Darren Barefoot died of cancer this past Monday, Feb 20th. His company, Capulet Communications, which he ran with his wife Julie, has posted a public memorial https://capulet.com/2023/02/23/in-memorial-darren-barefoot/

Many in #Vancouver across the open web, marketing, and climate action will have known Darren for many years.

I wish we still had him with us as the world gets weirder and more complicated across people, tech, communications and more.

I will miss you, Darren.

#FuckCancer

In Memory of Darren Barefoot - Capulet Communications

Will it come like this, the moment of my death?  Will You open a door upon the great forest and set my feet upon a ladder under the moon, and take me out among the stars? “Fire Watch, July 4, 1952”– Thomas Merton Darren Kyle Barefoot died on February 20, 2023 following complications from metastatic […]

Capulet Communications
Darren’s own words are up as the last post on his blog https://darrenbarefoot.com/2023/02/25/they-were-all-splendid/
They Were All Splendid

Darren Barefoot died on February 20, 2023 following complications from metastatic cancer. Just weeks before he passed, Darren wrote this reflection on his life. I hope you find pleasure in it.

DarrenBarefoot.com

@bmann I can see his perspective. Similar moments for me were walking on the Great Wall of China, climbing to the top of the dome at St. Peters, being dazzled by the brilliance of the Taj Mahal, walking silently and alone in and around the caves at the base of Uluru.

And I also believe "that every person is doing their best all of the time. " That every person is the hero of their own story. And that the meaning of life is to be dazzled by the brilliance of it all.

@bmann Splendidly blogged all the way. Thanks for this. Just reread his Imagine post for Northern Voice, that spawned so many things I cannot list the full appreciation for. Blogging ought to be forever.
@bmann Wow! Incredibly sad! This is just devastating.
@bmann This is sad news. I used to enjoy commenting on the stuff he wrote on his old blog. He always had something interesting and relevant to say about the then new field of social media.

@Tribear I wish we had him with us as “social media” continues to mutate.

Sharing stories like “commenting on blogs” takes us back to simpler times. Thank you.

@bmann I knew the two of them through involvement in tiny independent theatre in Vancouver. He was always behind the scenes but had a keen eye for what worked and how to strengthen the presentation of the story.

Communications are involved in so much of the broad spectrum of life’s experiences. I’m glad to have had that experience of him a little bit.

@bmann Thank you for sharing this sad news and sorry for your loss of a friend and colleague. I don't think I ever met Darren, but read many of his blog posts and know that he payed a major role in the local (and global) community.
@bmann this is absolutely tragic news. Darren was such an intelligent guy and so active in the Vancouver tech community. I only know some of my best friends today thanks to events Darren was instrumental in organizing. My deepest condolences to Julie and his extended family.

@filmgoerjuan @bmann Truly such a loss on both a local and global scale.

One small project that sticks with me was something he did back in 2004, Flowers for Al and Don, which started simply as an effort to give fresh flowers to same-sex folks getting married in SF and ended up raising tens of thousands of dollars. Just the kind of guy he was, doing good for people.

Thank you for sharing the news.
#fuckcancer indeed

https://darrenbarefoot.com/2004/02/19/flowers-for-al-and-don/

Flowers for Al and Don

DarrenBarefoot.com
@bmann So sad.
Darren was the very first person I reached out to in the Vancouver tech scene many years ago so has a special place in my heart.
Condolences to you, Julie and his family & friends.
@bmann very sad news. I last saw Darren a couple of years ago as he was getting on a boat on Keats island. Lots of good memories from the early days of social media. He will be missed 😢
@bmann I always admired him and found him thoughtful, open, and wise Fuck cancer, indeed.
@bmann Oh, that’s sad news. I never met Darren but he was one of the OG movers and shakers when I fetched up here in Vancouver back in the early-oughts. Condolences to Julie and the rest of his family.
@bmann I have such fond memories of the first Northern Voice. What a time, what a guy.
@bmann Aww, man. Darren was good people, and will be sorely missed.
@bmann ...this is horrid. Absolutely horrid.
@bmann Well crap. I remember Darren as such a welcoming bright spot in the emerging northwest tech community. Fuck Entropy +∞
@bmann Was just reminded of Northern Voice 2007 in a throwback reel from a few days ago - I’m guessing I 1st met Darren there or at Vancouver Barcamp in 2006. Here’s the photo of our daughter hamming it up in the Bloggable tee from that Northern Voice that I still wear with affection.
@bmann @infil00p ah man, very sad news. I didn’t know him but of course knew *of* him and his positive presence here (and elsewhere!). It’s heartwarming to see all the kind messages and nice stories people have been sharing. <3