Terry Gillett

[Steve Song]

Hi all,

I have some heartbreaking news to share.  I learned today that Terry Gillett passed away last Saturday after a 3 year battle with cancer.  Anyone who has been in this community for any length of time will know what a kind, selfless, and generous person Terry was.  He shared his considerable expertise with everyone and was willing to support anyone who asked for help.  He was what any open source project dreams of having; a brilliant, committed and generous contributor. But he was more than a contributor.  We became friends as we worked through the many challenges that Village Telco faced.  It is safe to say that Village Telco would not have even gotten out of the gate without his help.  He was also just fun to talk to.  We only met in person a few times but had no end of chats, emails, and calls.  I could not have asked for a better ally and friend in the work we did. 

After Village Telco was wound up, we stayed in contact with his work on the Digital Library Project.  He continued to use his considerable expertise in developing affordable access to knowledge in unserved regions.  I don't know that I have ever met a more decent human being.  Perhaps there is a comfort in knowing that he lives on in the many, many people he touched with his work.  I shall miss him dearly.  If there is a tribute we may make to him, perhaps it is to embody his generosity of spirit in helping others. 

I'd like to post a small tribute to him on the Village Telco website sharing some of the experiences of the community.  If you have something you would like to share, please feel free to send something here to the list. If you would like to contact Terry's wife Margaret to share your condolences directly,  please write to me off-list and I will share her email address.  I am not posting it directly here to respect her privacy.

Wishing you all love and and strength.

-Steve

[copycall]

steve,

so sad to read this news.

he was everything you described, kudos to you.

yes, his self-less altruism was obvious and the world lost another good guy.

there are not enough of them.

thank you for sharing this and i wish you the best.

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[Joe Bunefa]

Hi Steve,

I'm really really sorry and what a sad news to hear. I Am really saddened to hear this. Rest easy champ Terry. Thank you for your support in my project for ELibrary in Papua New Guinea.

Joe Bunefa
(Chief Technical Officer)
sa...@wagavewireless.com

Wagave Wireless Limited
P.O. Box 3593, BOROKO, NCD
Papua New Guinea
Ph: +675 3401088
Mobile : 76876175 / 71573839 / 78080858         

WhatsApp/Telegr: +675 71573839
Skype ID:  bunefaj
Authorised Agent/Distributor & Partner for NComputing Inc/ TrueCafe /Kacific Unlimited Internet
Global/Isibox E-Library /Isilink WiFi Zone/ Isi Local Phone Systems/Usakumpa Slim PC 

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[Morris Kabuye]

That is so sad, I last exchanged emails with him when he offered to send me 2 digital library devices from Australia, which he did and went all the way to send them through London to Uganda. I was shocked at his generosity and commitment!

Indeed the ripple he created lives on, yes even here in Uganda as I implement that tech.

Rest in peace friend, you have run a good race!

Morris Kabuye

Uganda

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/village-telco-dev/CALFV75sZoPQ3ZT_YNFTanQoELDgRJFYBsijnq%2Bv_gYdMLqHdgA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Morris Kabuye]

Hi Steve - Morris here from Uganda, yes I would love to get in touch with the wife and encourage her. Her husband was a miracle to me.

Morris

[Abdoulaye Siby]

Thank you for sharing this information, Steve. It's a sad news indeed.

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (We belong to Allah, and to Him we return.). May you rest in peace in heaven, Terry. You will be missed but not forgotten, and you will be in my prayers.

I have never met Terry in person. But I have interacted with him several times in the context of the Mesh Potato project. He was the go-to person for anything related to the SECN firmware. His availability and generosity have positively affected how I give back to Open Source projects and communities.

I am grateful for having been influenced by such a wonderful person. We need more people like Terry.

Thank you all for your kind words.

God bless you.

Abdoul

[Elektra]

Hi Steve and all -

thanks for letting us know this sad news!

Unfortunately we met only online through emails and chats and not in person. Through our contact and cooperation during active firmware development time I know that he was a humble, kind and generous man that has worked a lot on helping people around the world out of generosity, inspired by the idea of open source and commons.

We are really only dead if nobody remembers us anymore. This way, Terry is going to live on.

My condolences to his friends and family. If you like, feel free to share this email with them.

Big hugs,
Elektra

[Steve Song]

There is now a post on the Village Telco site at https://villagetelco.org/2023/08/in-memory-of-terry-gillett/   Terry's family have also set up a remembrance page at https://www.terrygillett.com/

[Keith Williamson]

Steve, Elektra, and all,

I was shocked and very saddened by the news of Terry's passing. While I never got to meet him in person, we collaborated daily for a couple of years. He had such a positive "can do" attitude along with a great deal of talent and passion..always an absolute pleasure to work with. His accomplishments have meant so much to so many and he will be sorely missed. by me and scores of others. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends.

Warm regards to all,

Keith

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[kent]

Dear All,

Like Keith, I never met Terry. But also, he worked with me since roughly
the beginning of the Digital-Library project. He was generous in giving
detailed explanations, and nearly always responded "next day." He was
extremely helpful bringing me along. Always insightful and quite
diplomatic from both technical and end-user usage perspectives.

He was a mentor to me.

I'm saddened to hear of his death.

Rest in Peace, Terry.

Love to all,

Kent

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