I was just informed that Neil Braithwaite - known better to most of us as `randomcasualty - passed away a few days ago. I know not from what, but I'm told he was a victim of cancer. Really, there's very little I know about the circumstances, but I'm in the process of learning when any services will be, where I can send flowers, and so on. Here's what I do know, however:

I brought `randomcasualty on to staff a long time ago as one of the first help staffers. He was a massive help in reforming the customer service reputation for the company with regards to the website, since prior to his efforts and those of his team mates, help desk requests were responded to whenever people had the time to.

He was an easy candidate for the team because, if you recall, Neil basically was the only real FAQ deviantART had for a time - the official one was static and vastly outdated. Once he joined DA staff, I worked with him and some of the developers to produce the first official FAQ system, which Neil introduced his material into and managed heavily for a time. I have no way of verifying any more, but I expect that much of what you will find in the FAQ at +help today is the result of his efforts.

As time marched forward, Neil grew more distant from the site. My understanding was that the pressures of life outside DA were simply leaving him with less and less time to contribute here. This is, anyway, what he told me. I never knew the seriousness of his condition (or even that he had cancer at all) until now; if it was the cause of that drift, I can appreciate that as well.

In January, deviantART, Inc did some internal reorganization and, as the new Director of Artist Relations, I needed to tighten up the bolts so to speak, and I was put in a position where I had to remove a number of people from staff. By that time, Neil was spending much more time away from DA than he was at DA and we agreed that he would leave staff at that time.

I didn't have a great deal of contact with Neil since then. Like any human being, I had my own set of things to carry on about and I never really had much of an opportunity to catch up with him. I regret that. I hope, however, that he was able to spend his last few months with his family, and I will always remember the lasting changes he helps pioneer here at deviantART.

Neil was more than a senior member, more than a staff member. He was a part of this community, and the role he played was by no means small. As a community, we have dealt with loss before. Personally, however, never has someone who had been so near to me, someone whom I worked on this site with so closely left us in this sense.

I pray he has found peace in death and is now privy to the answers to a host of mysteries that will haunt you and I for years to come.

"Words are kind, they helped ease the mind of this, my old friend. And though you gotta go we'll keep a piece of your soul. One goes out; one goes in." - Jack Johnson, If I Could.

Appreciate life today.
Appreciate life tommorrow.
And the day after that, come back and read this again.