Studio Proteus founder and manga translation giant Toren Smith passed away last week, aged 53.
Smith was responsible for bringing creators like Masamune Shirow to the west, and many major titles such as Blade of the Immortal, Ah My Goddess, Lone Wolf and Cub, among many others. He was also a close friend with GAINAX studio creators, which resulted in them naming a character in Gunbuster after him. Hayao Miyazaki trusted only him to localize his manga Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
I used to follow his livejournal and exchanged a few emails with him, I wish I had had the chance to know him in person.
Obituaries by James Hudnall and Jonathan Clements
Toren Smith’s wikipedia entry