7 ms·

A terrible tragedy: Dan Haubert of Ticketstumbler (fallentimes) has passed away

626 points by rantfoil 17y ago

deleted 17y ago
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rokhayakebe 17y ago
It's a pain for all of us who knew him through HN and TS, and it's a greater pain for those who worked and mingled with him daily. You will be missed, Dan.
TomOfTTB 17y ago
I'd been going through his comments here... http://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=fallentimes http://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=fallentimes It's actually a great read. I didn't know him personally but as someone who knew him well enough to recognize his user name I'm saddened by this. The last thing the world needs is fewer smart people who honestly speak their minds.
rantfoil 17y ago
In the words of Jeremy Mims -- Dan really was the heart of our YC Summer 08 batch. He was always quick to smile, share a good laugh, and share sharp insights into all things startup. We will miss him always.
- whather 17y ago
  Dan was one of those guys who would light up the room when he came in. He was always very positive and he genuinely cared about others. I definitely agree he was the heart of our YC Summer 08 batch and gave so many of us great advice. Dan, you were a good friend and will be missed.
  - speby 17y ago
    So true. One of my favorite memories of him was when we first met him and Tom in June of 2008, right when we had begun Y Combinator that summer. Brad, one of my co-founders, and I had flown in from Chicago to start living there that summer and hadn't found a place to live yet so we crashed at Tom and Dan's pad for a night, sleeping on the couches. It was a nasty, hot summer night and they didn't have A/C. Not only did we stay up late drinking but Brad and I barely went to sleep. Early in the morning before we had to leave, Dan was up (he was usually a morning guy) and made us this incredible breakfast for us. It was just about the nicest god damn thing we could have had that morning after such a shitty night's rest. Dan was in my book instantly as one of the nicest, coolest guys to have met and gotten to know that summer.
    - rantfoil 17y ago
      I just shared some photos from the summer with Dan on my blog. I am just so freaking shattered thinking about how that was just a year ago, and now this. http://garry.posterous.com/dan-haubert-1984-2009-we-will-miss-you-always http://garry.posterous.com/dan-haubert-1984-2009-we-will-mis...
- nihaar 17y ago
  Wow I still have not come to terms with this. I whole heartedly agree with Jeremy's comment. He was one of the first people I met in the YC Summer 08 batch and I could feel the excitement & passion oozing out of him. Always quick to help a person out in whatever capacity he could, encouraging and lively, he was truly a stand up guy and will be missed.
- edawerd 17y ago
  Dan had such a charm to him. He always had this mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and was so gregarious and affable. He was tall and the kind of guy in the room that everyone just gravitated towards, yet he wasn't the least bit intimidating. He was such a giving person, always lending a hand wherever he could. I'll miss him so much.
speby 17y ago
A sad, sad day. Hard to imagine I won't be able to see the great Dan again. I'll miss him and his antics, jokes, big talk, and huge ambition and drive.
vaksel 17y ago
what is it with all these young kids dying? wasn't there a post like only a few days ago about a guy losing his cofounder to a car accident. how did he die, if you don't mind me asking?
- tdavis 17y ago
  Suicide.
  - gstar 17y ago
    Terrible. Most of all, don't beat yourself up about this - there was nothing you could have done to have stopped it, and he did what he wanted to do for his own reasons. I'm sorry for your loss.
  - maxklein 17y ago
    Was there a note or some type of reason? Dan seemed perfectly normal in his conversation.
    - tdavis 17y ago
      No. Nobody suspected anything including me, family, friends, and his girlfriend
      - maxklein 17y ago
        Has the police ruled out any possibility of foul play?
        cema 17y ago
        Why did several people downvote it? Seems a legitimate question. I wish people who mod comments down would at least explain why.
        brandnewlow 17y ago
maxklein 17y ago
I find this difficult to believe. He wrote me 4 weeks back, and the email is still in my inbox, starred, so that I could reply it when I had a bit of time.
- brandnewlow 17y ago
  Same here. Dan wrote me out of the blue a few weeks back with words of encouragement about some issues I'd posted about. We exchanged a few messages. Wish I'd written him more. This is very sad news.
mattmaroon 17y ago
Now who is going to IM me to laugh about the groupthink here.
- iron_ball 17y ago
  Really? "LOL now its just me pointing out your stupidity LOL" You can do better than that.
quizbiz 17y ago
My condolences. He will be forever remembered for sharing his experiences and inspiring others.
yan 17y ago
Whoa. My condolences. I always appreciated his input and he was one of the usernames I seeked out when browsing comments pages.
sachinag 17y ago
A blogger wrote about a competitor of TS and I mentioned in the comments that the blogger totally missed TS. Dan reached out to me via e-mail to say thanks for the note. From that quick e-mail, we developed a great friendship. Dan was another "business guy" with a finance background who jumped into a startup because he was angry, physically angry, about a problem he saw and wanted to make it better. He was the first real kindred spirit I've found on my startup journey. He was more than a mentor, he was an inspiration. I leaned on him a lot, probably more than was fair, but Dan was always there to help me out, think things through, or just offer a pick-me-up when I was down about user numbers, distraught about my inability to help my startup because I couldn't code, or whatever else was on my mind. He introduced me to new ideas and new techniques, but most importantly, he introduced me to a world of new friends. Because of him, I have a place to crash and people to hang with when I visit San Francisco. Dan paid it forward and did it because he liked to help people. He will be missed.
- AndrewWarner 17y ago
  I had a similar experience with him. He emailed me after seeing something I wrote on HN. We stayed in touch and he was very supportive. I feel terrible about this.
tdavis 17y ago
Tom here. I am exhausted so pardon the informality and lack of feeling. Questions, etc. please contact me. Paul has a note that he's going to be posting on the YC blog at some point; try to keep discussion to one post, for my sanity. I will be keeping an eye on stuff and answering questions where possible. tom@ts also gtalk
- pg 17y ago
  http://ycombinator.com/dan.html http://ycombinator.com/dan.html
  - blasdel 17y ago
    Did you add the 5px row of black in remembrance of Dan?
  - tdavis 17y ago
    I'm glad you took it upon yourself to write a poignant note; I couldn't have done him justice. The picture damn near made me tear up. Thank you.
  - vaksel 17y ago
    i think the photo should just have dan, or at least point a sign to dan, those people who don't know what he looks like, can get confused
  - bitdiddle 17y ago
    My sincerest condolences to friends, family, and all those that knew this young man. Both as a programmer and a father I find this heart breaking.
  - dang 6y ago
    That link has gotten broken over the years, but the page is at https://web.archive.org/web/20091006002013/http://www.ycombinator.com/dan.html https://web.archive.org/web/20091006002013/http://www.ycombi...
- ojbyrne 17y ago
  Wow, sorry to hear. Can't really think of what to say.
axod 17y ago
How incredibly sad. Condolences. He will be sadly missed in #startups and obviously on hn.
coffeemug 17y ago
I last talked to Dan ten days ago. Can't believe he's gone. His feedback was instrumental to us getting into YC - it was exactly the kick in the ass we needed. If we succeed, a share of that success will belong to him. I think lots of other people could say the same. My condolences to Tom, Dan's friends, and family.
justlearning 17y ago
I am stunned. While I don't know Dan as many of you do in person, I did read his comments. My condolences to his family. I initially thought it was a mishap. The news that He took the exit door by himself is what chokes on my thoughts. Why do the good guys do this to themselves? Why did he go away?
- petercooper 17y ago
  It doesn't make it any better but it's pretty remarkable what some chemicals swirling around in our brains can do to us as humans. A lot of good things, sure, but a lot of distressing, uncharacteristic stuff too.
fname 17y ago
I didn't have the chance to talk with Dan, but the comments here make me feel like I missed out on a tremendous person. Sorry for your loss, Tom.
rogerthat 17y ago
I've been futilely reading his recent FriendFeed and Twitter updates for some inkling as to what could have triggered this tragic act. http://friendfeed.com/danhau http://friendfeed.com/danhau http://twitter.com/danhau http://twitter.com/danhau Not so much as a smidgen of a hint. His comments seemed consistent up until the last with no hint of despair. No wonder this caught people by surprise. It's flabbergasting. My condolences to everyone close to Dan. Although I didn't know him personally, he seemed like a terrific guy. What sad news.
_pius 17y ago
Oh my gosh. This is just awful and I'm literally at a loss for words. We've had several tragic deaths amongst the YC community both recently and over the past few years, but Dan's is definitely the first to viscerally choke me up. I didn't know him personally, but I've read so many of his posts here that I feel like I did. Please accept my condolences during this difficult time.
gruseom 17y ago
Tom, I am so, so sorry.
Chukwu 17y ago
A solemn reminder to shower our friends and family with love while we still have the chance...I am so very sorry for the loss of your friend...my condolences.
johnnybgoode 17y ago
I am very sorry, both for your loss and for the fact that I never had a chance to know Dan.
- lisper 17y ago
  Ditto.
davidw 17y ago
Reminds me a bit of Ettore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettore_Perazzoli http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettore_Perazzoli
revorad 17y ago
Very sad to hear. My heartfelt condolences. Indeed, the world is a poorer place without him.
daveambrose 17y ago
I started reading HN years ago and I always saw a user by the name of fallentimes posting really insightful comments. Through his threads, I found out a lot about he thought through startups, biz, PR...you name it. I learned a lot from him. We exchanged IMs and emails about little things like TS' press in the FT and how it came about or help with my HN password. I was planning on going to Boston to see my girlfriend's sister and was hoping to meet him in person. My heart and condolences go out to his friends and family. Tom, be strong - you have all our support and best wishes.
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kn0thing 17y ago
We shared a few lunches in Cambridge, as well as more than a few emails about business-guy strategery. There are so many impressive YC startup founders, but Dan had a remarkable x-factor that one sees in successful entrepreneurs without any of the arrogance, avarice, or powerhunger that so often accompanies this talent. We only knew each other through a shared investor [YC], yet I very much wanted to see him succeed, and believed would - something most people must have felt upon meeting him. We were all looking forward to watching him have a long and fruitful career. As PG said, the world is indeed much poorer without him. Dan's family & friends are in my thoughts.
dgallagher 17y ago
My heart goes out to Dan's friends, family, and to Tom.
CamperBob 17y ago
I, too, had a good friend in Austin back in the 90s who committed suicide unexpectedly. The cause of death was phrased delicately as an "accidental hanging". Let's just say that depression is not the only cause of suicide. Some people are the sort who just have to try everything once. Not suggesting that's what happened to Dan, but if so it would mean that nobody should feel remorse or guilt about failing to notice he needed help.
staunch 17y ago
Very sad. I wish the best for his family and friends.
raju 17y ago
I am sorry. My condolences to his family, his friends, and you. I hope you find strength and solace.
joez 17y ago
I wish I have had to chance to meet him. I do recognize his username for insightful comments. Tom, I hope to know that people are adding on comments to show that they care. I wanted to add just another one even if it had no quip or insight. My condolences.
tlb 17y ago
A tragic loss. Dan was smart, dedicated, funny, and always a pleasure to talk to. Please: If you ever find yourself despairing, reach out to your friends, co-founders, parents, investors, someone. They are much more likely to understand than you may think.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
alaskamiller 17y ago
We emailed back and forth so much for awhile last summer on just a variety of things. He was a really bright person with a great perspective on life. This makes me hurt so much.
grosales 17y ago
May he rest in peace. For the ones he left, my most sincere condolences.
EGF 17y ago
Very sorry to hear this - my condolences
rooshdi 17y ago
So sorry to hear this tragedy. My condolences go out to all those involved. Another reminder of how fragile life is and how important it is for us to live our lives to the fullest in memory of those we have lost. We also need to help and show our sincere love and support for all those suffering from depression, anxiety, or anything for that matter. My hope is that Dan's time on earth spreads contagious loving memories which inspire all of us to live our lives with love, modesty, and empathy.
tptacek 17y ago
Tom, Dan seems like just an impossibly awesome guy. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=392341 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=392341 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=338357 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=338357 I'm so sorry for the loss. Dan, I hope it was an adventure. Peace be with you.
- tdavis 17y ago
  He most certainly was; thank you! He was always the one person who couldn't be phased. I still don't know how it came to this.
- brianlash 17y ago
  I recall reading the anecdote at the first link. Without looking I wouldn't have remembered it was from Dan, or even that it was about Ticketstumbler, but I would have recalled the story. That would happen over and over if I (we) were to sift through Dan's comments. He was such a selfless YC'er - we've gleaned so much from his activity here - but time tends to muddy the origin of ideas. It's like we know what we've learned, but we don't always recall where we learned it. I think it's for that reason I'm reluctant to read through his old stuff; I know I would discover Dan as the origin of so many thought-provoking entries we've been so fortunate to count on across his time here. His was a tremendous contribution. The impact of this loss is equally so. To his loved ones and family, to Tom, to my fellow news.yc'rs, I'm sorry.
- run4yourlives 17y ago
  Heh, I went to those comments and found that, no surprisingly, I had already up voted them. I'd certainly add to the prevailing sentiment.
aaroneous 17y ago
Wow... I've just spent the last ten minutes re-reading every email I ever exchanged with him. I can't believe this happened. He was a fantastic guy and my heart truly goes out to everyone else that'll be missing him.
immad 17y ago
Really sad. Dan was a smart and funny guy. He had a great way of looking at life and very confident. The world will definitely be a poorer place without him.
rufo 17y ago
I am so, so sorry. My thoughts are with you, yours and Dan's.
mechanical_fish 17y ago
I am so sorry to hear about this. My sincere condolences to all of you who knew and worked with Dan.
Harj 17y ago
my thoughts go out to all his friends and family. nobody should be taken away so young.
suhail 17y ago
Tom, I am sorry for your loss. When Garry told me, I couldn't believe it, I immediately checked Dan's last login time on IM and it was just 4 days ago. Dan was the kind of person who would be there to help when you needed it. Dan helped us get into YC, he took the time to review our application and even recommended us without us even knowing about it. Dan believed in us despite never have even met me personally--We may not be where we are without Dan. PG is right, The world is a poorer place without him. Tom, if there's anything I can help you with, anything I can do please do not hesitate to ask.
modelic3 17y ago
This sucks.
edw519 17y ago
I am so sorry to hear about this, it's heartbreaking. I enjoyed fallentimes' timely and insightful comments here for quite some time. He really told it like it was. I distinctly remember that he was at the top of the best comments list for his take on the mint.com acquisition. I will miss him. My condolences to his family and friends. Tom, don't be surprised by how much time you need for the fog to clear; everybody is different. Please use this community to share or ask for anything you need. I'm sure I'm not alone in offering whatever I can to help.
drm237 17y ago
Dan was one of those amazing people that did more for us than we could ever hope to do for him. He gave more in his short time here than most of us could hope to give in a lifetime. Hang in there Tom.
someonesad 17y ago
You know.... I am crying now. Death seems to glaze at me every time I start wasting my life again. I know that this is stupid, but I just can't help it. I am terribly sorry. Really. The funny thing is that I don't even know this guy - but I really like him. Nietzsche said that suicide thoughts are a wonderful comfort - they help us get through a lot of bad nights... and you know, today - right now, actually - it feels good to be such a coward. It feels good to be incapable of taking my own life... no matter how stupid I am, no matter how fucked up everything and everyone is. I am really terribly sorry... I just don't know what to say.
- revorad 17y ago
  I know how you feel mate. Just hold on and share a nice moment with someone. Often, that's enough to bring back the zest for life.
- arijo 17y ago
  Hold on there. The world is not perfect and that is exactly the reason why we need people like you, who understand what it means to pass through hardship, to fight back for justice and for human dignity. Hardship will end and your experience will allow you to help other people to also fight back for their humanity. "What does not kill me, makes me stronger." - Nietzsche.
chris11 17y ago
This is horrible news. I didn't know Dan personally, but I recognize the name from his comments. He will be missed here. My condolences to Tom, and Dan's friends and family.
rgrieselhuber 17y ago
As one of the many that never knew him but am now reading about him, I can only imagine the sense of loss that you feel now and will for the rest of your life. I'm very sorry. Dan seems like one in a million.
bootload 17y ago
"... A Terrible Tragedy ..." I'm pretty p$ssed off with this. Why? I didn't know Dan but I do remember his ideas. I also remember a picture from ticketstumbler. It took a while to equate "Dan" with "fallentimes". Firstly it's the sheer bloody waste. The waste of youth, the talent and opportunity. Then there is the betrayal. Betrayal in the sense of abandoning of those who cared, family, friends. It took a bit of time for me to accept "tragedy" as the correct phrase to use here? Tragedy for me is/was reserved for people killed, because they had no other opportunity, no other choice. I've had plenty of time to reflect on "tragedy" this year. I've been to more funeral services this year than I care for and I'll be working on the fallout for years to come ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/collections/72157621186142971/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/collections/7215762118... So I can empathise with the situation. I really can. But I now realise the passing of Dan is just as tragic in the true Greek sense for other reasons. It's a tragedy because of all the choices Dan made he chose the one that will do the most damage to himself, his family and friends. It's a tragedy because of the waste of youth, talent and opportunity. Dan's gift to me is he re-enforces the idea of "be good", "try your best", "have fun" but gain some perspective of what really matters. I know this is hard in Startups and in youth. Perspective comes with time. Remember this when you fail, when you succeed. Don't let the trivial get on top of you, lest you let others down, more than yourself.
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prakash 17y ago
Tom, my condolences on your loss, to you and to Dan's family & friends. I fondly remember Dan's comments, his thinking & approach to challenges, and how it was always an opportunity to get things done whatever the odds. We will miss you, Dan.
Zenbach 17y ago
This is very sad. I just submitted my application for Winter 2010 yesterday and just begun to learn about Hacker News, participate, .. and Boom! I read about Dan and find out how a great guy he was and that he has committed suicide. This is an unlucky first sad impression for me and this forum, but it also has served, by reading through all your comments, to quickly find out what a tight and supportive community the YCombinator crowd is. My condolences to all those who knew him.
khurrams 17y ago
I worked with Dan on making iPhone Application using TS webservice. Without any doubt, world wont be same without Dan - He was a great person ! My condolences to Tom, and Dan's friends and family
ryanwaggoner 17y ago
Fuck. I never had the chance to meet Dan, but he gave us extensive feedback on our w2009 app. Of all the YC folks who responded to my cold emails asking for feedback, Dan went the furthest in terms of writing several rounds of very lengthy and thoughtful critiques of our application, giving me his cell phone number for any questions, even putting in a good word with PG for us. In our correspondence back and forth, he always struck me as an incredibly intelligent, humble, and generous guy who would do anything to help others succeed. He closed one of his last emails to me with this: Be sure to keep me in the loop. Few things are more gratifying than seeing casual acquaintances & friends make money doing what they love. As always, I'm just one person - do what your gut tells you. This is so senseless, and I'm having trouble understanding it. PG said it best: the world is a poorer place without him. Rest in peace, Dan.
antirez 17y ago
This tragedies make me think that we should make sure to enjoy the life while working on our startups. Life sometimes is just too short.
jeremymims 17y ago
Dan was my friend. And as far as I know, I was the last YC guy to visit Dan and Tom in Boston. And it breaks my heart. It just breaks it in a million pieces for a million reasons. Dan was generous, and kind, and smart in the way that we all hope to be. He was the kind of person that would stand in front of a group of powerful venture capitalists and say "we don't need your money." He was a true inspiration. We lost one of us and we lost one of our best. Please, please take the time to reach out to everyone you know who feels lonely or alone and let them know you care. God knows I wish I had. I wish I had realized. And if you knew Dan, please take some time to say "fuck you" to the powers that be. He'd smile. We will miss you dearly.
brianchesky 17y ago
One year ago, I met Dan when we were applying to Y-Combinator. We were contemplating entering YC, and reached out to Dan for advice. After a few conversations, we were convinced. Part of our decision to join YC was because of the community, and this was in no small measure influenced by our experiences with Dan. Since then, we have kept in touch, sharing ideas and war stories. Dan played a brief but influential role in the Airbnb story, and an even greater influence in my life as one of the warmest introductions to the startup community one could ever imagine.
blizkreeg 17y ago
Truly Tragic. I didn't know him. Rest in Peace, Dan.
nopassrecover 17y ago
I'm just barely part of this community and even I recognised the HN name "fallentimes" and the quality of his posts (I now get why PG asks for HN names). I'll miss just these little comments. I truly cannot begin to comprehend how those who knew Dan more must miss him. My thoughts go out to those who knew him.
asif 17y ago
I'm at a loss for words. Thinking back about Dan and the three months we spent together in YC, there were so many things this guy did right. Both as an entrepreneur and a human being, he was a role model for me. The world is truly a poorer place without him.
henriklied 17y ago
This is nothing but a horrible happening. I've lost a friend the same way myself, and the entire situation stirs up painful memories. My sincerest condolences to all of his family and friends.
swombat 17y ago
This 100+ comments thread filled with anecdotes of ways that fallentimes helped this or that person or was remarkable in this or that way, says more plainly and eloquently than any single post, that this is a tragic loss not only on an individual level, but also for the community. I spoke to Dan numerous times on #startups. I am shocked and saddened to hear this news. My deepest condolences to Tom and to Dan's family and friends.
rrf 17y ago
Tom, I admire your strength on here during this terrible time. My condolences to you and to Dan's friends and family. A great loss.
fuelfive 17y ago
I first met Dan at the little breakfast YC held for our newly-admitted class, right after interviews in May of 2008. I was so impressed with the strength of Dan's ideas, his natural charisma, and how much of a hustler he was. I still tell friends the stories I heard from him that day about how he worked the system in ways that I don't think even Dan would feel comfortable with me saying here. Dan worked all the angles, especially the ones that you and I would never even consider. He took crazy risks, often came out on top, and had a shit-eating grin the whole way. Dan was awesome. Throughout the summer, Dan and I would talk regularly about our companies, strategies, and how it was going. He had the rare mix of smart, incisive questions, and an easygoing manner that made everyone relax and smile. Jessica would always scold Dan and Tom for drinking too much beer in front of the speakers, and Dan would always charm his way out. Everyone was in stitches for his demo day presentations too. I remember hearing PG brag about feeling like he could just leave the TicketStumblers alone and they'd come up with something awesome without his help. Dan was an amazing guy, and I only saw a tiny fraction of his light. The world needs more Dans.
- gabesmed 17y ago
  I wish I'd known him.
kyro 17y ago
Ah man. Once I logged into YC and saw the black banner, I thought another CS idol I never knew had passed away, but to find out it was one of our very own was terribly shocking. My friendship, if you can even call it that, with Dan wasn't as nearly as tight as others here, but when I decided to finally take an idea of mine seriously into startup territory, I came to Dan for a lot of advice. I was kinda new to the whole thing, and even with such a newbie, Dan always took the time to answer every question, explain every concept, letting me know about problems I will come across, and how to deal with them. It always shocked me how much time he took to help me out. I had only met him through the #startups channel, so we were virtual strangers. From my minimal interactions with Dan, he seemed like a genuine dude. The phrase 'a real stand up guy' comes to mind as well. He just gave off that vibe and it seems that tons of others here picked up on that vibe as well. The best thing to do is to take a page out of Dan's book in how to treat others, and be selfless, and spread that. I know I'll try. We didn't know each other too well, Dan, but cheers to you, man. And my prayers go out to your friends, family, and Tom.
gruseom 17y ago
I spent most of yesterday reading this comment thread and other things about Dan. I only knew him the way one feels close to someone that one admires in a community like this. So I can't imagine what those of you who knew and loved Dan must be going through. My thoughts are with you. It's striking how many of you tell the same story about Dan's generosity. He seems to have taken time to help and support everyone who came to him: meeting with them, encouraging them, staying in touch with them, cooking them breakfast... People like that are precious. The combination of talent, mischievousness, and heart that everybody is describing is very compelling. Makes me think I would have liked him a lot.
uuilly 17y ago
Startups are intense evironments where tempers flare and principled differences of opinion lay, ready to be kicked up, like sleeping dragons on the floor. This being the case, I really feel for his co-founder. I can't imagine that there aren't words he wished he could take back or signs he thinks he should have seen. I urge you not to blame yourself for any harsh words or deeds you may have let loose in the life of your company. Bruised egos in startups are like bruised thighs in pro football. They're just part of the game. So go easy on yourself. The rules of personal interaction in startups are different. Furthermore, you can't make sense of suicide. It's an act that by definition doesn't make sense. I don't know you but I'm really sorry for you. I wish you and your company the best.
rms 17y ago
I'm amazed to see how just how many in the community had a personal interaction with Dan. I doubt that anyone else here has reached out to so many different people. Dan friended me on Facebook one day. I later saw him comment in a thread about the lack of profile pictures here, saying that if you wanted to see what a poster here looked like, you could just add them on Facebook. Later, I had the privilege of learning the secrets of "ticket hustling" directly from Dan. The world misses you, Dan.
ashishk 17y ago
PG, can we keep this story on the home page for some time? I would hate to see this discussion pushed down.
_joanna 17y ago
My boyfriend is a YC founder. After the class of S08 met for the first time, I anxiously awaited his phone call to see how it went. When he called, what was the first thing I heard about...pg...no...Dan Haubert. I heard how he had crazy courage. Then I met him and discovered his gentle heart. Dan, you will be greatly missed.
startingup 17y ago
My heartfelt condolences.
Derrek 17y ago
After reading all these comments, I wish that I'd known Dan. It sounds like he was a pretty great guy. My condolences go out his family and friends.
run4yourlives 17y ago
Damn. I didn't know Dan, but I did "know" fallentimes. I thought he was one of the brighter users here on HN, and that's saying a lot given this crowd. I always found him interesting and intelligent, even if I disagreed. A loss indeed. Tom, take care and add my condolences to the rest of the outpouring. I wish you and his family the best.
perplexes 17y ago
I didn't know Dan, but reading about how many lives he has touched is heartbreaking. How senseless. The deepest sympathy I can muster goes out to his family and friends. I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do.
toufique 17y ago
Dan was by far the greatest guy in our summer batch. He was truly one of the most generous people I've ever met. He went out of his way to help us out on so many occasions. He never asked for a favor in return, nor did he even expect one. He just helped us because that was the kind of giving person he was. Rest in peace, Dan. You'll be missed.
- jasonoliver 17y ago
  oh wow i cant believe i am just reading about this now after traveling for work the past 2 weeks. dan was my first yc friend and welcomed me to the community as a young vc looking for cool companies. i am utterly in shock and entirely saddened to learn about this. thoughts go out to his family and other friends.
marram 17y ago
I met Dan at a house party last summer. He was a great guy. I only talked to him for a few minutes, but he and his cofounder ended up leaving Boston just a week or two later. I just got an email with the news from a mutual friend, and I'm at a loss of words.

626 points by rantfoil 17y ago

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[deleted]

It's a pain for all of us who knew him through HN and TS, and it's a greater pain for those who worked and mingled with him daily. You will be missed, Dan.

TomOfTTB 17y ago

I'd been going through his comments here... http://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=fallentimes http://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=fallentimes It's actually a great read. I didn't know him personally but as someone who knew him well enough to recognize his user name I'm saddened by this. The last thing the world needs is fewer smart people who honestly speak their minds.

rantfoil 17y ago

In the words of Jeremy Mims -- Dan really was the heart of our YC Summer 08 batch. He was always quick to smile, share a good laugh, and share sharp insights into all things startup. We will miss him always.

whather 17y ago
Dan was one of those guys who would light up the room when he came in. He was always very positive and he genuinely cared about others. I definitely agree he was the heart of our YC Summer 08 batch and gave so many of us great advice. Dan, you were a good friend and will be missed.
- speby 17y ago
  So true. One of my favorite memories of him was when we first met him and Tom in June of 2008, right when we had begun Y Combinator that summer. Brad, one of my co-founders, and I had flown in from Chicago to start living there that summer and hadn't found a place to live yet so we crashed at Tom and Dan's pad for a night, sleeping on the couches. It was a nasty, hot summer night and they didn't have A/C. Not only did we stay up late drinking but Brad and I barely went to sleep. Early in the morning before we had to leave, Dan was up (he was usually a morning guy) and made us this incredible breakfast for us. It was just about the nicest god damn thing we could have had that morning after such a shitty night's rest. Dan was in my book instantly as one of the nicest, coolest guys to have met and gotten to know that summer.
  - rantfoil 17y ago
    I just shared some photos from the summer with Dan on my blog. I am just so freaking shattered thinking about how that was just a year ago, and now this. http://garry.posterous.com/dan-haubert-1984-2009-we-will-miss-you-always http://garry.posterous.com/dan-haubert-1984-2009-we-will-mis...
nihaar 17y ago
Wow I still have not come to terms with this. I whole heartedly agree with Jeremy's comment. He was one of the first people I met in the YC Summer 08 batch and I could feel the excitement & passion oozing out of him. Always quick to help a person out in whatever capacity he could, encouraging and lively, he was truly a stand up guy and will be missed.
edawerd 17y ago
Dan had such a charm to him. He always had this mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and was so gregarious and affable. He was tall and the kind of guy in the room that everyone just gravitated towards, yet he wasn't the least bit intimidating. He was such a giving person, always lending a hand wherever he could. I'll miss him so much.

speby 17y ago

A sad, sad day. Hard to imagine I won't be able to see the great Dan again. I'll miss him and his antics, jokes, big talk, and huge ambition and drive.

vaksel 17y ago

what is it with all these young kids dying? wasn't there a post like only a few days ago about a guy losing his cofounder to a car accident. how did he die, if you don't mind me asking?

tdavis 17y ago
Suicide.
- gstar 17y ago
  Terrible. Most of all, don't beat yourself up about this - there was nothing you could have done to have stopped it, and he did what he wanted to do for his own reasons. I'm sorry for your loss.
- maxklein 17y ago
  Was there a note or some type of reason? Dan seemed perfectly normal in his conversation.
  - tdavis 17y ago
    No. Nobody suspected anything including me, family, friends, and his girlfriend
    - maxklein 17y ago
      Has the police ruled out any possibility of foul play?
      - cema 17y ago
        Why did several people downvote it? Seems a legitimate question. I wish people who mod comments down would at least explain why.
        brandnewlow 17y ago

maxklein 17y ago

I find this difficult to believe. He wrote me 4 weeks back, and the email is still in my inbox, starred, so that I could reply it when I had a bit of time.

brandnewlow 17y ago
Same here. Dan wrote me out of the blue a few weeks back with words of encouragement about some issues I'd posted about. We exchanged a few messages. Wish I'd written him more. This is very sad news.

mattmaroon 17y ago

Now who is going to IM me to laugh about the groupthink here.

iron_ball 17y ago
Really? "LOL now its just me pointing out your stupidity LOL" You can do better than that.

quizbiz 17y ago

My condolences. He will be forever remembered for sharing his experiences and inspiring others.

yan 17y ago

Whoa. My condolences. I always appreciated his input and he was one of the usernames I seeked out when browsing comments pages.

sachinag 17y ago

A blogger wrote about a competitor of TS and I mentioned in the comments that the blogger totally missed TS. Dan reached out to me via e-mail to say thanks for the note. From that quick e-mail, we developed a great friendship. Dan was another "business guy" with a finance background who jumped into a startup because he was angry, physically angry, about a problem he saw and wanted to make it better. He was the first real kindred spirit I've found on my startup journey. He was more than a mentor, he was an inspiration. I leaned on him a lot, probably more than was fair, but Dan was always there to help me out, think things through, or just offer a pick-me-up when I was down about user numbers, distraught about my inability to help my startup because I couldn't code, or whatever else was on my mind. He introduced me to new ideas and new techniques, but most importantly, he introduced me to a world of new friends. Because of him, I have a place to crash and people to hang with when I visit San Francisco. Dan paid it forward and did it because he liked to help people. He will be missed.

AndrewWarner 17y ago
I had a similar experience with him. He emailed me after seeing something I wrote on HN. We stayed in touch and he was very supportive. I feel terrible about this.

tdavis 17y ago

Tom here. I am exhausted so pardon the informality and lack of feeling. Questions, etc. please contact me. Paul has a note that he's going to be posting on the YC blog at some point; try to keep discussion to one post, for my sanity. I will be keeping an eye on stuff and answering questions where possible. tom@ts also gtalk

pg 17y ago
http://ycombinator.com/dan.html http://ycombinator.com/dan.html
- blasdel 17y ago
  Did you add the 5px row of black in remembrance of Dan?
- tdavis 17y ago
  I'm glad you took it upon yourself to write a poignant note; I couldn't have done him justice. The picture damn near made me tear up. Thank you.
- vaksel 17y ago
  i think the photo should just have dan, or at least point a sign to dan, those people who don't know what he looks like, can get confused
- bitdiddle 17y ago
  My sincerest condolences to friends, family, and all those that knew this young man. Both as a programmer and a father I find this heart breaking.
- dang 6y ago
  That link has gotten broken over the years, but the page is at https://web.archive.org/web/20091006002013/http://www.ycombinator.com/dan.html https://web.archive.org/web/20091006002013/http://www.ycombi...
ojbyrne 17y ago
Wow, sorry to hear. Can't really think of what to say.

axod 17y ago

How incredibly sad. Condolences. He will be sadly missed in #startups and obviously on hn.

coffeemug 17y ago

I last talked to Dan ten days ago. Can't believe he's gone. His feedback was instrumental to us getting into YC - it was exactly the kick in the ass we needed. If we succeed, a share of that success will belong to him. I think lots of other people could say the same. My condolences to Tom, Dan's friends, and family.

justlearning 17y ago

I am stunned. While I don't know Dan as many of you do in person, I did read his comments. My condolences to his family. I initially thought it was a mishap. The news that He took the exit door by himself is what chokes on my thoughts. Why do the good guys do this to themselves? Why did he go away?

petercooper 17y ago
It doesn't make it any better but it's pretty remarkable what some chemicals swirling around in our brains can do to us as humans. A lot of good things, sure, but a lot of distressing, uncharacteristic stuff too.

fname 17y ago

I didn't have the chance to talk with Dan, but the comments here make me feel like I missed out on a tremendous person. Sorry for your loss, Tom.

rogerthat 17y ago

I've been futilely reading his recent FriendFeed and Twitter updates for some inkling as to what could have triggered this tragic act. http://friendfeed.com/danhau http://friendfeed.com/danhau http://twitter.com/danhau http://twitter.com/danhau Not so much as a smidgen of a hint. His comments seemed consistent up until the last with no hint of despair. No wonder this caught people by surprise. It's flabbergasting. My condolences to everyone close to Dan. Although I didn't know him personally, he seemed like a terrific guy. What sad news.

_pius 17y ago

Oh my gosh. This is just awful and I'm literally at a loss for words. We've had several tragic deaths amongst the YC community both recently and over the past few years, but Dan's is definitely the first to viscerally choke me up. I didn't know him personally, but I've read so many of his posts here that I feel like I did. Please accept my condolences during this difficult time.

gruseom 17y ago

Tom, I am so, so sorry.

Chukwu 17y ago

A solemn reminder to shower our friends and family with love while we still have the chance...I am so very sorry for the loss of your friend...my condolences.

johnnybgoode 17y ago

I am very sorry, both for your loss and for the fact that I never had a chance to know Dan.

lisper 17y ago
Ditto.

davidw 17y ago

Reminds me a bit of Ettore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettore_Perazzoli http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettore_Perazzoli

revorad 17y ago

Very sad to hear. My heartfelt condolences. Indeed, the world is a poorer place without him.

daveambrose 17y ago

I started reading HN years ago and I always saw a user by the name of fallentimes posting really insightful comments. Through his threads, I found out a lot about he thought through startups, biz, PR...you name it. I learned a lot from him. We exchanged IMs and emails about little things like TS' press in the FT and how it came about or help with my HN password. I was planning on going to Boston to see my girlfriend's sister and was hoping to meet him in person. My heart and condolences go out to his friends and family. Tom, be strong - you have all our support and best wishes.

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kn0thing 17y ago

We shared a few lunches in Cambridge, as well as more than a few emails about business-guy strategery. There are so many impressive YC startup founders, but Dan had a remarkable x-factor that one sees in successful entrepreneurs without any of the arrogance, avarice, or powerhunger that so often accompanies this talent. We only knew each other through a shared investor [YC], yet I very much wanted to see him succeed, and believed would - something most people must have felt upon meeting him. We were all looking forward to watching him have a long and fruitful career. As PG said, the world is indeed much poorer without him. Dan's family & friends are in my thoughts.

dgallagher 17y ago

My heart goes out to Dan's friends, family, and to Tom.

CamperBob 17y ago

I, too, had a good friend in Austin back in the 90s who committed suicide unexpectedly. The cause of death was phrased delicately as an "accidental hanging". Let's just say that depression is not the only cause of suicide. Some people are the sort who just have to try everything once. Not suggesting that's what happened to Dan, but if so it would mean that nobody should feel remorse or guilt about failing to notice he needed help.

staunch 17y ago

Very sad. I wish the best for his family and friends.

raju 17y ago

I am sorry. My condolences to his family, his friends, and you. I hope you find strength and solace.

joez 17y ago

I wish I have had to chance to meet him. I do recognize his username for insightful comments. Tom, I hope to know that people are adding on comments to show that they care. I wanted to add just another one even if it had no quip or insight. My condolences.

tlb 17y ago

A tragic loss. Dan was smart, dedicated, funny, and always a pleasure to talk to. Please: If you ever find yourself despairing, reach out to your friends, co-founders, parents, investors, someone. They are much more likely to understand than you may think.

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alaskamiller 17y ago

We emailed back and forth so much for awhile last summer on just a variety of things. He was a really bright person with a great perspective on life. This makes me hurt so much.

grosales 17y ago

May he rest in peace. For the ones he left, my most sincere condolences.

EGF 17y ago

Very sorry to hear this - my condolences

rooshdi 17y ago

So sorry to hear this tragedy. My condolences go out to all those involved. Another reminder of how fragile life is and how important it is for us to live our lives to the fullest in memory of those we have lost. We also need to help and show our sincere love and support for all those suffering from depression, anxiety, or anything for that matter. My hope is that Dan's time on earth spreads contagious loving memories which inspire all of us to live our lives with love, modesty, and empathy.

tptacek 17y ago

Tom, Dan seems like just an impossibly awesome guy. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=392341 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=392341 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=338357 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=338357 I'm so sorry for the loss. Dan, I hope it was an adventure. Peace be with you.

tdavis 17y ago
He most certainly was; thank you! He was always the one person who couldn't be phased. I still don't know how it came to this.
brianlash 17y ago
I recall reading the anecdote at the first link. Without looking I wouldn't have remembered it was from Dan, or even that it was about Ticketstumbler, but I would have recalled the story. That would happen over and over if I (we) were to sift through Dan's comments. He was such a selfless YC'er - we've gleaned so much from his activity here - but time tends to muddy the origin of ideas. It's like we know what we've learned, but we don't always recall where we learned it. I think it's for that reason I'm reluctant to read through his old stuff; I know I would discover Dan as the origin of so many thought-provoking entries we've been so fortunate to count on across his time here. His was a tremendous contribution. The impact of this loss is equally so. To his loved ones and family, to Tom, to my fellow news.yc'rs, I'm sorry.
run4yourlives 17y ago
Heh, I went to those comments and found that, no surprisingly, I had already up voted them. I'd certainly add to the prevailing sentiment.

aaroneous 17y ago

Wow... I've just spent the last ten minutes re-reading every email I ever exchanged with him. I can't believe this happened. He was a fantastic guy and my heart truly goes out to everyone else that'll be missing him.

immad 17y ago

Really sad. Dan was a smart and funny guy. He had a great way of looking at life and very confident. The world will definitely be a poorer place without him.

rufo 17y ago

I am so, so sorry. My thoughts are with you, yours and Dan's.

mechanical_fish 17y ago

I am so sorry to hear about this. My sincere condolences to all of you who knew and worked with Dan.

Harj 17y ago

my thoughts go out to all his friends and family. nobody should be taken away so young.

suhail 17y ago

Tom, I am sorry for your loss. When Garry told me, I couldn't believe it, I immediately checked Dan's last login time on IM and it was just 4 days ago. Dan was the kind of person who would be there to help when you needed it. Dan helped us get into YC, he took the time to review our application and even recommended us without us even knowing about it. Dan believed in us despite never have even met me personally--We may not be where we are without Dan. PG is right, The world is a poorer place without him. Tom, if there's anything I can help you with, anything I can do please do not hesitate to ask.

modelic3 17y ago

This sucks.

edw519 17y ago

I am so sorry to hear about this, it's heartbreaking. I enjoyed fallentimes' timely and insightful comments here for quite some time. He really told it like it was. I distinctly remember that he was at the top of the best comments list for his take on the mint.com acquisition. I will miss him. My condolences to his family and friends. Tom, don't be surprised by how much time you need for the fog to clear; everybody is different. Please use this community to share or ask for anything you need. I'm sure I'm not alone in offering whatever I can to help.

drm237 17y ago

Dan was one of those amazing people that did more for us than we could ever hope to do for him. He gave more in his short time here than most of us could hope to give in a lifetime. Hang in there Tom.

someonesad 17y ago

You know.... I am crying now. Death seems to glaze at me every time I start wasting my life again. I know that this is stupid, but I just can't help it. I am terribly sorry. Really. The funny thing is that I don't even know this guy - but I really like him. Nietzsche said that suicide thoughts are a wonderful comfort - they help us get through a lot of bad nights... and you know, today - right now, actually - it feels good to be such a coward. It feels good to be incapable of taking my own life... no matter how stupid I am, no matter how fucked up everything and everyone is. I am really terribly sorry... I just don't know what to say.

revorad 17y ago
I know how you feel mate. Just hold on and share a nice moment with someone. Often, that's enough to bring back the zest for life.
arijo 17y ago
Hold on there. The world is not perfect and that is exactly the reason why we need people like you, who understand what it means to pass through hardship, to fight back for justice and for human dignity. Hardship will end and your experience will allow you to help other people to also fight back for their humanity. "What does not kill me, makes me stronger." - Nietzsche.

chris11 17y ago

This is horrible news. I didn't know Dan personally, but I recognize the name from his comments. He will be missed here. My condolences to Tom, and Dan's friends and family.

rgrieselhuber 17y ago

As one of the many that never knew him but am now reading about him, I can only imagine the sense of loss that you feel now and will for the rest of your life. I'm very sorry. Dan seems like one in a million.

bootload 17y ago

"... A Terrible Tragedy ..." I'm pretty p$ssed off with this. Why? I didn't know Dan but I do remember his ideas. I also remember a picture from ticketstumbler. It took a while to equate "Dan" with "fallentimes". Firstly it's the sheer bloody waste. The waste of youth, the talent and opportunity. Then there is the betrayal. Betrayal in the sense of abandoning of those who cared, family, friends. It took a bit of time for me to accept "tragedy" as the correct phrase to use here? Tragedy for me is/was reserved for people killed, because they had no other opportunity, no other choice. I've had plenty of time to reflect on "tragedy" this year. I've been to more funeral services this year than I care for and I'll be working on the fallout for years to come ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/collections/72157621186142971/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/collections/7215762118... So I can empathise with the situation. I really can. But I now realise the passing of Dan is just as tragic in the true Greek sense for other reasons. It's a tragedy because of all the choices Dan made he chose the one that will do the most damage to himself, his family and friends. It's a tragedy because of the waste of youth, talent and opportunity. Dan's gift to me is he re-enforces the idea of "be good", "try your best", "have fun" but gain some perspective of what really matters. I know this is hard in Startups and in youth. Perspective comes with time. Remember this when you fail, when you succeed. Don't let the trivial get on top of you, lest you let others down, more than yourself.

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prakash 17y ago

Tom, my condolences on your loss, to you and to Dan's family & friends. I fondly remember Dan's comments, his thinking & approach to challenges, and how it was always an opportunity to get things done whatever the odds. We will miss you, Dan.

Zenbach 17y ago

This is very sad. I just submitted my application for Winter 2010 yesterday and just begun to learn about Hacker News, participate, .. and Boom! I read about Dan and find out how a great guy he was and that he has committed suicide. This is an unlucky first sad impression for me and this forum, but it also has served, by reading through all your comments, to quickly find out what a tight and supportive community the YCombinator crowd is. My condolences to all those who knew him.

khurrams 17y ago

I worked with Dan on making iPhone Application using TS webservice. Without any doubt, world wont be same without Dan - He was a great person ! My condolences to Tom, and Dan's friends and family

ryanwaggoner 17y ago

Fuck. I never had the chance to meet Dan, but he gave us extensive feedback on our w2009 app. Of all the YC folks who responded to my cold emails asking for feedback, Dan went the furthest in terms of writing several rounds of very lengthy and thoughtful critiques of our application, giving me his cell phone number for any questions, even putting in a good word with PG for us. In our correspondence back and forth, he always struck me as an incredibly intelligent, humble, and generous guy who would do anything to help others succeed. He closed one of his last emails to me with this: Be sure to keep me in the loop. Few things are more gratifying than seeing casual acquaintances & friends make money doing what they love. As always, I'm just one person - do what your gut tells you. This is so senseless, and I'm having trouble understanding it. PG said it best: the world is a poorer place without him. Rest in peace, Dan.

antirez 17y ago

This tragedies make me think that we should make sure to enjoy the life while working on our startups. Life sometimes is just too short.

jeremymims 17y ago

Dan was my friend. And as far as I know, I was the last YC guy to visit Dan and Tom in Boston. And it breaks my heart. It just breaks it in a million pieces for a million reasons. Dan was generous, and kind, and smart in the way that we all hope to be. He was the kind of person that would stand in front of a group of powerful venture capitalists and say "we don't need your money." He was a true inspiration. We lost one of us and we lost one of our best. Please, please take the time to reach out to everyone you know who feels lonely or alone and let them know you care. God knows I wish I had. I wish I had realized. And if you knew Dan, please take some time to say "fuck you" to the powers that be. He'd smile. We will miss you dearly.

brianchesky 17y ago

One year ago, I met Dan when we were applying to Y-Combinator. We were contemplating entering YC, and reached out to Dan for advice. After a few conversations, we were convinced. Part of our decision to join YC was because of the community, and this was in no small measure influenced by our experiences with Dan. Since then, we have kept in touch, sharing ideas and war stories. Dan played a brief but influential role in the Airbnb story, and an even greater influence in my life as one of the warmest introductions to the startup community one could ever imagine.

blizkreeg 17y ago

Truly Tragic. I didn't know him. Rest in Peace, Dan.

nopassrecover 17y ago

I'm just barely part of this community and even I recognised the HN name "fallentimes" and the quality of his posts (I now get why PG asks for HN names). I'll miss just these little comments. I truly cannot begin to comprehend how those who knew Dan more must miss him. My thoughts go out to those who knew him.

asif 17y ago

I'm at a loss for words. Thinking back about Dan and the three months we spent together in YC, there were so many things this guy did right. Both as an entrepreneur and a human being, he was a role model for me. The world is truly a poorer place without him.

henriklied 17y ago

This is nothing but a horrible happening. I've lost a friend the same way myself, and the entire situation stirs up painful memories. My sincerest condolences to all of his family and friends.

swombat 17y ago

This 100+ comments thread filled with anecdotes of ways that fallentimes helped this or that person or was remarkable in this or that way, says more plainly and eloquently than any single post, that this is a tragic loss not only on an individual level, but also for the community. I spoke to Dan numerous times on #startups. I am shocked and saddened to hear this news. My deepest condolences to Tom and to Dan's family and friends.

rrf 17y ago

Tom, I admire your strength on here during this terrible time. My condolences to you and to Dan's friends and family. A great loss.

fuelfive 17y ago

I first met Dan at the little breakfast YC held for our newly-admitted class, right after interviews in May of 2008. I was so impressed with the strength of Dan's ideas, his natural charisma, and how much of a hustler he was. I still tell friends the stories I heard from him that day about how he worked the system in ways that I don't think even Dan would feel comfortable with me saying here. Dan worked all the angles, especially the ones that you and I would never even consider. He took crazy risks, often came out on top, and had a shit-eating grin the whole way. Dan was awesome. Throughout the summer, Dan and I would talk regularly about our companies, strategies, and how it was going. He had the rare mix of smart, incisive questions, and an easygoing manner that made everyone relax and smile. Jessica would always scold Dan and Tom for drinking too much beer in front of the speakers, and Dan would always charm his way out. Everyone was in stitches for his demo day presentations too. I remember hearing PG brag about feeling like he could just leave the TicketStumblers alone and they'd come up with something awesome without his help. Dan was an amazing guy, and I only saw a tiny fraction of his light. The world needs more Dans.

gabesmed 17y ago
I wish I'd known him.

kyro 17y ago

Ah man. Once I logged into YC and saw the black banner, I thought another CS idol I never knew had passed away, but to find out it was one of our very own was terribly shocking. My friendship, if you can even call it that, with Dan wasn't as nearly as tight as others here, but when I decided to finally take an idea of mine seriously into startup territory, I came to Dan for a lot of advice. I was kinda new to the whole thing, and even with such a newbie, Dan always took the time to answer every question, explain every concept, letting me know about problems I will come across, and how to deal with them. It always shocked me how much time he took to help me out. I had only met him through the #startups channel, so we were virtual strangers. From my minimal interactions with Dan, he seemed like a genuine dude. The phrase 'a real stand up guy' comes to mind as well. He just gave off that vibe and it seems that tons of others here picked up on that vibe as well. The best thing to do is to take a page out of Dan's book in how to treat others, and be selfless, and spread that. I know I'll try. We didn't know each other too well, Dan, but cheers to you, man. And my prayers go out to your friends, family, and Tom.

gruseom 17y ago

I spent most of yesterday reading this comment thread and other things about Dan. I only knew him the way one feels close to someone that one admires in a community like this. So I can't imagine what those of you who knew and loved Dan must be going through. My thoughts are with you. It's striking how many of you tell the same story about Dan's generosity. He seems to have taken time to help and support everyone who came to him: meeting with them, encouraging them, staying in touch with them, cooking them breakfast... People like that are precious. The combination of talent, mischievousness, and heart that everybody is describing is very compelling. Makes me think I would have liked him a lot.

uuilly 17y ago

Startups are intense evironments where tempers flare and principled differences of opinion lay, ready to be kicked up, like sleeping dragons on the floor. This being the case, I really feel for his co-founder. I can't imagine that there aren't words he wished he could take back or signs he thinks he should have seen. I urge you not to blame yourself for any harsh words or deeds you may have let loose in the life of your company. Bruised egos in startups are like bruised thighs in pro football. They're just part of the game. So go easy on yourself. The rules of personal interaction in startups are different. Furthermore, you can't make sense of suicide. It's an act that by definition doesn't make sense. I don't know you but I'm really sorry for you. I wish you and your company the best.

rms 17y ago

I'm amazed to see how just how many in the community had a personal interaction with Dan. I doubt that anyone else here has reached out to so many different people. Dan friended me on Facebook one day. I later saw him comment in a thread about the lack of profile pictures here, saying that if you wanted to see what a poster here looked like, you could just add them on Facebook. Later, I had the privilege of learning the secrets of "ticket hustling" directly from Dan. The world misses you, Dan.

ashishk 17y ago

PG, can we keep this story on the home page for some time? I would hate to see this discussion pushed down.

_joanna 17y ago

My boyfriend is a YC founder. After the class of S08 met for the first time, I anxiously awaited his phone call to see how it went. When he called, what was the first thing I heard about...pg...no...Dan Haubert. I heard how he had crazy courage. Then I met him and discovered his gentle heart. Dan, you will be greatly missed.

startingup 17y ago

My heartfelt condolences.

Derrek 17y ago

After reading all these comments, I wish that I'd known Dan. It sounds like he was a pretty great guy. My condolences go out his family and friends.

run4yourlives 17y ago

Damn. I didn't know Dan, but I did "know" fallentimes. I thought he was one of the brighter users here on HN, and that's saying a lot given this crowd. I always found him interesting and intelligent, even if I disagreed. A loss indeed. Tom, take care and add my condolences to the rest of the outpouring. I wish you and his family the best.

perplexes 17y ago

I didn't know Dan, but reading about how many lives he has touched is heartbreaking. How senseless. The deepest sympathy I can muster goes out to his family and friends. I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do.

toufique 17y ago

Dan was by far the greatest guy in our summer batch. He was truly one of the most generous people I've ever met. He went out of his way to help us out on so many occasions. He never asked for a favor in return, nor did he even expect one. He just helped us because that was the kind of giving person he was. Rest in peace, Dan. You'll be missed.

jasonoliver 17y ago
oh wow i cant believe i am just reading about this now after traveling for work the past 2 weeks. dan was my first yc friend and welcomed me to the community as a young vc looking for cool companies. i am utterly in shock and entirely saddened to learn about this. thoughts go out to his family and other friends.

marram 17y ago

I met Dan at a house party last summer. He was a great guy. I only talked to him for a few minutes, but he and his cofounder ended up leaving Boston just a week or two later. I just got an email with the news from a mutual friend, and I'm at a loss of words.