Ilya Zhitomirskiy, the 22-year old co-founder of Diaspora*, died over the weekend. Police aren’t yet releasing details, pending the medical examiner’s investigation, but friends and family say it looks like he committed suicide. There is already conjecture about whether the stresses of creating Diaspora* in the public eye contributed to his death. Zhitomirskiy, Maxwell Salzburg, Daniel Grippi, and Raphael Sofaer conceived Diaspora* in response to concerns arising from Facebook’s mining users’ data.
Diaspora* aims to put personal data back in the hands of the users, creating a synthesis between sharing and privacy. The site allows for integration with Twitter and Facebook – think Facebook statuses with a lot of hashtags. Diaspora* is open-source and allows you to interact directly without providing information to a third party by installing your own pod. Users can also join existing pods by selecting one from Disaspora* Pod Uptime.
It remains to be seen whether Diaspora* will be a success. After an initial $200,000 was raised, the founders sent an email on October 12 asking for donations to keep the project going. There has been an upsurge in subscribers since news of Zhitomirskiy’s death, but it will take time to weed out those who are there for curiosity’s sake from those who actually want to make the switch.
Diaspora*’s stream is full of condolences, and a eulogy posted by ex-girlfriend Bre White has been shared by numerous members. The eulogy in full is reproduced below. You can visit a memorial for Zhitomirskiy on Diaspora* here.
RIP Ilya Zhitomirskiy , Thousands upon hundreds shall remember you and continue your dream for generations to come. You’ve touched the life of so many, I was lucky enough to have held you through those long nights and thank you for all the happiness, and the love through all the fights and all the fears, You were always there. Thank you for being a friend, thank you for showing me unconditional love, for teaching me how to grow, and how to love. For the many saucey hot pocket filled nights we shared, for the cuddles and water in wine glasses, for all the nights laying on your chest as you would explain your next biggest dream and idea, for inspiring me to become what I want to be, for being my shelter in a never ending thunderstorm, to burnt toast and TOM CRUISE FUCK YEAH!! From giving me the hope I never had, for the passionate kisses and nights starring out your window into space, for the awesome white blanket to neon orange knee high socks, for being a friend and a mentor, for being a beacon of light in the darkness, for all the epic mornings with Egg Ham croissants, and carrying home the most hideous lamp statue I’ve ever seen. For the relationship fish we planned on getting but admittedly he would have died. For missing flights to Mexico and crawling into bed with your shoes on, to being as quiet as you could in the morning so you wouldn’t wake me, to all the cute sticky notes with sloppy writing and badly drawn hearts, to slaying that damn dragon with 50 heads!! To awesome smelling fabric softener and warm sheets. Thank you for the cute doodles in my notebook, for all the crossed out lists and all the ridiculous conversations, for stealing my socks, for not picking on me when i embarrassed myself. This goes to the ink black sushi that dyed our tongues and teeth, and the horrid cartoon pizza, for walking down side streets cause mission was ugly, for the smiles, the laughs the fights and the love. Even the nights I had to pry you away from your laptop, for the cold tosies and warm embraces, for all the mascara covered tears down my face that you wiped away, For all these times you never walked away, for all the times that i heard you say you loved me. For all the kisses on my forehead and trying to teach me to ride a bike, for taking me under your wing and showing me a side of life I had never known. Thank you for being the love of my life and my best friend. Rest in peace beautiful, you will always, and forever be in my memories, and your smile is etched into my mind. You lived an amazing life, and I plan on telling everyone I meet about you, and all our our crazy, heartfelt memorable times we shared.
Also, The question you asked that I never answered; my answer is and always will be, Yes, From the second I laid my baby blue eyes on you in your dorky blue helmet and tie dye over shirt.
This is to your life, your friends, your family, your love. Your dream will live on, if it’s the last thing I do before I die. Your name will be remembered. Sleep peacefully beautiful. You deserve a good rest up there. I’ll be fine, and I know whenever I miss you, you’re only a thought away. You’ll be watching over us, and the nights that get me down I’ll know you’re right there.. Holding me, and wiping away my tears. Like you always do. You’re the true definition of a hero. Thank you. Goodbye my love
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