Reply #133: You touched a lot more lives than the average hero, Kephra [View All]

I never knew the person, but I've been on DU a long time, and I knew the poster. The name Kephra on a post automatically meant we took it seriously. I'm not the type who holds grudges, and that's good, but the negative side of that is I don't often remember specific details on the good side about a person, either. Now, I find myself searching for one story or post or encounter with Kephra that would sum up the incredible sense of loss I'm feeling, we all are feeling. But my memory of him is so much more general, of a name on board, of an Egyptian eye that became the face that snapped into my head when I read his name, of a warm, comfortable, even proud feeling when I saw his name on the thousands upon thousands of posts. He was the argument against all of those who paint us as whackos. He was the hero of DU, and one of the glories of our DU family.

I'm so proud at this moment to be part of this incredible family, and I know how much of that family feeling came from Kephra, and the warm sense of identity he gave to DU. One of our DU family is gone, and not just anyone, but the most prolific, and one of the most beautiful, insightful, and thorough. No tribute can do him full justice, but the number of tributes, the number of posts acknowledging Kephra, mourning him, is a tribute in itself. He touched a lot of people. He truly lived a great life, influencing thousands upon thousands. He wasn't a celebrity, though, he was just family, and we all miss him and love him.

We must all remember his mother in our thoughts. She has lived the worst nightmare of any parent. Our grief is nothing compared to hers.