Yep, look at Node.js when Ryan Dahl passed off the reins to Isaac Schlueter. The project is obviously strong as ever, and I think it probably helps that they're

Yep, look at Node.js when Ryan Dahl passed off the reins to Isaac Schlueter. The project is obviously strong as ever, and I think it probably helps that they're both at Joyent. So maybe the succession planning lesson learned here is to name a successor AND make it someone you can continue to regularly communicate with.