# On grieving someone you never met #Well-Being *Last updated: November 2024* There is no easy way to grieve someone you’ve never met in real life. The crypto regen community recently lost a soul who dedicated themselves to elevating the lives of those around them—both in the physical and onchain worlds. I had never met Izzy in person. In fact, the most defining quality of his presence for me was his voice on our calls. It captured many dualities at once: upbeat and humble, persistent and patient, ambitious yet circumspect. I remember standing by the regen hub at Devcon when I heard the news. It felt like the walls were closing in around me. Our last exchange of messages was about a cycling trip he had signed up for but had to take a rain check on. Still, we had agreed to finally catch up at the conference. I’ve stared at that Telegram chat more times than I can count, each time grappling with the reality that the thread will never update again. Time has a stubborn way of pushing us forward when we most want it to pause. Just as you begin to confront the loss, life’s obligations—plans, commitments, meetings—pull you away from the space you need to process the hollow ache left behind. They say time heals wounds, but I believe it simply buries them, layer by layer. In the days that followed, I spoke with people who had been closer to Izzy than I ever was. Remarkably, they all remember him in ways that are strikingly similar—a testament to how open and authentic his life was. Each memory shared feels like a brushstroke that brings his essence into sharper focus. And may be, that's one way to grieve the loss and celebrate life of someone you have never met - a collective dialogue to reconstruct what they stood for and the inspiration they will continue to be for us to create the world they dreamt about. Go well Izzy, you owe me a ride on the other side.