We still recall very vividly the announcement of Nadia Busi's death. It was Wednesday, 5 September 2007, and we were enjoying the half-day excursion at CONCUR 2007, a conference where just before lunch on that very day some of Nadia's latest work had been presented. The weather was splendid and we were enjoying the gorgeous view from the Arrábida Convent, basking in the glorious sunlight and admiring the blue sea in the distance. Everything was a celebration of life until death struck. Mario Bravetti, one of our colleagues from Bologna, received a phone call and broke the news to us that ‘Nadia has passed away’. After receiving this message, a cloud came over all the CONCUR participants who had known her.