Dear colleagues, I am forwarding below a message from Josep Aparicio's home organization, ECCC. I thought many of you would appreciate hearing these words, as we come together as a community to remember and mourn the loss of our dear colleague. I hope this message offers a small measure of comfort and closure to those who knew and worked with him. With sympathy, Hui --Forwarded email from JoelBedard (ECCC), 21.09.2026: Hello Ulrich. It is with profound sadness that I have learned of the passing of Josep last week. Thanks to Ben for contacting me and to both of you for dealing with the situation locally. It must have been difficult to deal with such an unexpected and sad event, and carry on with the event in such a situation. My condolences to you and the community. For many of us, Josep was far more than a colleague. As one of the pillars of ECCC data assimilation research section, he served as a trusted advisor, collaborator, mentor, and friend. Josep possessed an exceptional depth of knowledge of satellite observations, from GPS radio occultation and ground-based GPS to the broader challenges of observing and understanding the atmosphere. His scientific expertise was matched by his positivity and creativity. He always brought thoughtful perspectives and original ideas to discussions, making him a valued contributor to countless projects and initiatives. He was also deeply committed to supporting junior scientists, helping many of us grow as researchers. Josep leaves behind a lasting scientific legacy and an even greater personal one. He will be remembered with gratitude, respect, and affection, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. Thanks again for everything! Joel P.S. The authorities were successful at reaching out to Josep's spouse rapidly. I'll pass along your coordinates as she may have questions for you eventually. Thank you very much for that as well.