It is with the deepest sadness that we share the news of the passing of our cherished friend and integral multi-community member, Ezra Gold. On the afternoon of December 31st Ezra Gold collapsed at his home in Sunnyvale after a long but routine bicycle ride. He was rushed to hospital but, unfortunately, all efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. His gentle soul has transitioned.
Kind, generous, intelligent, fun, supportive, creative, and caring are only a few of the words one could use to describe Ezra. He has played countless DJ sets over the years that have called us to dance, play, and be transformed, most recently on his Monday night Twitch sessions (among even more online events, naturally). If you have had the honor of working with him, you may have experienced his calm nature as he expertly works his way through technical challenges. You might have even had your picture taken by him or seen images of the lights and stars captured through his lens. If you’ve been to any event, you’ve met Ezra--even if not directly.
Ezra wasn’t just part of our community--he was as vital as the weft of a tapestry, which is one reason why so many of us feel a sense of unraveling with his transition to the Great Beyond. His absence will be felt endlessly, echoing through hundreds of souls across our communities, the country, and the world. May we all be emboldened to walk through our lives with his spirit in our hearts, bringing such love, kindness, generosity, and talent to all those with whom we engage.
Most importantly, let us all gather our love, strength and support for our dearest friend Christina “redvelvet” Gold, Ezra’s wife, and another of our most beloved and integral community members. She has shown such love, care and generosity for us all as a community and as individuals, and we stand with her so that she will never have to carry this heavy weight on her own. Please send her your love and strength through meditation and prayer.
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A letter from redvelvet:
Hello friends and those countless souls Ezra and I haven't met but who have been touched by Ezra's magic.
Thank you for loving Ezra who was the love of my life, my perfect partner even though we weren't perfect people ... the person who completed me.
Please share your stories and experiences with your family and friends. This is hard news for so many in our communities. In the coming months and years, I would love to hear your tales about Ezra to help me remember him and keep his spirit alive. He shared so many moments with people that his family and I weren't present for and would love to hear about to fill our hearts. I feel your love.
-redvelvet
(lowercase “r”, all one word)
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Please, at her request, DON’T contact her directly via phone or text as she feels so overwhelmed already. There are ways in which you can more directly show her your love and support, and you are in the right place for that. .
On January 12, 2021, we will stand together as a community and collectively light a candle in remembrance of Ezra at 20:03:17 (8:03:17 pm; any time zone you prefer) in honor of the half anniversary of July 12, 2003 - the date they met - and the 17 years they shared together. In the spirit of Ezra's work in LED technology and mechanical engineering, using LED candles is very fitting. Additionally, if you would like to contribute a photo and/or words to a Kudoboard you may do so via the “Upload Pictures & Videos” link above.
We know that many of you care deeply for redvelvet and may want to share condolences with her or her family. As we mentioned, please refrain from doing so at this time. As a community, we need to protect redvelvet and her family’s privacy and need for space so that they can personally grieve this unexpected and massive loss. To that end, while you are encouraged to otherwise express your love and thoughts however befits your heart--
>> Please DON’T reach out to redvelvet at this time <<
>> Please DON’T post this announcement on any forum or social media (or any social media accounts) <<
Trust that Ezra’s family have loved ones around them to support them right now. When they are ready, they will reach out. Thank you for your consideration and respect for the wishes of Ezra’s family during this difficult time.
Again, if you would like to engage in a community grief and remembrance process, we encourage you to join the candlelight remembrance and/or contribute to the above-mentioned Kudoboard. If you want to schedule a call with redvelvet, or seek more details about what happened and how we are all pitching in to provide support, again, you are in the right place. If you want to offer help or have some superpowers to lend please sign up here (http://bit.ly/supportredvelvet).
As we move through the weight of our loss, we hold Ezra in our thoughts as we come to understand how precious life is and how valuable each member is in our community. Ezra’s passing brings an opportunity to show care and love for the people around you. Life is so precious. You are so precious. Let us hold each other even closer and let us knit our collective fabric tighter so that we can feel the love and support of our cherished tribe.
Speaking of support, there is a charity close to Ezra’s heart to which donations may be made in his memory: The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (https://ellabakercenter.org/donate/). From their website: “We are named after Ella Baker, a brilliant, black hero of the civil rights movement. Following in her footsteps, we organize with Black, Brown, and low-income people to shift resources away from prisons and punishment, and towards opportunities that make our communities safe, healthy, and strong.” Please leave a comment that your donation is in memory of Ezra Gold.
If you have questions you are unable to answer via the website or other resources, please select the “Contact Us” button at the top of this page.
Last but not least, everyone is invited to cue up Ezra’s music and dance with his spirit. Links to his pages are below; the same tracks are available on both services--
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