It is with a sad mind and a heavy heart that I have to report that Ed Smith (@EdSharp) has passed away. Ed, a longtime consultant with Sogeti, was successfully forging ahead as an independent consultant when his life was unexpectedly cut short. A member of the Cincinnati .NET Users' Group (CINNUG) and the Cincinnati Software Architecture Special Interest Group (CINARCH) since 2008, Ed was a valuable part of our community, contributing knowledge, camaraderie, and a quick wit to conversations (technical or otherwise). Beyond our official meetings, I know Ed was a friend to many of our members. He will be greatly missed.
One of the family's wishes is for donations to be made to either Taylor University or the Cincinnati Zoo. As such, CINNUG will be collecting donations for the Ed Smith Memorial donation for the Cincinnati Zoo. Please contact myself or any of the other directors (Mike Wood, Matt Brewer, or Jen Griffin) through the contact form at http://cinnug.org/blog/contact.aspx if you are interested or need more information. We will also have donation boxes at all of our meetings starting with our Dec 17th game night and continuing through all CINNUG and CINARCH meetings and events through the end of the March, 2010, and be taking donations via PayPal available as well (details to be worked out still).
Funeral services will be held this Saturday, Dec 5, at the Evangelical Community Church 2191 Struble Rd. 2 PM (friends may call as early as 1:00). Ed's online obituary can be found here: http://is.gd/5b3XR.
Please keep Ed's wife Darcey, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and all other family and loved ones in your prayers during this difficult time.
So long Ed, and rest in peace.
Phil Japikse
Lead Director, Cincinnati .NET User's Group