People started posting their condolences on Lee’s Facebook timeline so I guess it’s ok to post this note now.
Earlier this morning I received the sad news that my good friend and colleague at Microsoft, Lee Dirks, and his wife, Judy, were killed in a tragic accident in Peru. Their two daughters were in Seattle. Even now, I cannot process the news.
Lee was an amazing amazing guy. Larger than life.
We worked together in MSR, under Tony Hey, for almost three years but continued to be in touch (drink and play poker) even after that. I’d like to believe that Lee, Alex, and I produced some great work together. We had lots of fun collaborating and traveling around, working with communities in domains such as Scholarly Communication, Digital Libraries, Computer Science, Repositories, you name it. Lee and Alex introduced me to the wonderful world of Library/Information Science and great people around the world. Most importantly, I’d like to believe that we really connected… I would do anything for these guys.
Lee was one of those guys that was friends with everyone. HUGE smile! Always there for you!
My thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues.
We lost a really good guy today 🙁
Update
Here are some photos of/with Lee from the things we did together:
Sasquatch Festival with Mary and Shelton
Poker at my place
The Scholarly Communications trio (at an OCLC event🙂
Our Zentity project is announced to the world.
On the road to talk about Zentity (and eat and drink 🙂
13 responses to “RIP my friend – Lee Dirks”
I remember Lee well as a student in my English classes at Trinity. But especially I remember when he came into my office with a chunk of rock he had “liberated” from the petrified forest. He pushed the limits and is missed.
My heart is just breaking non-stop. We weren’t close but I knew him at Trinity (Hi, Dr. Kersnowski!) and I always remember him with a smile on his face and a bit of mischief in his eyes.
very sorry to hear about this – seems like a great guy. very sad.
Such a devastating shock. The loss of this dynamo of energy and ideas to the community, and the unspeakable tragedy that their children will grow up without them. Damn.
I am so sorry to hear this tragic news, Alex.
Lee was a mensch in every sense of the word. Just recently we spent some wonderful one on one time together on the cruise at the MS faculty summit, talking and laughing about life. At the end Lee gave me one of his warm, full handshakes, looked right into my eyes and assured me that the very big changes going on in my life were going to be wonderful for me and Sandy. A classic Lee moment It’s so hard to believe he is gone. What a loss!
My sincerest condolences go out to Lee’s family and closed ones and especially to his two daughters. I shall always remember his smiling face, calm nature and generous words.
On behalf of myself and the whole of the team at trust-IT we are thinking of you at this very sad time.
silvana & team at Trust-IT
I remember Lee from Trinity. Fantastic sense of humor and a wonderful laugh! As a mother of two daughters, my heart breaks for his small children and the rest of his family.
What terrible news. I remember meeting Lee (and you and Alex) for the first time at OR and again and again after that. He’ll be missed.
I’m in shock and so sad; our world is short one of its kind-hearted giants today.
Lee was an instructor of mine at the University of Washington iSchool a few years back and I remember we conversed about having children while I was taking his class because him and his wife had just became parents of their first daughter and I also had a small daughter. He wanted to be the best father possible and was just thrilled with this wonderful change in him and his wife’s life. I really liked Lee (as did all of my classmates). He was a very caring person and lots of fun to be around. My thoughts go out to him and his wife’s family.
[…] Sigh! 🙁 […]
[…] RIP my friend – Lee Dirks […]