Keith Deshaies: 1964-2008
This morning I received the unexpected and tragic news that my good friend and colleague Keith Deshaies, the Northwest Progressive Institute's Senior Managing Editor, died unexpectedly of a heart attack last night. He was forty three.
We are all very saddened by this grevious development. A wonderful part of the NPI family is no longer with us.
Regular readers will undoubtedly remember reading Keith's posts here on the soon-to-be-renamed Official Blog, but not everyone knew him as well as his fellow staff members did. What follows is a brief biographical sketch.
Keith grew up in Somersworth, New Hampshire, and later moved to the Evergreen State, where he spent the last years of his life.
He lived most recently in Whatcom County and worked as an information technology analyst. He also worked as a carpet installer, landscape nursery manager, carpenter, cabinetmaker, accounting clerk, insurance rate coder, technical writer, network administrator, and business process analyst, which gave him a good background on issues facing working families.
Keith attended the University of Phoenix and held a Technical Communications Certificate from Bellevue Community College.
In 2004, he volunteered to help John Kerry win in Washington State.
On August 16th, 2006, he joined the Northwest Progressive Institute as a contributor and was later named Senior Managing Editor. During his one and a half plus years with the organization, he gained a reputation for providing consistently thoughtful feedback to the team, whether it concerned editorial coverage, NPI's direction and growth, or putting together advice for new writers.
He was looking forward to attending both Netroots Nation and the Democratic National Convention later this summer.
Here is a sampling of his many posts:
Please feel free to leave condolences and remembrances in the comment thread.
We are all very saddened by this grevious development. A wonderful part of the NPI family is no longer with us.
Regular readers will undoubtedly remember reading Keith's posts here on the soon-to-be-renamed Official Blog, but not everyone knew him as well as his fellow staff members did. What follows is a brief biographical sketch.
Keith grew up in Somersworth, New Hampshire, and later moved to the Evergreen State, where he spent the last years of his life.
He lived most recently in Whatcom County and worked as an information technology analyst. He also worked as a carpet installer, landscape nursery manager, carpenter, cabinetmaker, accounting clerk, insurance rate coder, technical writer, network administrator, and business process analyst, which gave him a good background on issues facing working families.
Keith attended the University of Phoenix and held a Technical Communications Certificate from Bellevue Community College.
In 2004, he volunteered to help John Kerry win in Washington State.
On August 16th, 2006, he joined the Northwest Progressive Institute as a contributor and was later named Senior Managing Editor. During his one and a half plus years with the organization, he gained a reputation for providing consistently thoughtful feedback to the team, whether it concerned editorial coverage, NPI's direction and growth, or putting together advice for new writers.
He was looking forward to attending both Netroots Nation and the Democratic National Convention later this summer.
Here is a sampling of his many posts:
- White Male News Network
- Four Horsemen of the Neocons
- I see your Imus, and I raise you an O'Reilly
- The road less traveled
- McCarthy would have loved SB 1959
- Absolution by book deal
- Fear-based politics: Fear it
- Latest from Whatcom County: WOW
- Will traditional media catch up?
- CNN: DEMS TAKE HOUSE
Please feel free to leave condolences and remembrances in the comment thread.
# Posted by Andrew : 4:17 PM
Comments:
I have called Keith my friend for nearly ten years now. I cannot begin to tell you how much I will miss him. When we worked in the same building I would start my day by stopping by his cube and within moments we would find ourselves laughing. It was the best way to start the day. Jen, his wife, called me just before seven so I could let his employer know he had passed. I spent the day telling colleagues and seeing the dismay that someone so young had passed so suddenly. My world has lost a friend and lots of laughter. He made my world brighter. My heart goes out to Jen and the children. Their loss cannot be measured.
Keith was a gentle soul with a sharp wit and an uncanny ability to cut directly to the heart of an issue.
He will be sorely missed by all who he touched.
My heart goes out to all of his friends and family.
Rick
That is terrible! Being new, I never got to meet him, but you were taking about how talented his wife is and it's just sad even to read.
Sending out warm thoughts.
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