In memory of Ed Yeung, fabulous person extraordinaire, I ask you all to be a little nicer to someone today and look at things a little more positively even if it’s implausible or even causes physical pain.
My heart goes out to Ed’s friends and family. I hope that their pain eases gently with time. He was a amazing guy and his passing leaves a big, Ed-shaped hole in the universe.
I worked with Ed when I was in Vancouver. He came in early for the 6 a.m. shift and I came in early to try to juggle Eastern and Pacific time zones to get my job done. He had an exothermic good attitude and was generally an excellent influence on this jaded IT chick from New England. He was easy to talk to about everything. We’d chat in the kitchen or I’d get side-tracked at his desk (which was between my office and my team’s pod of desks). Ed would have a good question or perspective on the evils of our job politics or just an encouraging smile when I needed it. I’d ask after his friends for whom he cared so much. Ed was one of those genuine, wonderful, caring people who passes through your life and reminds you that it’s good to be nice and that the world can be a better place. He was part of my “West Coast transformation” and probably never knew it. I am grateful he wandered through my life and deeply saddened that he will not be able be such a good influence on everyone.
So, brighten someone’s day or make it a little easier. Together we might be able to make up for the bright light the world lost when Ed passed away last month. And if it it works, maybe we can do it again tomorrow.
tags: be nice, ed yeung, in memoriam
