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Aaron Swartz Obituary
Aaron Swartz, 26, hanged himself in his Brooklyn apartment weeks before he was to go on trial on accusations that he stole millions of journal articles from an electronic archive in an attempt to make them freely available.
He was pronounced dead Friday evening at his home in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood, said Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for New York's chief medical examiner.
Swartz was a prodigy who as a young teenager helped create RSS, a family of Web feed formats used to gather updates from blogs, news headlines, audio and video for users. He later co-founded Reddit, which ended up being sold to Conde Nast, as well as the political action group Dema nd Progress, which campaigns against Internet censorship.
In 2011, he was arrested in Boston and charged with stealing millions of articles from a computer archive at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Prosecutors said he broke into a computer wiring closet on campus and used his laptop for the downloads.
Swartz pleaded not guilty to charges including wire fraud. His federal trial was to begin next month. If convicted, he faced decades in prison and a fortune in fines.
Some legal experts considered the case unfounded, saying that MIT allows guests access to the articles and Swartz, a fellow at Harvard's Safra Center for Ethics, was a guest.
According to a federal indictment, Swartz stole the documents from JSTOR, a subscription service used by MIT that offers digitized copies of articles from academic journals. Prosecutors said he intended to distribute the articles on file-sharing websites.
He faced 13 felony charges, including breaching site terms and intending to share downloaded files through peer-to-peer networks, computer fraud, wire fraud, obtaining information from a protected computer, and criminal forfeiture.
JSTOR did not press charges once it reclaimed the articles from Swartz.
The prosecution "makes no sense," Demand Progress Executive Director David Segar said in a statement at the time. "It's like trying to put someone in jail for allegedly checking too many books out of the library."
Criticizing the government's actions in seeking to prosecute Swartz, Harvard law professor and Safra Center faculty director Lawrence Lessig called himself a friend of Swartz's and wrote Saturday that "we need a better sense of justice. ... The question this government needs to answer is why it was so necessary that Aaron Swartz be labeled a 'felon.'"
Among Internet gurus, Swartz was considered a pioneer of efforts to make online information freely available.
"Playing Mozart's Requiem in honor of a brave and brilliant man," tweeted Carl Malamud, an Internet public domain advocate who believes in free access to legally obtained files.
Swartz aided Malamud's effort to post federal court documents for free online, rather than the few cents per page that the government charges through its electronic archive, PACER. In 2008, The New York Times reported, Swartz wrote a program to legally download the files using free access via public libraries. About 20 percent of all the court papers were made available until the government shut down the library access.
Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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191 Entries
August 18, 2019
What a tragic loss of an all too rare, beautiful free thinking mind,voice and spirit. Selfless in his actions and intent. Not forgotten.
nancy nieves
April 9, 2018
God Bless you, Aaron, So sad to just now learn of your passing and how much you contributed to making this world a better place. I wish I had had the opportunity of making your acquaintance just to thank you for being a GOD sent angel-rest in peace, beautiful soul. To Aarond Mom, Dad, and two Brothers, I am deeply sorry for your loss, My prayers will always include your family as well as Aaron. God Bless all of you!
Harry Simpson
January 11, 2018
Godspeed Aaron....
A B
January 9, 2018
Thinking about you you are rembered by many❤
How you can show support
January 18, 2016
Aaron will forever be with us. Truly a gifted and altruistic human being. May he be an example and inspiration to all. His courage and commitment to free access to information will forever endear him to all of us who look for the light amongst the darkness. may your family rejoice in the memory of such a remarkable young man. bless you.. Douglas D. Simon Jr.
Eric Allen
January 11, 2016
MAY THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO ENDURE THE DIFFICULT DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD. PS.83:18.
Larry Kuperman
February 19, 2013
I was never lucky enough to meet Aaron; I only knew him through his works. We will read his name at our Sabbath services and count him among the Righteous.
Shalom.
Barbara Woodman
February 19, 2013
My prayers are with you and your family dear Aaron. You were one of my most unforgettable students of genius. The time you spent assisting and inspiring me to pursue my own works in digital feeds for educators will never be forgotten. Your dreams which really only began to evolve into realties in sixth grade were etched out in your programming skills even at this young age. You were always a prodigy that I knew would succeed even if you had to battle with others to get there.
Barbara Woodman
Aaron's 6th Grade Teacher
Yael Grauer
February 19, 2013
I am so sorry.
Joanne Robb
February 19, 2013
To all the Scwartz family and friends, What a privilege you have had in sharing, teaching and learning with this remarkable young man. The pain (right now) of accepting that Aaron is no longer here seems more than one should/can bear. May we all find a way to keep our hearts from hardening.....May the tsunami of love barreling towards each of you be seen as an offering in washing away some of the sadness.
Lesley Adler-Van Hassel
February 19, 2013
So sorry for your loss. May G-d grant you comfort and peace during this difficult time and always. May Aaron's memories keep you smiling.
Lesley Adler-Van Hassel & Family
Joni DeSoto
February 19, 2013
I am so sorry for your loss.
Adam Casso
February 19, 2013
May your memories of Aaron fill your heart during this difficult time and the road ahead. Sorry for your families loss.
Anna Sessions
February 19, 2013
So sorry for the loss of your son and brother!
Mila Marinova
February 19, 2013
Thank you for being with us, Aaron. So painful that it was not for long.
David Egdeltur
February 19, 2013
Aaron was an amazing man. He was a huge part of the open community in Boston.
I'm very sorry for your loss. We are here for you.
George Sladic
February 19, 2013
Although I never met Aaron, I am saddened by his passing. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. I only know of Aaron through his work with the Demand Progress organization and his efforts in opposing SOPA/PIPA legislation. I, like he, believe that information should be free. I have written my Congressman urging him to begin a Congressional inquiry into the over-reaching by the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
May Aaron's memory be eternal, and may he rest in peace.
Amy Wolf
February 19, 2013
Aaron, you will be greatly missed by us all. Peace to you and thank you for being such a wonderful, sweet cousin to Avery
R Kalish
February 19, 2013
Aaron was an exceptional person. I'm very sorry for your loss.
Chiaki Ishikawa
February 8, 2013
I have not known Aaron Swartz myself. But when I read the account of his death, and the mention of his father came up, it rang a bell in my mind. Now I realized that Aaron is the son of Bob Swartz with whom I worked with as a Japanese software distributor of his software company's many years before.
Being a father of a teenager myself, I can only send condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Swartz, and lament the untimely death of a young talented man. My prayers to the family and friends.
January 26, 2013
Mickey and Lynne Levinson
Robert Perillo
January 26, 2013
I am so sorry, Aaron was a brilliant coder, even though Embedded Systems Programming was not his forte, he would send me code snippets for Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), when he was a young teenager, that were better than I could write. My condolences, and deepest sympathies to Taren, his parents Robert and Susan, brothers Noah and Ben. May his soul now rest peacefully, safe from all that could harm him, and rise refreshed and joyful. ??? ????/? ????? ????? ????? - Robert J. Perillo Jr. and all the Perillo Familly
Dion Dennis
January 23, 2013
Aaron was a generous and intensely curious soul, and understood that cultural transmission of values should not always be mediated by a market mentality. The great moral and intellectual leaders of any generation aren't the Donald Trumps, the Steve Ballmers, the Larry Ellisons. No, they are not. Leaders who matter are those who are "struck dumb with the love of the world" (as Quinn Norton put it) and give astonishing gifts from their minds and hearts, out of an excess of love and energy. We have the markers (RSS, Creative Commons, Reddit, Demand Progress) that were borne from Aaron's creative ability to act, to empower, to move others.
Aaron was extraordinarily productive, creative and generous with his energies. We celebrate that, as we mourn, as we continue to advocate for the political and cultural causes that mattered to him.
Janay Cooper
January 19, 2013
"May the God who supplies endurance and comfort grant you to have among yourself."
Romans 15:5
I send my condolence and will keep the family in my prayers.
Marie M
January 17, 2013
Sincere condolences to the family and friends. May the God of comfort continues to strengthen you during this difficult time.
Charleta Mason
January 17, 2013
Aaron, may your soul rest in eternal peace. To the Swartz family & friends left behind to mourn his loss, please accept my condolences and deepest sympathy during this difficult time. I pray that you will find comfort and healing from the outpouring of love from people all around the world. God bless you.
Esmeralda Garcia
January 17, 2013
My condonlonces to the Swartz family, my prayers are with you and AAron.
God be with you and your family...
January 17, 2013
Sometimes troubles become too much and fear takes over. (Eccl 7:7) We may never know what truly led to this unfortunate event but we do well to remember that in times of trouble we only need to pray for the peace of God that excels all thought to help us through it. (Phil 4:6,7)
With deepest sympathy,
ACC
Dana Martin
January 17, 2013
My deepest condolences,you will be kisses but your spirit lives on forever.
James Kelly
January 17, 2013
My codolences to the family, friends and loved ones of this bright and brilliant young man Aaron, your work was amazing, your life was not a waste, You area bright and shining star, and a guardian angel. The work you started will be finished by those of us who believe in what you did. Rest easy, my thoughts are with you
January 17, 2013
a brilliant life and light gone
RIP Aaron
Ursula
January 17, 2013
My deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones left behind. What a loss to the world of this brilliant young man who accomplished so much for all of us in such a short time here on Earth. So sad -You will be dearly missed. Wish I could have known you.
January 16, 2013
Peace.
Tito Hamze
January 16, 2013
Rest in Peace
January 16, 2013
May he rest in peace. A short life that touched and served more people than I ever will.
January 16, 2013
MAY YOU REST IN PEACE .
Jimmy Williams
January 16, 2013
I only knew you in death,R.I.P forever
January 16, 2013
May you find true comfort from our Heavenly Father.
January 16, 2013
May he rest in peace
January 16, 2013
To the Swartz family: There are no words to console your grief.
Know, however, this young man will forever be remembered in his quest for doing something that served the public.
RIP, Mr. Swartz
January 16, 2013
Swartz Family-
May you find comfort in the words of Isaiah 66:13-"Like a man whom his own mother keeps comforting, so I myself shall keep comforting you people."
wcj
January 16, 2013
It saddens me to see ones lost, who've fought to do what is right for the benefit of others. May you find comfort to know that the Almighty will in turn deliver such ones.
Patricia
January 16, 2013
To the Swartz family:
No one knows the heartache that lies behind Aaron's smiles. No one knows how many times he has broken down and cried. Find comfort in knowing that Aaron "freely" gave his best to help others and would be dearly missed by those he loved. Aaron's memories will live forever.
****Patricia..from: Georgia****
January 16, 2013
What sad sad news. Such a incredible young man - my deepest sympathies to his family and to all of us who have lost someone who stood up for all of us as such a young age.
Pat
January 16, 2013
So sorry for your loss, may you find comfort from God's word at Psalms 9:9 “He will be a secure height when we are crush and in times of distress”. I hope that through his word you can find comfort in your time of sorrow.
January 16, 2013
My deepest sympathy for this horrific tragady. May you draw close to the God of all comfort and he will comfort you in a great way.(1Cor 1:3,4)
Mrs. Henderson
January 16, 2013
To the Swartz Family: Please accept our condolences to your family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you. Very comforting words Psalm "He is healing the broknehearted ones."
C.S
January 16, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
January 16, 2013
A young man way ahead of his times doing some good in this sad world. Tragic
January 15, 2013
Sorry for your lost
January 15, 2013
R.i.p....
Psalm 46:1
January 15, 2013
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Mary Ryan
January 15, 2013
Rest in Peace Aaron. And prayers for the Swartz family.
EG
January 15, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
sandra pritchett
January 15, 2013
he was just trying to do something good for the people .god bless u aaron...my heart go out to the family
SRK
January 15, 2013
Aaron: What a gift. What a loss.
January 15, 2013
Rest in Peace.
allison bowe
January 15, 2013
my heart is broken my thoughts and prayers go for the loss of this amazing kid
Paul Hopersberger
January 15, 2013
He did what was right and I admire him for doing so. May others continue his work.
Debbie R
January 15, 2013
May God Bless You In This Time Of Sorrow
God Bless
D Gaston
January 15, 2013
God Bless You
David
January 15, 2013
I so very much wish I had words to comfort you during this very difficult time.
Though I did not know Aaron I knew of him and so very much admired this young and talented man.
My heart and prayers are with you-
Diane Anderson
January 15, 2013
My deepest sympathy to his family. How very sad that such an intelligent human being like him felt so lost and alone. The world needed great 'prodigy's' like him. May he rest in peace.
Margarita Holmes
January 15, 2013
Many of here in the Philippines mourn the loss of Aaron Swartz, a genius, a freedom fighter, but most of all, a kind and decent man of integrity. He did and gave so much (of his time, his energy, his smarts) to people, even those he didn't know. Mabuhay ka, Mr. Swartz
Eloy Sanchez
January 15, 2013
My heart felt condolences to Aaron's family. R.I.P. Aaron! God Bless you always!
Martin Jerisat
January 15, 2013
Our hearts and prayers for the loss of this wonderful kid. You were a candle in the wind.
Jill
January 15, 2013
deepest sympathy to the family of Mr.Swartz
lucy martz
January 15, 2013
So Sad for the Loss of this intelligent young man. May he RIP.
Nancy W.
January 15, 2013
Why do things like this happen? Things that are public records where ever they are located should indeed be made public online.
How sad a young life with an intelligent mind doing good for all people has been made quiet.
RIP Aaron Swartz. God be with your family and friends to comfort and grant them peace. May many good things come from your work on earth and your legacy be carried on by others.
Kimberly D.
January 15, 2013
God Bless Aaron for giving us "Freedom" to view things important to us on the web...
RIP
d chung
January 15, 2013
rip in peace
elaine bachman
January 15, 2013
as a mother who has lost a son i grieve with you in your loss. Aaron was a brilliant, brave, and generous man.
Miriam Solon
January 15, 2013
With you in your sorrow. Grateful for this fine young man's contributions to society.
SKB
January 15, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Holly
January 15, 2013
Whenever we lose a loved one in death it is too soon, but when it happens to someone so very young, it is particularly tragic. Please accept the deep sympathies of a stranger. I have a daughter the same age as Aaron, and I cannot imagine what it would like to lose her. I am so sorry. Even though I don't understand your pain, our heavenly Father, "the God of all comfort" does and is there for you in your time of need. Sincerely
Linda (Schwartz) & Roger Stelle
January 15, 2013
We cannot imagine your pain. Our hearts go out to you. Please accept our deepest sympathy.
Teresa Warren
January 15, 2013
With god's gift to you, you change the world, many influences, and happiness to many!! Prayers goes out to the family and friends of this geniius god sent to us!! RIP!!!
Julie Harris
January 15, 2013
May your brilliant mind be at peace. This world will miss you.
January 15, 2013
R.I.P
T G
January 15, 2013
From what I read it's seems you really meant no harm, this is really sad. May you rest in peace and God saves your soul. May your story save someone else and gives your family comfort.
January 15, 2013
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.
Michael Marbury
January 15, 2013
You can get comfort from Psalms 145:16 and this will be done under the hand of God.
We the people
January 15, 2013
Peace be with you. Many more now know what you tried sharing with us. Aaron is imprinted in the future through all he touched directly and indirectly.
January 15, 2013
Smypathy and comfort to Aaron Swartz family. 1Thess.5:10,11.
January 15, 2013
TO THE FAMILY OF AARON...ALWAYS HAVE PEACE KNOWING THAT AARONS VOICE WILL ALWAYS BE HEARD..HE BROUGHT THE VOICE TO SILENCE THAT WAS HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC...KNOWN AS A "HERO" WITHIN HIS OWN..GOD BLESS!!
kecia green
January 15, 2013
R.I.P Aaron
Robinson Family
January 15, 2013
How often, our young people give little if any indication that they have a problem, for a person who is beset with adversity does not always show it on the outside. The Bible states: “Even in laughter the heart may be in pain.”—Proverbs 14:13.
We are sorry for your loss.
tonie spence
January 15, 2013
May god be with you and your family.
Phil Brett
January 14, 2013
To Aaron's family. My deepest sympathy and condolences. I didn't know Aaron and I don't know you. However, I have lost a daughter to suicide and I can imagine the depth of you pain and anguish. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
GLORIA CHAGOYA
January 14, 2013
MAY THE PEACE OF GODS SPIRIT BE AMONG THIS YOUNG MANS FAMILY IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME....MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES..I DIDNT KNOW AARON BUT LOVED THE FACT OF WHAT AND HOW HE THOUGHT,MAY HE BEEN IN HEAVEN WITH THE ANGELS...PEACE...PEACE...PEACE
January 14, 2013
It is a privilege and honor to know you, Mr Aaron Swartz even though it is only after your death. My prayer with you and may Lord our God love an dpresent be with you.
January 14, 2013
I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. Please find peace and comfort in Psalms 65:2.
Chanah
January 14, 2013
My deepest sympathy goes to his family how tragic to loose such a young promising mind
reina ginsberg
January 14, 2013
I AM SO SAD GOD IS WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.
January 14, 2013
May your good memories of him bring you comfort. And during the more difficult times remember to "Draw close to God and He will draw close to you."
Camille
January 14, 2013
I am sorry for your loss. We all sadly ask why? 1 John 3:20- God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.
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