Katy, we'll miss you

Real, human connections are built on eBay.  Members find people with the same interests here, they find and build business networks, and they make close friends (or even spouses). Despite the internet medium, the connections built can be just as close and meaningful as any other connections we build.  So it is no surprise that when an active Community participant and friend passes away, we grieve the loss.

This week, old-timers are grieving the loss of a former Community Development employee, Katy.  Katy was one of the "pinks," the affectionate name members call staff who engage with members on the forums because of the pink header on their posts.  In a memorial discussion thread, staff and members alike have described Katy and how she influenced them -- her humor, her vivacious energy and spirit, her uncanny ability to charm people, and, especially, her loyalty to eBay and its mission and to all the people whose lives were better because of the opportunity eBay gave them. 

Katy left the company as an employee a few years ago, but she never left eBay.  So many people have been touched by her over the years, including me.  I remember working with Katy and the other "pinks" during site outages and other problems back in "the old days."   Her sense of humor was contagious, and she could defuse a tense situation with members and staff alike with her spontaneous quirky observations and stories that usually left us LMAO.  There was also a serious side to Katy, however -- her belief in eBay's mission and in the people who were part of this amazing marketplace.  The "people" part of the mission was most important, and Katy was a passionate champion for the Community.

I learned a lot, I laughed a lot (sometimes until my sides hurt)...Katy, we'll miss you.