Seattle's First Blogger, Anita Rowland, Dead at 51

Anita Rowland, matriarch of Seattle bloggers, wife and fantastic human being lost her fight with cancer yesterday. Anita was writing about her life and posting it on the web before there was a word for that kind of thing, and her real-world blogger meetups fostered a strong sense of community in an electronic medium that can be cold and isolating without friendly face-to-face contact. She'll be missed by many, as can be seen at her husband's memorial site.

Some people shine so brightly they light the way for others; Anita was such a person. Having that light snuffed out so soon is a loss to the world.

Anita, we love you. We will miss you forever.

If you knew Anita or she touched your life in some way -- something that applies to many, many people -- please leave a comment with some memory of her here.