Gardner Dozois, long-time editor of some of the most notable SF anthologies of our times and noted writer in his own right, has passed away. He was 71. The SFWA page has a great tribute to him and a much better summation of his achievements than I could manage.
Designer Kate Spade was found dead in her apartment of an apparent suicide. Her retro-inspired fashion in the 90's inspired a lot of other designers, and for a while she was an entrepreneurial role model for other designers as well...especially women. She had a reputation of being welcoming to newbie designers and taking them around Paris to dine when they couldn't afford it.
Newspaper says she even left a note. Suicide is such a terrible way to go. Everyone left behind deals with confusion and guilt...damn.
Dammit dammit dammit and fuck!!!!!! We're losing so many amazingly talented people to suicide. Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain in the same. fucking. week. And L'wren Scott a couple of years ago. And Robin Williams. All my favorites are taking their lives. Ugh... ETA: By hanging! Reports are that he hanged himself too. Dammit!!!!!!! I'm going to post a link to CNN's How to Get Help for Someone Who May Be Suicidal article in the Not Happy Thread, if that's OK, @minstrel (ETA Done.) I still think the Forum should have a sticky thread of resources in the US and UK since creative people fall victim to it. edited to include the CNN article link here, too, and, as a tribute to Bourdain, the article he wrote for The New Yorker that launched his second career: Don't Eat Before Reading This --by Anthony Bourdain
I don't know if it's because there's something fundamentally wrong with me or what, but I don't really have any feelings one way or another when a celebrity, someone I don't know personally, dies. But, losing Anthony Bourdain has touched me a bit. I'm not sure why.
I f*cking hate hotel rooms, designed for suicide. Then I took a shower and looked at myself in the eleven mirrors. My god I am sixty-one years old. I put on my jacket and headed to meet the guys I hate. I ate steak. I hate steak. All I eat is steak. Beer, beer and beer. Then I returned to my cell. I tried to masturbate. I woke up and took a shower. I looked in the eleven mirrors.
I just caught an article about that and holy shit. On the face of things I couldn’t see anything that would steer a person in his position to think suicide.
I think that's why so many of us are shaken by it, N.S.. If that badass guy who seemed to have everything to live for could have that one terrible moment...It's scary as hell. He'd previously beat heroin. Poor guy must have been in terrible, terrible pain to have self-medicated to that level.
I will admit to not being bothered by most deaths - celebrity or not. It doesn't change the fact that its sad for the people left behind, but it doesn't effect me personally. The only death that had me cutting onions was Robin Williams. I grew up with his movies and felt like I lost an uncle or something. I know, illogical, but it is what it is. Also felt horrible for his daughter and the treatment she got online pissed me the fuck off. Anyway, RIP Anthony Bourdain.
Samuel Tom Holiday, one of the last surviving Navajo Code Talkers. There may be fewer than ten of them left.
Reinhard Hardegan, the German u-boat commander who sunk ships at the mouth of New York harbor, as well as the Cyclops, has died at age 105. 75% of German submariners didn't survive the war. 
Koko the gorilla passed away. She was a fascinating creature, I hope on the other side she gets to see her favorite comedian again.