I'm still very shocked to hear Stephen hillenburg is gone He inspired me to do many things, like... •drawing •animation •wanting to be a cartoonist •making characters of my own He inspired me to join this very website He had ALS he was diagnosed with it in march of last year. I've made countless tributes and I'm going to get spongebob dvds for Christmas to remember him I was dreaming of meeting him when I am older but it never happened every one thought he would make it, but he didn't and when I heard I cried hard like 3 seconds after I found out. I even read an article about him today in school and had to explain to my friend why I was crying He didn't even get to make it to spongebobs 20th anniversary Which is this may 1st ?