22 September 2008, 21:39 by Lykle de Vries

Mark Hoekstra has passed away

Dear visitors of geektechnique.org,

As friends of Mark, we figured you might appreciate an update on things. It took us a while to find/hack our way into his server (which should be no surprise to you), but we finally managed. We hope you will forgive us for trespassing.

On Saturday September 20, 2008, Mark Hoekstra passed away.

Mark suffered a heart attack on Wednesday the 17th while on his bicycle. He was admitted to the hospital and kept in a coma. Friday night he was pronounced braindead. In the spirit of his open source thinking, his family agreed to a donor procedure for which Mark was kept alive. He finally passed away on Saturday morning. Mark had just turned 34 on the 12th.


Marks Death Notice as sent out by his family

The text in the notice reads:
“So many plans, an unstoppable stream of ideas,
Such an open and creative mind,
We will never again be able to enjoy it,
So strong once and now knocked down,
So sudden and much too soon,
Bye dear Mark”

Mark will be cremated coming Thursday, in Groningen.

Marks family and girlfriend are in our thoughts continously during this difficult time.

With Marks passing away, the future of this site has become uncertain. While we are sure the site will remain online for a considerable time to come, we are looking for a proper way to honour Mark and his assembled works. Please leave your thoughts in the comments, or send us an email at lykle [at] nieuwegarde.nl.

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  1. Mastro Gippo @ 22 September 2008, 23:02 :

    I give all my condolence to family and friends of this very great person. Even if I discovered his website just today, I feel really connected with Mark. It really hits me when a person die so young, with so many projects left to do, with a new girlfriend (and us geeks know how difficult is to find a woman that can appreciate us). I… can’t believe it. a second you are biking, the second after you struggle on the floor for the last seconds of your life. God can’t be so cruel. It’s the third time I cry today, I can’t accept this reality. Reading his past posts I see that he has been a great guy, a wonderful person, and I’m sure that if heaven exists, he’s there with tons of gadgets to play.
    I would donate a little sum to keep this site alive, tell us if you know the password of his paypal account or if we need to use another one. For what it’s worth, I will try to replicate some of his experiments with 3D glasses.
    I don’t know if it is a good idea for you, but maybe you can sell some of his stuff on ebay with a charitable cause, maybe of something in wich he was involved.
    Condolences again to all the family and friends, I will pray for you all.
    Cristiano



  2. Joerg @ 22 September 2008, 23:06 :

    Good Bye Mark!
    You were a greatly inspiring human being.
    You had the rare ability show and send your enthusiasm to many others.
    Thank you very much!
    Joerg



  3. Maramao @ 22 September 2008, 23:16 :

    Good Bye Mark.
    Thanks for everything.

    Maurizio



  4. Brendan Gerry @ 22 September 2008, 23:19 :

    Goodbye



  5. Matthew Kirkcaldie @ 22 September 2008, 23:27 :

    Oh no, that’s terrible news. A vital and creative mind and a wicked sense of humour. Mark will be missed all over the world.



  6. Stephen @ 22 September 2008, 23:38 :

    Perhaps a weekly collection of the best DIY projects, or a single top pick of the week? Mark had something new nearly every week, so that seems appropriate.

    I was really shocked to learn of his death; the internet & DIY culture has lost a very inspiring and influential member.



  7. pascal @ 22 September 2008, 23:44 :

    and I was still hopeful that hackaday pulled some really sick kind of joke with the sad news…
    condolences to everyone



  8. g @ 22 September 2008, 23:45 :

    Good Bye Mark. You have been a great hacker. I will not forget you.



  9. mieru @ 23 September 2008, 00:07 :

    We will miss you, condolence to family.
    Mieru



  10. Gufo @ 23 September 2008, 00:08 :

    Hi Mark.
    I’ll miss your cleverness and your inspiring ideas.
    Rest in peace.



  11. dk @ 23 September 2008, 00:14 :

    You made me better for knowing you, Mark.

    Maybe the community can host mirrored versions of his site in case his hosting contract comes to an end?



  12. Mattnh @ 23 September 2008, 00:16 :

    I would like to express my condolences to Victoria and Marks family.
    Mark, have a good journey.
    And happy hacking.
    You will be missed.



  13. Alrayyes @ 23 September 2008, 01:02 :

    Again, HIP Mark! Like many others you’ve never met, you’ve inspired me with your hacker spirit.



  14. Marcello @ 23 September 2008, 01:59 :

    Rest in peace my friend, i will miss you, it’s hard to belive that’s happened



  15. Paul Dubois @ 23 September 2008, 02:01 :

    You still had so many dreams.. It’s too bad you won’t surprise the world any more with them..

    My condolences to the family.



  16. nicolas @ 23 September 2008, 02:06 :

    rest in peace. so sad, so suddenly…



  17. tallsam/brob @ 23 September 2008, 02:21 :

    This is terribly sad. The tech hacking community has lost a great mind and a great friend.

    Mark and his family will be in my thoughts.

    Any idea if there is a family chosen charitable cause we could donate to in his name?

    RIP Mark. Thanks for everything.

    Sam



  18. Larry @ 23 September 2008, 03:02 :

    I thought maybe a joke, he would joke so much before, but no. This is awful. I wanted to throw up reading this horrible news. Thanks for everything, mark!



  19. Colin @ 23 September 2008, 03:08 :

    I’m really sorry to hear that, and my thoughts go out to Mark’s family.

    This was very unexpected news to me. I really enjoyed reading Marks works. I’m thankful that you will keep the site going for a least some time to come.



  20. Mars @ 23 September 2008, 03:15 :

    Goodbye, Mark.
    I’m really sorry to hear this. All my condolences to the family and friends.



  21. Varun @ 23 September 2008, 04:49 :

    Requiescat in pace Mark. You will be missed.



  22. DS @ 23 September 2008, 05:05 :

    Goodbye friend. Although we have never met, your work was always personal and sincere. You will sorely be missed. My condolences to the family and friends.



  23. Matthew Spiers @ 23 September 2008, 05:38 :

    I can’t believe this. I am still in denial. Mark, I have been following you and your site since you started with the server hosted in your friend’s apartment. You were so inspirational and this will forever be a devastating loss in the hacking community.

    Rest easy good friend.



  24. Ryan @ 23 September 2008, 06:03 :

    I’m shocked and deeply saddened by this. Mark’s family and friends will be in my thoughts.



  25. `ariel @ 23 September 2008, 06:20 :

    I`m still in shock about this….. Bye Mark, R.I.P.



  26. Chris @ 23 September 2008, 06:52 :

    It was Mark’s spirit that got me into cracking open iPods and computers and taking huge risks with such things.

    This is really sad that this happened. Things were going really well for him, and then this.

    You will be missed…

    As for the future of the site…I don’t know about that, but even though this blog may no longer be updated anymore, I’ll still keep it on my blog’s links and in my bookmarks bar as a homage to the great Mark.



  27. Christopher K. @ 23 September 2008, 07:14 :

    Wow I thought this was a clever joke, but something like this is a total train wreck. It was Mark’s projects that made me learn about Linux. I wish the best for Mark’s family and Friends. R.I.P.
    I will always keep this site bookmarked to remember him.



  28. Lypsis @ 23 September 2008, 08:41 :

    What terrible and shocking news.. Mark was such a great inspiration for me, I always thought of him and his great blog very often – even when I wasn’t online.

    I discovered his blogf more than 2 years ago and I’m so sad to found this “news” today in my RSS-Reader.. With only 34 years he passed away..
    This is a day of mourning for all of us geeks – geektechnique was always one of my favourite Blogs to have in my RSS-Reader. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

    I don’t know what to say.. it’s like a good friend of mine passed away even when I never really talked to him. Rest In Peace Mark Hoekstra, I will keep geektechnique bookmarked and in my gReader. Thanks for all you have done to the Open Source community.

    Finally I want to thank Lykle de Vries for sharing the information about his death with us – I can imagine it wasn’t easy to hack your way into his server.

    Thank You

    — a reader and fan of geektechnique from bavaria, germany



  29. Jason Chalifour @ 23 September 2008, 09:27 :

    My deepest condolences go to Mark’s family and friends.

    Mark was such an influential and inspiring person to so many, and he accomplished more in his short life than most people ever do. His memory will inspire others to go on to achieve greatness.



  30. paco @ 23 September 2008, 09:50 :

    Good bye Mark.
    Thanks for sharing a bit of your life with us.

    Condolences to friends and family.

    (a faithful reader from spain)



  31. Mathew Sowers @ 23 September 2008, 10:09 :

    I have been reading Mark’s blog for 2 years and eagerly awaited every post. I was shocked and greatly saddened reading today’s post.

    Mark will be missed by all who have read his blog and those who have not read it have missed out.

    My thoughts go out to Mark’s friends and family. We will miss you Mark.



  32. Rhys @ 23 September 2008, 10:21 :

    I’ve been reading this blog for two years, and this is my first comment (so this’ll probably end up in Akismet/Moderation Queue), but can I just say how shocked I am at Mark’s death. He always entertained & enlightened me, and really wrote about geek techniques in a manner that I understood.

    RIP Mark, and my thoughts & prayers to your family.



  33. Some guy @ 23 September 2008, 10:21 :

    I just added this blog to my bookmarks…

    Rest in Peace.



  34. Ben @ 23 September 2008, 10:30 :

    Mark will be sorely missed.

    I was shocked at the news, and thought it must be a horrid joke.

    I won’t forget you Mark.

    To friends and family, my condolences.

    Could someone please remember to take care of Bates.



  35. magatz @ 23 September 2008, 10:47 :

    A true inspiring character, will never be forgotten.
    The Hacker community will keep your spirit alive, as long as there will be an human on this earth.



  36. Emanuele @ 23 September 2008, 10:49 :

    My deepest condolences go to Mark’s family and friends.

    I was so shocked I had to read the post twice. It’s a sad day.



  37. Steve O'Sullivan @ 23 September 2008, 11:21 :

    I too have been reading this site for several years, and enjoyed it very much. I felt like a lot of Mark’s personality came through in his writings and his creations.

    I am deeply saddened for the loss to Mark’s family and loved ones.

    Peace to all from the US

    SteveO



  38. Stalwart @ 23 September 2008, 11:29 :

    Hack your way to paradise, Mark. We will miss you



  39. radrob @ 23 September 2008, 11:57 :

    no words

    we miss you so much

    “life is nothing without friends” cicerone



  40. Pawouek @ 23 September 2008, 12:17 :

    I thought it was a stupid hackers joke in first view, but now…
    Mark i will miss Your sense of humour, ideas, postive thinking…
    We have never met in real world, but You are one of my friend.
    Thank You!

    Condolences to family and friends.

    Pawel from Poland



  41. Macfly @ 23 September 2008, 12:59 :

    Even though I know it’s true, I prefer to keep on thinking it’s just a stupid hacker’s joke, and you’re just posting somewhere else.
    Bye
    Max



  42. Jaidev @ 23 September 2008, 13:08 :

    Its such a great loss to his family and DIY community. I discovered this site only a few weeks ago and started following it avidly. Such a tragedy :(



  43. Peter Guthrie @ 23 September 2008, 13:36 :

    I still can’t believe this. When I first discovered Marks blogs I was amazed to find someone whose interests and antics were so close to mine. Mark inspired me to test and hack my gadgets to the limit.

    I enjoyed reading his blog and never failed to follow each entry.

    May he rest in peace,

    Peter (Scotland).



  44. Jim @ 23 September 2008, 13:41 :

    R.I.P Markie. Hopefully a suitable memorial can be thought up to commemorate Mark’s creativity and resourcefulness and his passion for sharing these things with the world in a humourous and unpretentious manner. How about a yearly hack/pecha kucha day?



  45. nssn @ 23 September 2008, 14:53 :

    I’m having trouble actually believing this.
    Been reading this site for quite a while. I’ll miss Marks enthusiasm and creativity. My condolences to his friends and relatives.

    -Dave (NL)



  46. Scott @ 23 September 2008, 15:20 :

    Man, tough tough news. Prayers for his family and friends. He will be missed dearly.

    -Scott (MO, USA)



  47. Dieter Adriaenssens @ 23 September 2008, 15:38 :

    I’ve been reading this blog for quite some time now, and was always looking forward to new posts, pictures, funny captions and cool things Mark hacked together.
    Although we’ve never met, I considered him a friend. I even cried reading the devastating news. It is sad that a enthousiastic person, with a lot of ideas and ongoing projects, has to die so young.
    After reading the title of the post, I was curious what would be the catch. Maybe his server died, or something else, but it wasn’t a joke, sad enough.

    My condolences to Mark’s family and friends.

    RIP Mark Hoekstra, you will be missed.

    Dieter (Belgium)



  48. JC @ 23 September 2008, 16:59 :

    Goodbye Mark. And thank you for bringing creativity to such a bleak and unoriginal world. You will never be forgotten.



  49. Ricardo @ 23 September 2008, 17:19 :

    Mark-

    Thank you for all the inspiration and for the laughs. I have followed your blog and your pictures in flickr for several years. You will be sorely missed.

    My thoughts and most sincere condolences go with his family and friends.

    May you rest in peace Markie.



  50. Mr Novack @ 23 September 2008, 18:10 :

    Going to miss him, Loved his website. Loved all his ideals, hacks, and projects. So young to go. RIP Mark.



  51. Franco Filiberti @ 23 September 2008, 18:17 :

    Increible… simplemente increible.

    Mantengan este sitio con vida.

    Mark nos vemos en el otro lado, voy a extrañar muchisimo leer tus proyectos.

    UN GRAN ABRAZO.



  52. David Copeto @ 23 September 2008, 21:13 :

    I loved to follow Mark’s hacks. His ideas on open source will guide us in years to come.
    Thank you.



  53. f. @ 23 September 2008, 23:14 :

    Condolences to the family.
    Terrible loss, we’ll miss you Mark.
    fabien.



  54. djneo @ 23 September 2008, 23:44 :

    mark i loved reading eveything you did
    hack with the gods



  55. Johannes Taelman @ 23 September 2008, 23:51 :

    sad news
    my sincere condolences to his family and friends



  56. Erik @ 24 September 2008, 00:16 :

    Unbelievable…… shocking, sad!!

    I still see you standing at my department
    With a big smile on your face.
    An when I asked, you start talking very enthusiastic about the project you where working on.
    You where a great colleague, always in for laugh
    I will miss you,

    My thoughts and condolences go with his family and girlfriend and friends.
    Erik Nauta



  57. Rinco @ 24 September 2008, 01:02 :

    He die Mark,

    Ik hoop dat je in het hiernamaals internet hebt. Je zult ongelooflijk genieten van al die websites die over je schrijven en al die honderden berichten van mensen die zijn geinspireerd door jouw werk.

    Het is prachtig om te zien wat voor indruk het resultaat van jouw bezieling, creativiteit, humor, gevoel voor stijl en doorzettingsvermogen heeft gemaakt op mensen.

    Het ga je goed. Ik zal je missen.

    Je vriend, Rinco



  58. Nate @ 24 September 2008, 02:04 :

    So tragic.

    Rest in peace, friend.

    My deepest condolences to Mark’s family, girlfriend, and close relations.



  59. Thibaud @ 24 September 2008, 02:15 :

    The whole geek community is mourning one if its masters today…

    RIP Mark.
    You’ll be missed. A lot.

    Thibaud. (France)



  60. Voodoochild @ 24 September 2008, 03:03 :

    niet te geloven…. wat een schok.
    Ik ken Mark niet persoonlijk maar was een regelmatige lezer van dit weblog en zal de artikels missen.
    RIP



  61. Tyler Genter @ 24 September 2008, 04:19 :

    Good bye Mark. You inspired me a lot. We lost a great member of our community. Good bye.



  62. Elias Leiva @ 24 September 2008, 04:45 :

    Good bye Mark, thank you for everything.
    RIP



  63. Alberto @ 24 September 2008, 05:17 :

    Good bye Mark.
    Thank you for all the hacking inspiration.
    I will miss your crazy projects and comments.
    R.I.P.



  64. Andy Buck @ 24 September 2008, 06:33 :

    mark, you didn’t know me. hell, i didn’t know you. but you taught me a great deal, and inspired me in ways I hope to retain. Rest in peace you amazing human.



  65. Jerome @ 24 September 2008, 09:01 :

    It’s been 2years or more that I know that blog and enjoyed a lot to read all the article, I don’t know him but that’s sad to go that early
    rest in peace Mark



  66. Bor @ 24 September 2008, 09:29 :

    I can’t believe it. Rest in Peace Mark.

    I’m willing to donate to the “Mark Hoekstra Foundation” if that keeps this site online…



  67. Ceristimo @ 24 September 2008, 11:37 :

    This news came as a shock to me.

    I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Mark personally, because I’ve worked as an intern at the same company. We shared an office.
    Mark, it has been great knowing you, and altough we didn’t keep in touch after the internship was over, I always checked your website.
    You were always so enthusiastic about your website (which I started to visit on a regular basis when you told me about it) and your projects. Still remember you talking about it, with that big smile on your face. (” Wanna know what I did this weekend?”)
    Mark, rest in peace. Your spirit lives on!

    P.S. What’s going to happen with Bates? Please find him a good home.



  68. John @ 24 September 2008, 12:22 :

    Wow, a shock. I was about to ask you out for a drink again… It has been a while.

    It was good to meet you again at the supermarket when you introduced your girlfriend. Such a nice sight to see you happy with someone.

    I will miss your great mind and friendship.. I’m sorry about not havin’ that drink…

    John



  69. d. @ 24 September 2008, 13:37 :

    Inspiring and funny, as your website: I hope that the your friends will take your site and run after you. It would be a marvellous way to remember you.
    Your ideas and your creations, small or big as they can be, stay with us.



  70. dusan @ 24 September 2008, 14:57 :

    Mark, you were the best geek ever ! I followed most of your projects, and all of them always brilliant! We just lost one of the most inspiring geek in the world. We have to keep the spirit up !



  71. rbirri @ 24 September 2008, 15:43 :

    Keep the website alive !
    Mark has been / will be a great source of inspiration for all the geek and hardware hackers.

    Warranty voider by default

    Repose en paix



  72. Stephen Hartley @ 24 September 2008, 16:29 :

    will sadly miss the geek and his hack’s
    my deepest regards to Mark’s family and girlfriend



  73. victoria @ 24 September 2008, 18:36 :

    i miss you so much



  74. Marco @ 24 September 2008, 19:02 :

    Dear Mark,

    I hope they have a lot of inventions to discover in the other world,
    You where a very nice person to know/work and to break with, and a refreshing mind in the computer society.

    deepest condolences to family, girlfriend, and close relations.

    R.I.P :-(

    Marco



  75. Friso @ 24 September 2008, 22:08 :

    Dear Mark,

    I’m sure that, wherever you are, you will always be Mastering the Stuff around You!

    So long, my friend….

    Friso



  76. Martin B. @ 25 September 2008, 01:31 :

    I’ve been reading this blog for a couple of months now and came to found out he passed away. DAMN! Well, to his family and friend, Mark was a brilliant blogger full of passion.

    Good Luck!



  77. Marty @ 25 September 2008, 04:09 :

    Even though you don’t know me, I’ve followed some of his work on the net and would like to give his family my condolences. I will miss his updates.



  78. Il Venturetto @ 25 September 2008, 10:06 :

    A truly inspiration for all of us, even those who never had the hability or the determination he always had.

    R.I.P.

    Thanks, Mark.



  79. Albert-Jan Nijburg @ 25 September 2008, 15:44 :

    My condolances for marks family and friends, I hadn’t spoken to mark in a while but I always read about his projects. It’s a shame such a interesting person isn’t with us anymore.

    Thanks for making us laugh mark!



  80. Tim @ 25 September 2008, 16:06 :

    I just met you today Mark, i wish i had known you earlier. The world has suffered a great loss with your passing. May you rest in peace.



  81. Karl Kloppenborg @ 25 September 2008, 18:00 :

    Mark, you literally have me crying for the emptiness us hackers now have.. you will forever remain in our Hearts and bookmarks, as for this site.. i know i for one would and many others too would raise there hands to host it on his behalf, because like many.. we truly learned of your projects, I for one loved your Mac synthesis, and will always be one of my personal Favourites! Please take care dear friend, and i hope your family is coping alright, as well as your Girlfriend, she lost someone truly Special.

    Farewell Friend,
    Karl Kloppenborg
    Australia.



  82. Marckx @ 25 September 2008, 19:22 :

    The world has lost a great and creative mind.



  83. Steve @ 25 September 2008, 20:24 :

    Thanks for all the inspiration over the past load of years. Rest in peace Mark.



  84. Jurjen @ 25 September 2008, 21:24 :

    Lieve Mark,

    Ik weet eigenlijk niet goed wat ik moet schrijven. Ik zat nog eens de reacties die jouw dood hebben losgemaakt, te bekijken. Het is echt onvoorstelbaar. Eigenlijk net als jouw leven…
    Ik vind het ontzettend knap dat je onder alle omstandigheden altijd zo positief bent gebleven. Die positieve energie zie je in al jouw werk terug en ook in de reacties van anderen. Ook vandaag bij de crematie. Je hebt andere mensen echt geinspireerd. Het is nog steeds moeilijk te begrijpen. Vandaag kwam er wel een stuk berusting. Het is echt zo. Na alles wat jij overwonnen hebt kun je dit ook overwinnen je blijft voor altijd onder ons.

    Jurjen



  85. RPM @ 25 September 2008, 21:52 :

    Thank you for teaching us the ways and for sharing your excellent knowledge and sense of adventure.

    You are missed!!!



  86. Daniele @ 25 September 2008, 22:28 :

    I will miss your ideas, your hacks. Rest in peace :(



  87. Reza @ 25 September 2008, 22:51 :

    Goodbye Mark, 1 w!|| |\/|I55 µ 2.



  88. P.C. [PL] @ 25 September 2008, 23:03 :

    Mark – you won’t be forgotten.

    Please, keep the site alive.



  89. Eoin @ 25 September 2008, 23:18 :

    Mark’s wonderful geeky old mouse music player tutorial has been in my Firefox links toolbar for months. I only clicked it again now, though I didn’t think I’d find the time this week to try it, just to see it again.
    I never met Mark, but his blog and his creativity inspired me.
    My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends today.



  90. linuxlove @ 26 September 2008, 01:19 :

    ;_; Goodbye… We’ll miss you… Bates will too…



  91. linuxlove @ 26 September 2008, 01:24 :

    PS: I hope the people that are at that email address can read english.



  92. johan uhIe @ 26 September 2008, 02:25 :

    The works of Mark have been a real treasure of the internet. and not did he always do great things but you could also always see, what a nice person is standing behind this blog.

    Thanks For everything and may god have some hardware for you to hack in heaven.

    Johan from Germany/Berlin



  93. linuxlove @ 26 September 2008, 02:44 :

    PPS: This site must be kept open! It must never close!



  94. maros @ 26 September 2008, 12:57 :

    I just don’t know what to say…
    It happen now when he met a girlfriend, and he was so happy with it.
    He left a big gap in a geek culture.
    I will miss you Mark, Rest in Peace.

    Mark from Poland



  95. uutre @ 26 September 2008, 19:47 :

    so sad
    condolences to family and friends



  96. Asim @ 27 September 2008, 02:07 :

    Mark,

    Vandaag ben ik uitgekomen bij het bericht dat jij niet meer bent. Op de een of andere manier wil dit echter nog steeds niet doordringen. Helaas heb ik door onwetendheid je afscheid niet bij kunnen wonen. Via deze comment poog ik dan ook je nog iets mee te geven.

    Mijn reacties op je, naar nu blijkt, laatste e-mail van 17 september 2008 om 12 minuten voor 10 ‘s ochtends heb je waarschijnlijk niet meer gelezen, Zeker weet ik wel dat ze onbeantwoord zijn gebleven en zullen blijven.

    Of je leest wat de wereld nu over je schrijft weet ik eveneens niet. Tijdens onze “standaard” vrijdagavond afspraken of in de talloze e-mails waarin we filosofeerden over de open source gedachte en de magie rond Cisco, Sun en SGI hardware hebben we het nooit gehad over wat je nu overkomen is. Ik weet wel dat als je, op de een of andere manier, ervaart wat je los hebt gemaakt op jouw medium internet, je nu geniet met een “big smile”. Het crue van deze “big smile” is echter je verlies dat hier onlosmakelijk mee verbonden is…

    Mark, ik ga je missen en ik hoop dat jouw invulling van de open source gedachte, waar uiteindelijk Geektechnique.org ook uit is voortgekomen, voort blijft leven. Een geruststelling is dat een Google search op Mark Hoekstra hiervoor een goede basis laat zien.

    Rest mij iedereen, maar in het bijzonder Victoria en de directe nabestaanden heel veel sterkte te wensen met het verlies van Mark…

    Tot een volgende vrijdagavond afspraak, waar die dan ook moge zijn.

    Groet,

    Asim



  97. Gareth @ 27 September 2008, 05:00 :

    I also was shocked to read about Marks death. We are the same age.

    His adventures and excitement in hacking were always a joy to read.

    My condolences to his family and loved ones.

    Gareth.

    Tasmania, Australia



  98. yivit @ 27 September 2008, 05:50 :

    To say that I am in shock at this sad news is quite an understatement. I’ve known Mark online for the past several years (from IRC) and remember when he first registered this domain. I always found him to be a humorous and intelligent guy with quite a knack for making what most would have thrown out long ago into something useful, entertaining and educational.

    My condolences to his family, both on- and offline. Retro-geekdom just won’t be the same without you.



  99. Arnaud @ 27 September 2008, 13:09 :

    Good Bye Mark. My first and last post on your blog.



  100. Zoel @ 27 September 2008, 22:30 :

    Goodbye.



  101. David @ 28 September 2008, 00:33 :

    I’m shocked. I’ve visited Mark’s site for a couple of years after chancing across it… Mark seemed an amazing character. A rare talent. He’ll be missed.



  102. linuxlove @ 28 September 2008, 01:04 :

    And you died only a few days after celibrating the 5-year anniversary of GeekTechnique! ;_;



  103. linuxlove @ 28 September 2008, 04:47 :

    I saw the first post on here… Never thought I would see the last post here…



  104. jacob @ 28 September 2008, 16:19 :

    Mark, you have inspired me and I will miss you though i never knew you! The world will miss you!



  105. robert @ 28 September 2008, 20:47 :

    At first I though what sick kind of hacker joke this is!

    My condolences to the family and all close friends of Mark! The world has lost someone really inspiring and different. This is just so shocking, I’m sad. I don’t know what to say more. :(

    You’ll be missed.



  106. luis @ 28 September 2008, 22:58 :

    mark… u were a true friend… u will be missed… please someone in groningen take care of bates, ur place will feel so empty… una luz por ti!!!



  107. vincent @ 29 September 2008, 00:26 :

    I’m reading this blog for about two yeasr now. It was always a pleasant surprise when i see something new ans started reading immediatly. But this time was not so pleasant.
    Mark, you were full of energy and always looking to do something new. I ‘ve never met you, but it’s as i’ve lost a friend… godspeed to you!

    I hope this blog stays online to keep your memory a live.

    Innige deelneming aan de familie van Mark.



  108. ntba @ 29 September 2008, 03:13 :

    As an avid reader of this site, it really pains me to see Mark pass away so young. Truly an inspiration to many hackers. Goodbye.



  109. Minijack @ 29 September 2008, 05:08 :

    We’ll miss you Mark, adieu…



  110. linuxlove @ 29 September 2008, 05:23 :

    Soemone, please take care of Bates, we don’t want to see Bates out on the road or get put down!

    I never knew you, but you felt like a freind to me.

    PS: I always think of something else to add on after I post a comment.



  111. Matthias @ 30 September 2008, 00:36 :

    Mark,

    It takes a special person to create such sparkling projects and do all the stuff you did. I followed your blog for the past two years or so and I enjoyed the clever hacks you did and the inspiration that it gave me and countless of others.

    Your passing comes as a shock. It’s sad and upsetting that a person as old – how old can one be if you’re in fact always young in mind – as us leaves us way to soon.

    I’m hoping your legacy is preserved on line for all those others that one day come to appreciate the genius of Mark Hoestra.

    My condoleances to everyone close to Mark!

    Matthias



  112. Bryan @ 30 September 2008, 02:37 :

    Wow, I am blown away by this. I have been reading Mark’s writings and hacks for a while now but always just seeing what he’s been doing. I almost thought this was a joke when reading the RSS feed. Mark had some great ideas and always seemed to be working on new projects, everything seemed to be going so well, and even some personal tidbits on the site lately.

    He will be missed by the hacking community.

    RIP.



  113. Marcos @ 30 September 2008, 03:56 :

    I’ve found the joy of assembling my own diy stuff because of your inspiration.

    Rest in peace.

    My thoughts are with you and your loved ones.



  114. Max @ 30 September 2008, 13:10 :

    I really miss him.
    He was who started me to hack.
    RIP



  115. ANONYMOUS @ 30 September 2008, 18:16 :

    Elaborate attention seeking hoax



  116. linuxlove @ 30 September 2008, 21:50 :

    shut up. you’re almost as bad as Air was. This is not a hoax, this is REAL LIFE. Have a good day, linuxlove.

    Condolences to the family and freinds.



  117. Koenzie @ 1 October 2008, 11:45 :

    Mark…. we zullen je missen

    Familie heel veel succes



  118. reet @ 1 October 2008, 13:28 :

    Mark…

    Lang geleden dat we elkaar hebben gesproken. Blijkbaar helaas ook voor het laatst.



  119. trav Fryer @ 1 October 2008, 18:05 :

    I’m so shocked and saddened by this. Though I don’t keep up with all the latest posts, this is one of my favorite blogs. Thanks for all your beautiful documentation of your hacking projects. You were an inspiration to many.



  120. raphael @ 2 October 2008, 01:40 :

    I’ve been reading this blog for some years.

    Mark seemed a very nice and interesting person. though i don’t know im personally, i’m very sad.
    all my thoughts go to his girlfriend and family.

    So long Mark, you’ll be remembered



  121. Shawn @ 2 October 2008, 07:29 :

    I’ve visited his blog many times over the past few years and I always felt inspired after reading. Although I have never met Mark, I feel like I have lost a close friend. He has taught me so many things and I will continue learning thanks to great hackers like him. I will always remember the technical knowledge and the humor he always had to offer. I offer my condolences to his friends, family, and all his loved ones. I just know that he is hacking in heaven.



  122. Ben McCloskey @ 2 October 2008, 13:56 :

    Mark,

    I didn’t know you personally, but I thought we would definitely get along well. I came to the site to tell you about a really geeky project I just finished. I guess I should’ve made an effort sooner.

    Rest in peace, Mark.



  123. Frederik @ 5 October 2008, 02:01 :

    I’ve been reading your blog for years, this is my first and last reply….

    Sad, so sad news. My condolences.
    rust in vrede

    Frederik, Belgium



  124. Enrico lupsyn Del Zotto @ 6 October 2008, 13:01 :

    Good Bye Mark! i’ll miss you so much



  125. Mad @ 6 October 2008, 18:17 :

    :( .. he’s my idol :(.. why god take a good man away



  126. tibo @ 7 October 2008, 02:15 :

    Last week, I said myself that I may send a mail to the creator of this blog witch I discover few months ago and tell him how I find his ideas.
    I just love his way of living.
    ‘Hope he could read all the coments.
    I will miss you… rest in peace Mark



  127. Gino Goossens @ 11 October 2008, 00:24 :

    RIP Mark. You were one of the good guys. Thanks for your support and comments on my blogs. I learned a lot!

    Condolences to the family and friends…



  128. Darcio @ 11 October 2008, 06:44 :

    Just discovered the website but felt linked by spirit. Condolences to his friends and family.



  129. Marckwordt @ 13 October 2008, 22:36 :

    Cry him do not…
    Miss him do not…
    He is now 1 with the Universe, maybe God’s iPod run out and He decided to get the Best Geek ever to, not just fix it, but to improve it =’)
    Life is shuffle, but your memory, your knowledge and your improving spirit will be always a tune in “Repeat One” in our heart’s player. Heaven must be in eternal joy for receiving back such a beautiful essence. Seems like a broken iPod is not just an earth issue, Heaven must be full of them too !!!
    And Mark is going to kick ass fixing all of them, Thanks for everything dude…



  130. opensource101 @ 14 October 2008, 00:52 :

    Sad :(
    I just read this today. I’ve been reading this blog for a long time, and dreamed of meeting Mark, I haven’t logged on in a while. Sad :(



  131. Hans-Joern Eich @ 14 October 2008, 04:54 :

    wow, that hit me like a shock. I really enjoyed Marks projects. I’m pretty certain that he is in hacker heaven now.

    My condolences to family, girlfriend and friends.

    Rest in Peace Mark,

    Hans



  132. Frots @ 18 October 2008, 12:31 :

    wow shocking stuf…

    Rest in peace Mark.



  133. Carl @ 18 October 2008, 13:36 :

    Goodbye Mark and rest in peace. I hope your page stays online for ever.



  134. Jx @ 20 October 2008, 02:50 :

    My condolence to his family, relatives and girlfriend.
    It has been a while since my last visit to this website and it was a BIG shock when I read the news.
    We’ve lost a great person with creative mind.
    The site can keep on going and manage by other person but the creator will never be replaced.
    Last but not least, RIP Mark.



  135. Emil Petersen @ 21 October 2008, 17:48 :

    I can’t belive it. Mark was an amazing person.

    Rest in peace.



  136. johnny mccullough @ 26 October 2008, 14:51 :

    I just heard. Can’t believe it. My thoughts to Mark’s family & girlfriend.

    Blue skies and rest in peace Mark..



  137. Glenn Stark @ 31 October 2008, 00:35 :

    dude, why? I cant believe that.. Its so sad.. I’m shocked at the moment.. there’s gonna be a big hole in the internet, without you..
    Rest in peace, we’ll never forget you..



  138. Robert Menes @ 2 November 2008, 07:06 :

    Holy crap… I was away from this site for a while, and I just read the news that Mark has died. He was a real hacker at heart, and it was his article on turning hard drive-based iPods into flash players with a simple CompactFlash card that first grabbed my attention and drew me to this site. Since then, I’ve been reading many articles on his blog non-stop. The man was truly a genius.

    Rest in Slack, fellow hacker. May the lasagna continue to fly, and praise “Bob”!

    I hope that Bates has a good home now, either with his family or with his girlfriend. Her master is gone now, and she deserves a good home.



  139. G @ 11 November 2008, 06:59 :

    I have been visiting this site for many years and have corresponded with mark through both geektechnique and flickr. I must say I am deeply shocked and saddened by this news. Mark has been an inspiration and an extremely creative force in the world. I extend my deepest sympathies to Mark’s friends and family.

    G from Toronto



  140. Bionicboingo @ 21 November 2008, 17:11 :

    I stumbled upon Mark’s site a while ago and have visited it from time to time. His ingenious doings were a great inspiration to me, I wish I could hack a tenth of what Mark could do, what a terrible loss. Dude you are awesome. RIP

    -Bionicboingo, NYC, USA



  141. Marco @ 22 November 2008, 00:47 :

    Very sad, I loved his work.



  142. Maxim @ 29 December 2008, 13:01 :

    Rest in peace, Mark.



  143. Lewis @ 4 January 2009, 12:58 :

    RIP, Mark.
    I am your blog reader from Malaysia, you are really a great guy.



  144. Thomas @ 7 January 2009, 02:51 :

    Dear Mark,

    during the past years I have enjoyed your posts to this blog, and you have inspired me in so many ways. Bringing the oldskool back to the iPhone, almost literally lighting your iBook on fire to reball the graphics chip, genius!

    People from all over the world will remember you as one of the brightest DIY tech/design bloggers/creatives the world has known in the past decade.

    My thoughts are still with your family and friends.

    Rust in vrede.



  145. Chris Smith @ 8 January 2009, 05:50 :

    Mark,

    You are truly missed! I am a blog reader from the States and really loved everything you did! Every hack you had really went into great detail.

    I wish I could have had the luxury of talking to you or chatting just once to get a glimpse at a genius!

    People all over the world truly do remember you as one of the best!

    My Condolences,
    Chris Smith



  146. Belle @ 8 January 2009, 19:28 :

    very sorry to read this – my condolences to the family. From Mark’s postings, one has the sense of a generous person. I only found this site because I was impressed by his postings to a Mac problem.
    RiP.



  147. Andrew Smith @ 11 January 2009, 07:01 :

    What.

    Rest in peace, Mark.



  148. Manuel Bencomo @ 16 January 2009, 17:03 :

    Cielos, me apena muchisimo tu perdida :-(, seguiras siendo simplemente el mejor hacker humano e inspirador que jamas haya sabido.Me duele no haberte conocido.

    Descansa en paz.

    Saludos.
    Manuel Bencomo.
    Valencia-Venezuela



  149. Sippy (aka famkeZ) @ 26 January 2009, 21:47 :

    Zo nu en dan ouwehoerde ik met Mark op lastfm, zelf druk geweest met andere dingen en nu ik Mark’s profiel bezoek zie ik tot mijn schok dat hij is overleden. Doorgeklikt naar deze site en het is echt zo. Ik ken hem niet en we waren zelfs niet close, maar dat neemt niet weg dat het veel te jong is voor iemand die op mij overkwam als een aangenaam mens vol ideeĂ«n. Ik wens familie, vrienden enzovoort veel sterkte toe.

    Sippy



  150. mfp @ 6 February 2009, 17:08 :

    I didn’t know he reached Turing in the sky, until yesterday when I pointed a guy toward the name Mark Hoekstra to help him mod his iPod; and he reported back that Mark died. And it took me a while to understand why I was so upset… I met him only once at CCC2007. But I didn’t have much to say; so I went to sleep. And since I wake up this morning I couldn’t take out his death from my head. So I spent the last hour watching and watching the video interview I made to him there … to understand why I was so upset… and I think my sorrow for an unknown guy is beacouse he was a rare shining star… soft with humans, hard with machines… a thing that is easy to think, hard to put in practice. Many fail to do it; he could do it. That’s what I’ll remember of Mark. Condolences



  151. rwk @ 27 February 2009, 23:17 :

    I found this site recently because of a random search for iBook fixes. I found Mark’s ingenuous fix (the tea light burning on the graphics chip), which should resolve my laptop’s problem. Then I noticed the headline off to the side announcing that he had died several months ago. I watched the tributes and learned what a cool guy he was, and how much living he had crammed into a short period. He embraced his geekdom, made many friends, helped many strangers, made his contribution and checked out. I was moved and inspired, as well as saddened. RIP Mark.



  152. Claudius Raphael Paeth, A3lyphe @ 6 March 2009, 04:27 :

    Holy crap.

    I feel touched.

    Just was so happy about reading this blog, minutes before (for hours) and now i see this part of the site.

    It gives me really weird feelings, because like others said before, i felt spontaneously bound to that spirit mark lived.

    I’m sorry for all those who knew him
    ...and sorry for those that will never.

    H.i.P.|it’s 42



  153. William Glover @ 6 March 2009, 17:28 :

    I hadn’t visited this site in some time and was shocked to hear of Mark’s passing, it saddens me greatly. He truly was a kindred spirit to all of us and he will be missed always. He inspired me to learn and try new things, to push the boundaries of what i can do with technology (i built my own U60 powered dual bridge just to do it and learn more about networking, sun hardware and solaris). RIP Mark, we love you man!



  154. David @ 17 March 2009, 14:43 :

    Like so many of the other people leaving messages of condolence on this site I stumbled accross Marks How-to on the iPod CF card conversions, got all exited about it (I’m in mid convert as I type) and then read the entries at the bottom of the page only to discover his passing – months before i had even heard of him.

    My condolences to his family and friends – his enthusiasm for new and exiting things to do with tech was very obvious from his blog and although i have no claim to any familiarity with him – I still felt hugely sad when i read about his passing.

    The world feels just a teeny bit smaller & darker without his enthusiasm and curiosity in it.



  155. Riccardo @ 21 March 2009, 20:10 :

    I just completed the iPod Mini CF mod following Mark’s instructions and I know it will put a big smile on my wife’s face. This is thanks to you Mark, your smart and generosity. Well done and good luck.

    My deepest condolancies to his family and friends.

    P.S. I could not find an indication of whether the PayPal account is still active. I would love to donate something, either to keep the website running or for a charity in line with Mark’s spirit.



  156. Sal @ 12 April 2009, 11:35 :

    Mark is who inspired me to buy an broken ibook g3 and fix it (i did), after all the projects he did on his i had to get one. Thanks for everything.
    see you later Mark.



  157. George @ 21 April 2009, 01:34 :

    How sad this notice… really… a long time ago that I didn’t visited his page and now I see this sad news.
    One of my favorite page,Mark a really cool guy who always was hacking something, every week with a new idea and challenge.
    Mark, keep with your hackings wherever you are.
    Surprise us with something as always you did.

    A virtual friend and reader from PerĂş.

    QuĂ© tal noticia esta, despuĂ©s de mucho tiempo visito su página y me encuentro con esta desagradable y penosa noticia, Mark un tipo con una empatĂ­a envidiable, siempre haciendo algĂşn hack por diversiĂłn y siempre tratando de reciclar algo, pensĂ© por unos instantes que estabas de “vacaciones” pero no habĂ­an cambios en tu página, veo mas abajo que “alguien (el jefe)” necesitaba de tus servicios….y te mandĂł a llamar, seguro algĂşn problema con su PC.

    Un amigo virtual desde PerĂş.



  158. Constantine Proestakes @ 21 April 2009, 07:54 :

    A true maverick and pioneer of independent thinking. Only the bold and brilliant, can set fire to a motherboard and fix the hoaky apple logic board issue that many have encountered. Coming from a man who is severely OCD and did not stop until Mark’s apple method worked, I can say that his ideas were truly unique and genuine.

    If I could speak to his family, I would say, death is only the beginning. May his spirit rise from his ashes and inspire others in this age of silicon ingennuity. Definitely a man to be admired and a great source of inspiration to those of us who just have to fix and comprehend what others wish to charge us an hourly rate for.

    Thank you for your wisdom and for your inspiration.

    Maha Muniyah
    “Great Master”



  159. Constantine Proestakes @ 21 April 2009, 07:54 :

    A true maverick and pioneer of independent thinking. Only the bold and brilliant, can set fire to a motherboard and fix the hoaky apple logic board issue that many have encountered. Coming from a man who is severely OCD and did not stop until Mark’s apple method worked, I can say that his ideas were truly unique and genuine.

    If I could speak to his family, I would say, death is only the beginning. May his spirit rise from his ashes and inspire others in this age of silicon ingennuity. Definitely a man to be admired and a great source of inspiration to those of us who just have to fix and comprehend what others wish to charge us an hourly rate for.

    Thank you for your wisdom and for your inspiration.

    Maha Muniyah
    “Great Master”



  160. cekone @ 26 April 2009, 12:09 :

    R.I.P. :-(



  161. galphanet @ 1 June 2009, 13:34 :

    Thanks Mark for all your great work here, I hope for you you’ve done your mains things here and you’re happy where you are.



  162. Stephan @ 13 June 2009, 17:10 :

    Thank you for this great Blog, I just started to write you an E-Mail with questions about your Indy MP3 Player, but then I read this Post :(

    Ruhe in Frieden



  163. David @ 14 June 2009, 14:19 :

    Months have passed. I don’t know why, but I still come here every day…..a stream of magnificence, stopped.
    5 years of reading this blog and after months I can still hardly stomach this sadness…I weep every time I am here. I did not know Mark in person, and he never knew me…but he still feels like a friend.

    Rest in Peace, Mark. Every project I start, every bargain PC I grab, I will dedicate it to you.



  164. David @ 6 October 2009, 22:36 :

    I keep coming here….I just wanted to refresh my condolences.



  165. Ivan @ 19 October 2009, 03:17 :

    Whatever is not shared is lost.
    So, live forever on the Universal knowlege of us ALL
    You WILL NOT be forgotten…
    Keep rockin!



  166. lukas85 @ 3 December 2009, 15:55 :

    I’m shocked.
    The first time I stumbled over geektechnique.org was in 2007, looking for some info on the Ipod Mini. Following Marks great “HowTo” i was able to repair my own Ipod mini by replacing its harddrive.
    Apart from that I really love to read all the things he did with old hardware.
    “Only the best die young” unfortunately seems to be a true word.



  167. nick: England @ 5 December 2009, 21:30 :

    I just read the ipod to cf card article and really enjoyed marks work. I now know he died last year, but still feel a tinge of saddness. People like Mark make this world an interesting one. Good luck with the foundation.



  168. Cafegourmand @ 13 December 2009, 10:25 :

    I was just about getting excited with the prospects of his ideas on how to give life to an old device such as an old 4G iPod when I read that he passed away last year.
    Sad to have a marvelous thinker leave us.
    I am sure he is missed even by those who knew him via his site only, what more by the people around him.
    God bless his soul.



  169. Julian @ 19 January 2010, 07:29 :

    I’m so sorry to hear this horrible news, Mark inspired me to breathe new life into my old ipod and it is devastating to think that a creative mind like his was lost at such a young age.
    I hope Mark’s family appreciates the number of people Mark has touched from all over the world
    RIP from Australia



  170. Cesar @ 1 February 2010, 00:58 :

    I am so shocked with this news.
    Thank you Mark for shared what you knew.
    My sincere love and condolenses to his family.

    as we said in spanish. que en paz descanse (rip)



  171. booh @ 10 February 2010, 14:40 :

    thanks for the great ibook video fix, mark. i hope you’re in a better place.



  172. Gunnar @ 26 June 2010, 23:16 :

    A raw-model that wont be forgotten,



  173. Samuel @ 9 July 2010, 00:34 :

    I can’t believe it, such a shame . As a follow on from the iPhone Rainbow Home button I was going to link this to you:

    Hope you like it.

    Samuel, UK



  174. Samuel @ 9 July 2010, 00:35 :

    sorry…

    http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/06/nice-white-iphone-4-mod/



As mentioned in the Message from Mark's family this site has been made static. This means that it will be no longer possible to comment on his ideas and projects, but that we all can continue to cherish his creativity.

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