It is always painful to lose someone you care about but when a person in the very prime of their life is lost way too soon, the hurt is even deeper. The kind of bad news none of us ever wants to hear came today when we learned that Ren Warmuz,  the brilliant 45-year-old Founder and CEO of Trellian.com (the parent company of Above.com and many other well-known Internet brands) had passed away Sunday afternoon (October 27) after a long battle with colon cancer.

I first heard about Ren's passing from his friend and colleague, Trellian Vice President Nancy Bianchi, who like everyone who knew Ren, is finding it difficult to believe this source of overflowing positive energy is really gone. Nancy pointed me to the moving comments Ren's brother and business partner David posted at Above.com today. 

David, who was with family members surrounding Ren when he passed, wrote about how Ren tackled his health problem the same way he every problem he faced in life - head on.  

(L to R): Ren Warmuz, Nancy Bianchi and David Warmuz 
at the 2012 T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conference in Fort Lauderdale.
(photo courtesy of Barbara Neu) 

David said, "The sheer pain endured throughout would have crippled most, but not Ren. Documenting his epic battle every step of the way on his blog - http://www.mcrc4.com/ - he leaves behind a legacy of research, treatment options, genetic tests to insist on, diets and supplements beneficial for treating cancer not known to most."

David added, "I always considered Ren an absolute genius, and was fortunate to have him part of my life, not only just growing up together but working together since 1997. We made a great team, creating and releasing many ground breaking software and web applications. It saddens me the most that Ren leaves behind his wife and two beautiful children, age 9 and 6."

While Ren is gone his fight continues. David said, "Ren's work is far from over and a Ren Warmuz Cancer Research Foundation will be established to help others beat their "little mutants", as Ren called his cancer. My best friend, my brother, you will be missed!"

Life is far too fragile. Just a couple of days ago I learned that a classmate from my high school class and her husband were both killed in a terrible car crash in Florida. When the news was posted on Facebook by a fellow classmate I didn't know what to say - nothing you can say in the face of such a tragedy is adequate. Instead I replied with a quote I had recently come across that I found comforting. It's not something I thought I would be sharing again so soon but in remembering Ren, I still can't think of anything that sums up my feelings as well: 

Ren Warmuz at the 2007 Domain 
Roundtable conference in Seattle.