Dennis Ritchie passed away recently. The fact that you can read this from afar has much to do with his work. The foundation of the Internet, and much of the phones and other computing/commnication devices and systems which you and I use, knowingly or otherwise, lie directly on his work. Even if you go into a hospital, much of the modern equipment there is built using his work. If you call 911, the systems which bring the help to your door are built on his work.
In one way or another, he is all around us, and will remain so for a long time.