What was it like to spend time with Ilmo? Well, this is impossible to describe, but perhaps my lessons on scrambled eggs are something. Visiting their home in Cambridge, Ilmo told me he learned the best way to scramble eggs from watching videos online. Ilmo not only enjoyed learning about such things — often from YouTube — and he always shared it with those around him. So when I expressed interest, he very patiently showed me the strategy. Low heat. Patient, persistent stirring. And time. I still make my scrambled eggs this way. And it’s funny that if you asked me to describe Ilmo, smart, clever, capable all come to mind. But he always leveraged his cleverness to entertain, to care and to brighten the world for those he loved the most. How lucky am I that I got some part of that? And how sad I feel now. Who wouldn’t want more of Ilmo’s lessons from YouTube, friendship and joy for life?

Jess Underwood