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The first Executive Director of the Commercial Internet Exchange. The 2nd Chairman of XDI.org. He was also the first Executive Director of the OpenID Foundation. He was a wonderful person. I will post his last letter here once more. We must take its words to heart as we move forward. R.I.P.

My friends,

First, I want to apologize for not having been in touch for so long. How can I possibly explain myself???

I have received the following diagnoses:
a) diastolic congestive heart failure
b) cardiac primary amyloidosis
c) multiple myeloma

I am now undergoing the 2nd cycle of chemotherapy. So far, the situation is not very good, and there has been little improvement. Of course, I do not know what will happen next, but in any case I am fighting as hard as I can. The problems of congestive heart failure and cardiac amyloidosis are irreversible, and medicine has not discovered any way to stop their progression, but I still intend to do everything I can.

I would like to catch up on what you are doing and talk about many things.

I am deeply grateful for you and respect you. Having entered a new phase of life, there is much I want to discuss. Put briefly, the necessity of our privacy, the management of personally identifiable information, and control over our online existence confronts me with ever greater and more undeniable urgency now that I have reached the final stage of life and am considering how I will leave this world.

Have a good day.

Your friend

 

It is with a sad heart that the news of Bill Washburn’s passing on June 22, 2014 is being shared with all of his connections, colleagues, acquaintances and friends.

Bill had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and cardiac amyloidosis in the spring of 2011. An avid runner and health enthusiast, the diagnosis came as a complete surprise.

Bill earned a PhD and Masters degree from Stanford University in Public Policy and Ethics and spent over two decades as a trust evangelist and strategist, moving between companies in Silicon Valley and London. His final position was Founding Executive Director of the Berkeley Mobile International Collaborative, located in Berkeley, CA.

Bill was the father of 3 sons and an avid fan of literature, music, dance meditation and gardening.
During the 3 years of his illness, Bill faced each challenge with his unique blend of courage, strength, grace and humor. He also dedicated a great deal of time and energy toward the writing and publishing of his first poetry book “Becoming William”. (available at lulu.com)At the time of his passing, Bill was deeply loved and living in Sonoma county with his partner of nine years, Anna Corba. He will be greatly missed.

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