If you subscribe to the main security mailing lists like Full Disclosure or Funsec, chances are you're familiar with the name Dude VanWinkle.

According to confirmed reports, the man behind that moniker (Justin Marcus Polazzo), passed away suddenly at his home on February 4, 2008. He was 31.

At the time of his death, Polazzo was employed at the Georgia Institute of Technology's Office of Information Technology in the Division of Architecture and Infrastructure.

Polazzo's death has rocked the security community. Dave Aitel, founder and researcher at Immunity, remembers him as "a guy who was just trying to live his life."

"He did some work for us, basically writing the entire CANVAS documentation. He was very cool. This is seriously sad," Aitel said.

R.I.P, dude.