Promoted by Steven D.
It is with sorrow that l post this, as a great voice is no longer with us here in the blogosphere. After a long struggle Steve passed away Saturday morning.
Lindsay Beyerstein photo
It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog (www.thenewsblog.net), passed away early Saturday morning, June 2nd. He was 41.
To those who have come to trust The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects and interest categories where others feared to tread.
We will post more information as it becomes available to us.
Please keep Steve’s friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.
Steve meant so much to us. We will miss him terribly.
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Steve’s writing at The News Blog was one of my first excursions into the world of the internet, political blogs, in particular, nearly 3 years ago. l found his voice, insights and analysis of the situation to be very compatable with my own thinking, but with an eloquence and directness of expression that left me in awe.
His voice will be missed, not only by me, but by all that had the fortune to read him.
Many have expressed their loss, but James Wolcott l think, says it most eloquently:
…after hearing the news of Steve Gilliard’s death. Where did that voice go? Not his literal voice, his voice in person or over the phone–he and I only met once. I mean his voice on the screen page, his blog voice, which was a fiery broadsword in its wrath and softly contemplative in its grief and understanding. …Nobody but nobody was more prophetic about how the invasion of Iraq threw open the gates of hell than Steve–he got it right when nearly everyone in the mainstream press and the entire rightwing blogsphere got it so triumphantly wrong. Somewhere somehow that voice must still be out there but it’s no longer for us to hear, which is why his friends and readers can only mourn and give thanks for what we once had and have now lost.
[…]
Tom Watson also has penned a fitting tribute, and compendium of links and tributes.
RIP Steve Gilliard.
PEACE
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Thanks Dada… though not bearing good news, alas. Someone’s gotta do it, right?
Kudos, my friend.
Front paged. Thanks dada.
thanks steven
lTMF’sA
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. . .
Steve’s blog was an almost daily stop for me for the last three years, even since he went into the hospital in February. The sporadic updates on his condition ran the gamut from cautious optimism to potential dread. When I fired up the computer Saturday evening and saw the news, I just sat there for a while staring at the screen in sadness and disbelief. He had been having tremendous struggles during his hospital stay. When his partner, Jen, announced recently that there would be no more updates on his website, it did not sound like this would have a positive outcome.
While I only knew Steve over the last 3 years through his writings, the tributes I have read over the last 48 hours given by those who knew him on a personal level make me even more sad that he is gone. Steve was a visionary blogger, a strong voice for the American people and someone who just didn’t believe in putting up with any bullshit. But what the tributes highlight are his humility and gentleness. Something which you might not have gotten from his “no holds barred” commentary. His insightful opinions, viewpoints and strength will not likely be replaced. We have lost a tremendous advocate for the cause.
My deepest condolences and wishes go out to his friends and family.
I don’t mean to come across as intrusive, but when someone under 70 whom I am interested in dies of natural causes, I like to know what they died of. Why are we told of struggles in the hospital but not what the nature of those struggles was? I spent several minutes yesterday doing a Google search but could find nothing. It’s bizarre.
Cause of death is not a private matter. Death certificates are in the public record.
My understanding is that Steve had been plagued with health problems for a number of years, though I don’t know the specific details of his afflictions. Those close to him might be able to shed some light on it, if they feel it appropriate. I don’t think there is anything mysterious or nefarious, though, about his death. It is just tragic. As you can see from pictures posted all over the net, Steve was a very large man. That does not necessarily mean anything, though when coupled with other types of health problems it can have a significant impact on your recovery from a major surgery such as what he underwent earlier this year that led to his death.
Perhaps there is more information available out there someone might wish to share. As for me, I am just saddened by his passing.
Alex, if you look back at Steve’s website over the last three months since his surgery you will see that Jen gave regular postings with as much information as she had available on his condition and what he was going through. He spent the entire time in ICU and apparently a fully sterile dress was required in order to even visit him due to his susceptibility to infection. She was only able to see him personally a couple of times and each time related as much information as she could into updating all the readers at the site with what was going on.
In the end, it was his immediate family who requested that information no longer be posted on his progress or condition. And that wish was respected by those working with him on the website.
Mike, thanks for clearing that up. I can’t figure out how to get to older posts at thenewsblog Web site. I hadn’t been following this that closely; I knew he had had surgery, but I didn’t realize that it was open heart surgery until just now, and I didn’t realize that he never recovered from it.
Alex, they might well have closed the archives. I haven’t checked on the status of those. I believe they are only going to keep the site open long enough to post a Guest Book for those wishing to pay respects or leave remembrances. That will be left up for 30 days. At that time the Newsblog.net site will be permanently closed.