a) Don't recall someone's blemishes while their family is grieving because that would be and is (if they see/hear it) unpleasant for them at a difficult time. Especially if the passing was unusually more tragic than "died while still mentally sharp and enjoying things of extreme old age in bed surrounded by loving children and grandchildren." May we all be so lucky.

b) Don't paper over their blemishes, remember them fully and as humans. This is especially relevant for public figures where people try to use (a) to advance some political outcome. Eg X is dead so can't be criticised but was wildly in favour of increasing the military budget which we must now redouble efforts to do with no disparagement. This is obviously only a little hyperbolic.

I note that (b) can also be used. Eg X was a massive jerk so don't let X's death get added publicity for views about resource allocation that are to be opposed. Whether X really was a jerk or not.

I have sympathy for both (a) and (b). Will Tom's family see things here? Is Tom Lord a public figure? OP seems to think so. Are they indulging in a little (b)? I have no idea. I have minimal interest in Berkeley politics.

What I will note is that I've just spent half an hour reading Tom's old posts from 2012 her on HN and he reads very well. He seems knowledgeable, kind, humane, subtle, intelligent and has very interesting things to say. Agree or not he's worth reading. An ideal HN poster from those I read. From what I have seen I would certainly listen to his views on Berkeley politics if I cared about it in any way.

He did wait. Tom Lord died about a month ago.