At such a sad time, it is heartening to read the responses written by those moved by the passing of Stuart Hall. Like others, I have my personal recollections of his warmth and kindness – a letter he wrote on my behalf changed my life, his humour in an impromptu conversation at a conference still makes me chuckle, the passion with which he expressed ideas that continue to resonate in profound ways – but most powerful of all, not surprisingly, was the example he set regarding what it meant to be a critical, engaged theorist committed to making democracy truly democratic. I remember when I was a student one of my professors muttered his disdain for Hall’s ideas, scoffing that he was a “hack sociologist.” Suddenly, I knew what I wanted to do with my life, and have felt a debt of gratitude – and sense of purpose – ever since.