Community, Has Passed Away (wikipedia.org)

Reader rootmon writes: Our thoughts/prayers are with the family and friends of long time open source writer/journalist Robin "Roblimo" Miller who passed away this morning. Robin "Roblimo" Miller (born October 30, 1952) served as the Editor-in-Chief of Open Source Technology Group, the company which owned Slashdot, SourceForge.net, Freshmeat, Linux.com, NewsForge, and ThinkGeek between 2000 to 2008. Miller formerly owned Robin's Limousine, a small limo company based in Elkridge, Maryland, the origin of his online nickname. Miller is best known for his involvement with Slashdot, where he was not only the corporate editorial overseer but also Interview Editor.

As a freelancer, Miller wrote for a number of print and online publications including Time.com, Baltimore City Paper, American Medical News, Innkeeping World, Machine Design, The Baltimore Sun, and Rewired.com. Miller is the author of three books: The Online Rules of Successful Companies, Point -- Click Linux!, and Point -- Click OpenOffice.org, all published by Prentice Hall. His most recent ventures revolved around Internet-delivered video, including video software "tours" and tutorials on Linux.com and his recent "side" venture, Internet Video Promotion, Inc. Miller has been a judge for the Lulu Blooker Prize and is on the online advisory board of the Online Journalism Review of the Annenberg Center for Communication at the University of Southern California. (Biographical Info Quoted in Part from Wikipedia) Further reading: Linux Journal: RIP Robin "Roblimo" Miller.

Remembering Miller, ZDNet journalist S. Vaughan-Nichols wrote, "He was funny, bright, quick with a quip, caring, and wise. I, and many others who had the pleasure of knowing him, will miss him enormously." Paul Jones, Clinical Professor at the School of Information & Library Science, and Director of ibiblio.org, wrote, "Robin taught me many things, besides the immense gift of his friendship, including 'the way to make money on the internet is to take on more than you spend.' Both funny and accurate in context and very much true to roblimo." Writer and engineer Emmett Initiative said, "He was my editor, which means he was my best friend and worst enemy. He was a kind and thoughtful man that made every writer around him at least 300% better. I already miss him."

Comments

This sux.

[Grog6]

I for one, fondly remember the early days of Slashdot, where a single story could completely DDOS a website, creating the Slashdot Effect.

In his honor, I'm going to pour hot grits down Natlie Portman's pants.

Who's with me? :)

(just joking, Miss Portman; please don't send the Mossad after me)

RIP, RobLimo. :(

Re:This sux.

[Ami Ganguli]

I'm with you.

RIP RobLimo. Thanks for the memories. Obsessively reloading Slashdot was once a huge part of my life.

Dear Slashdot management

[Anonymous Coward]

People like Roblimo and CmdrTaco put a ton of hard work and enegry into building Slashdot into what it once was. They obviously cared about their work beyond simply turning a profit. Please honor their work by keeping your promises to rebuild and improve Slashdot. You've made a lot of promises and users are sincerely hoping you'll finally start to keep them.

RIP Roblimo

It's sad to hear that a former editor from when I started reading this site has passed away. I remember what Slashdot was then, and those are fond memories.

Re: Dear Slashdot management

[Anonymous Coward]

Looking at the kind of ads mainstream tech outlets such as CNET and Engadget show on their websites, you have to acknowledge that Slashdot is in a much better state. The first thing the management did was remove video ads from the website, remember? Don't lose faith.

Re: Dear Slashdot management

[whipslash]

Thanks. It's not like I'm not constantly thinking of ways to improve. I have a list. It's a matter of resources. We've been focusing on getting SourceForge profitable so that we can then deploy those resources into improving Slashdot. We're almost there.

RIP

[axehind]

Met him around 2002-2003 timeframe when we both worked at OSDN. He was a bright and funny guy.

Sad for such a 'young' man

[Teun]

One day we will all pass away and those left behind will grieve but at his age it is an even more sad occurrence.
I wish his family and friends strength and thank Robin for all the good he did.

The Old Days

[pi_rules]

As a tribute to the days of early Slashdot I suggest we post this article to the site no less than 4 times over the next 8 days. It's not what Roblimo would have wanted but it's probably what he would have done.

Re:Frosty RIP

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Rob was what you might call a real mensch. Smart and a real sweetheart. I knew him personally, tho' not exceptionally well.

We shared close mutual friends, some going back more than 30 years.

RIP, Rob. Thank you.

Re:Frosty RIP

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Look at all the low UIDs who never post anymore, coming out with remembrance and farewell for Roblimo.

Thanks for all the fish.

so long

[citylivin]

I always remember him as one of the better and less offensive submitter / editors.

Looks like he last posted in 2016 here

"The future's good and the present is nothing to sneeze at."

Sure its taken out of context (he was talking about linux audio editing) but i think its a nice optimistic quote to have as your last post.

Goodbye, Robin!

[Bruce Perens]

Robin was friendly and helpful and took his work as a journalist seriously. His work had worldwide impact, a fact that wasn't always appreciated. Robin and I corresponded often online, and I had the pleasure to meet him in person several times, and to be introduced to his charming wife once. Goodbye, Robin!