====== In Memoriam ======
This page is for the remembrance of pioneering and influential people in the BBS community that have passed on((so called "silent keys" in the Amateur Radio world)).

===== Steve Deppe =====
[[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fresnobee/obituary.aspx?n=steven-brent-deppe&pid=171858004|Steven Brent Deppe (May 22, 1958 - July 10, 2014)]] A.K.A. [[person:Ille Homine Albe]]

Early contributor to Synchronet BBS Software and mentor to [[person: Digital Man]].

===== Chuck Forsberg =====
[[wp>Chuck_Forsberg|Charles Alton "Chuck" Forsberg (May 6, 1944 – September 24, 2015)]]

Inventor of [[wp>YMODEM]] and [[wp>ZMODEM]] file transfer protocols.

===== Kenny Gardner =====
[[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/orangecounty/obituary.aspx?pid=193404947|1954 - 2019]]

Developer of [[http://web.archive.org/web/20260308025027/https://www.gapbbs.com/|GAP BBS Software]] and the [[ref:DOOR.SYS]] file format.

===== Marion "Jack" Rickard =====
[[https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/mo/cape-girardeau/marion-jack-rickard-11373892|July 24, 1955 - August 31, 2020]]

Publisher of [[wp>Boardwatch Magazine]] and co-creator of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZndB0vwavkM|ONE BBSCON]].

===== Randy Suess =====

Randy John Suess (January 27, 1945 - December 10, 2019)

[[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/technology/randy-suess-dead.html|Randy Suess, Computer Bulletin Board Inventor, Dies at 74]]

===== Wynn Wagner III  =====
Winfield "Wynn" Wagner, A.K.A. [[http://web.archive.org/web/20240926183831/https://rikwallin.com/|Sven Andréas Wallin]] (January 18, 1951 - May 23, 2018)

Original developer of [[http://www.thefullwiki.org/Opus-CBCS|Opus-CBCS]] and contributor to important BBS standards, like FOSSIL ([[http://software.bbsdocumentary.com/IBM/DOS/OPUS/opushist.html|history]]).

===== Mark "Sparky" Herring =====
Mark Herring, contributor to PCBEcho, author of QMail and creator the QWK packet format died in April 2020 [[https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/22/qwk_swatting_death/|as the result of a fake-swatting incident over his @Tennessee Twitter handle]].

===== Mike Woltz =====
Michael David Woltz DECEMBER 22, 1945 – DECEMBER 20, 2022

Author of [[wp>Spitfire_(BBS) Software]]

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/west-des-moines-ia/michael-woltz-11072625

===== Ward Christensen =====
Ward Christensen (October 23, 1945 – October 11, 2024) was the co-founder of the CBBS bulletin board, the first bulletin board system (BBS) ever brought online.
[[https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/15/ward_christensen_obit/|Obituary]]

===== Janis Kracht =====
Long time Fidonet sysop and past Z1C passed away on October 21, 2024 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
[[https://www.perkinsfh.com/obituary/Janis-Kracht|Obituary]]

===== John Friel III =====
[[wp>Qmodem]] author and Mustang Software employee [[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42551900|died December, 2024]].

===== Ruben Figueroa =====
SysOp of Prison BBS. Ran multiple bbses on a variety of platforms(Synchronet/Mystic/Wildcat!). NC of Net 124 in Region 19. Used the handle "Zazz". Ruben passed away on January 27, 2025 at the age of 73.
[[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/mesquite-tx/ruben-figueroa-12222109|Obituary]]

===== Brian “Hawk” Hubbard =====
Hawk Hubbard passed away on June 27 2024. Hawk was known for his BBS Piranha and later Under the Black Flag and ACiD Underground. What Hawk was probably most noted for was his contribution to the ANSI/ASCII art scene, with his work appearing on many bulletin boards and in various message groups. Hawk, also known as "The Captain" was a very proficient fiddle player. 

https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/obituaries/psbn0891799

===== See Also =====
  * [[:history:|history index]]

{{tag>memorial}}
