Science fiction editor and author Gardner Doizois died today. Gardner was editor of Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine for many years and is best known for his yearly *Year’s Best Science Fiction * anthologies. He won multiple Hugos for his editorial work, plus a couple of Nebulas for his short stories.
Gardner was a real bon vivant at conventions and a lot of fun to hang with.
It’s sad to think he’s gone.
I’ve read those anthologies for years. I’m sorry to hear he’s passed. A man who made his mark on the world and who will be missed.
Now touring the galaxy with Alan Bean.
Sorry to hear this, those anthology annuals were top-notch.
I first met Gardner at a Worldcon in 1971. He had just come out of the Army and was a skinny guy. Nobody today will remember that. I always worried about his weight. There are no old fat guys, no matter how jolly they are. He was three years older than me.
Gardner was the field, at least the eastern seaboard chunk of it, for decades. He was omnipresent as a writer and editor and fan and convention presence. I doubt that his name means much to the general public or even the vast majority of readers in the field. The days when editors were larger-than-life are long gone.
I will miss him every summer, when I can’t buy the annual anthology. RIP. 
People outside the fandom knew Gardner only from the anthologies, but for those who wrote or attended conventions, he was beloved. Here’s a nice memorial by Michael Swanwick.
I saw him from time to time at conventions. Didn’t have much direct interaction, though I do remember a short conversation when he won the 1989 Hugo for Best Editor where he referred to it as the “toilet seat Hugo” (It had a plexiglas oval around the base of the rocket.). I also recall him cracking a joke about something I said on a panel.
The number of people who were delighted by his presence is large; my Facebook feed was full of memories and comments missing him.
I am one who only knew him through his anthologies, which were very good. He chose stories which showed what SF could aspire to. I’ll miss them.
To those more affected by his passing, my condolences on your loss. RIP.
RIP Gardner. I’m looking at his Best of the Year books on my shelf. I will miss him.
The 35th Annual will be out in July.