Though she may be gone she will always be part of the fabric of this place.

Damn right. As long as we go on, and this crazy shoestring bit of technological wonder does, she goes on.

I feel like I could have done more, I hadn't seen ita since the baby. I feel so foolish for thinking things would work out, and I'm so grateful to Allyson and Kristen and Paula and Burrell for being there so often when I was not. I regret that now. I wish there is something I can do now that she's gone and I know I can't.

I keep trying to get up and do something and then I start crying again. I never got the chance to meet ita in person, but I have lost relatives where I have cried less than I am crying for her.

This is the worst news. I mostly lurk because I don't feel like I can says things better than you people, and that's true by many more orders of magnitude today. But I feel like I should post.

I'm grateful that we had ita for as long as we did, that she was able to make this community what it is. I'm upset that the universe has lost such a strong, intelligent woman. All the virtual hugs, especially to those of you who were close to her.

I'm so grateful to all the LAistas and others who helped ita in so many ways.

Oh, bon. Be gentle with yourself.

Yes bon, do be that. Loves to you.

I'm finally at home and can read and let it sink in properly. Been holding a "something terrible happened but I won't let it sink in" for hours at work today. And I still can't believe it. This can't be true.

I am grieving for ita and I am grieving for all you who knew her much better than I did.

I am so sorry. Losing such a pillar is unfathomable. I too wish for a physical place where we can meet. And to hear every ita story there is. And for something, anything, that I could do right now, for anyone.

Thank you for the words, thank you for the poetry. And ita, thank you for this place, and for everything else.

ita and I weren't super-close, but I always admired her. When I was a frequent habitue of the board, I always looked forward to her posting about whatever. It was always funny and razor-sharp-smart.

This. This right here.

I told Annalee. Charlie Jane's on the message too but she hasn't responded.

Thanks to Nora for emailing me.

This will always be the place that taught me what the best of "invisible friends in the Internet box" could be. No small part of that was due to ita and her combination of technical brilliance and stubborn refusal to be anyone else but who she was.

If a person is to be measured by the love she made possible, encouraged, and gave a place to live, then ita is truly a giant among forces for love in the world. And we will all feel the love she shared with us every time we post.

What Karl said. (which was exactly what I wanted to say but didn't know how to) I'm so grateful to have known her, even if I never met her in person.

Kristen – I’m so sorry you had to find her. I’m so sorry to hear that she was in so much pain.