Gary Gygax died in March 2008.
The next month, Bob Bledsaw died from cancer. Bob was the founder of Judges Guild, and co-creator of the City State of the Invincible Overlord, Tegel Manor, etc.
Then in June, Eric Wujcik, creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG, Heros Unlimited (and its countless accessories), Rifts passed on, also from cancer.
And now, Dave Arneson. We have Dave to thank for "Meteor Swarm," among a host of other innovations.
So, it's been an interesting year and a half! And a sad one.