I feel a little sad today, as I just found out that one of my early clients, Jennifer Precious Finch, has died.

I was still a university student just starting out in web development when we first met. She had no idea at the time that I was brand new to the field, and when I eventually told her, she was genuinely surprised.

Over the years, we had countless Skype chats that went far beyond typical professional support. I always loved seeing a message pop up starting with “PERSONAL:”, as it meant she was just reaching out to chit-chat.

She was a complete firecracker, endlessly entertaining, and easily one of the most interesting people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. We talked about everything from her pride in owning her home in LA to her smarts in managing her early career success. Once, she even invited me to a weekend conference in LA, having no idea I was sitting on the other side of the world in New Zealand.

It wasn’t until I’d known her for a while that I asked how on earth she managed to get web development projects with so many high-profile people. She casually started name-dropping people she’d lived with, played in bands with, or dated who were huge figures in the entertainment industry. That certainly explained it. She had one heck of an orbit around her, and I was proud to be a small part of it.

Although we never met in person, she left a lasting impression on me. She will be missed.