I have this information from two separate sources...
Some may remember Ben Kosse, an occasional poster to the anime usenet
groups, and writer of fanfiction, including the VPM story "A Different
Demon". Ben committed suicide last week, on December 7. He was 23 years old.
Below is a copy of his obituary that ran in the local paper in his home
town in Idaho.
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Benjamin Mark Kosse
Benjamin Mark Kosse was born in Spokane on Aug. 11, 1977 and raised in
Davenport, WA until his seventh grade year when he and his family moved to
Sandpoint, Idaho.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000 at
the Sandpoint United Methodist Church, 711 Main.
He was a precocious boy, picking up reading and math skills early,
excelling in school, and studying his various interests intently. He
earned several science awards including science fair winner, 8th grade
science student of the year, and Idaho representative to the DOE Honors
Research Program in Brookhaven, N.Y. He was a Math and Science Club member
and a 1995 SHS honors graduate.
While at Sandpoint High School, he became absorbed with computers. This
led to scholarships and two years of college at Rochester Institute of
Technology in New York. When in Sandpoint, he gave of his computer talents
to many, including the Methodist Church, computer novices, and Priest River
Junior High. He became a beta tester for Red Hat Linux and worked with
Internet associates to improve computer programs and develop new games.
Since July, 2000 he worked as a computer programmer in Durham, N.C.
He was a gifted writer of prose, poetry and computer games. He was
accomplished in martial arts and yet of the most gentle nature. He did
technical work with skill and, as always, was kind and giving to others.
He was less gracious with himself, taking his own life on Dec. 7, 2000.
His passion for social justice and human dignity for all can continue
through memorial gifts to either the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force,
211 Cedar, or the Sandpoint United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund, (P.O.
Box 308). His gentle considerate way can be amplified by our holding each
other more nearly, more dearly, more lovingly as we support each other in
life's joys and difficulties.
Sharing in the loss and grief are his parents, Ray and Dee; his sister,
Sarah; his grandma, Ruth French; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; and
friends near and far and through the Internet.