<p>I recently learned from another user that one of our high-ranking users, <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/users/11032/">Michael R. Chernick</a>, passed away earlier this year (see obituary <a href="https://www.fluehr.com/obituary-detail.php?obitid=4630" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>).  His profile page remains as he left it when he was alive, and some of that information is no longer accurate now that he is deceased (e.g., wanting to finish up some books he was writing).  The profile also does not let users know that he has passed away.</p>
<p>In such cases, my own view is that it would be a nice idea if someone in the community could amend the profile page to remove information that is no longer relevant, and give some kind of commemoration and perhaps a link to the obituary.  I understand that it is possible for site moderators to edit a user profile unilaterally, though it might bolster that request if we have first discussed the matter on CV.meta.  I would like to solicit views from other community members on what is a good procedure for dealing with deceased accounts.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Should deceased user profiles be amended to give a commemoration, or should we just leave the profile as it is?</p>
</li>
<li><p>Assuming an amendment is desired, who should do this?  Should it be part of the moderators' jobs?  Should we just leave it up to whoever takes initiative to contact the moderators with a proposed amendment?</p>
</li>
<li><p>How do we decide what to say in the amended profile?  Should we solicit draft commemorations on a meta-post for each deceased user, or should we just leave this to the judgment and discretion of the person making the request to SE?</p>
</li>
<li><p>Is there anything else by why of procedure that people would like in dealing with deceased accounts?</p>
</li>
<li><p>Would anyone have any objection if I contact SE and request an amendment to Dr Chernick's profile page with a commemoration and link to his obituary (which I am happy to draft)?</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Some other SE sites have also asked similar questions about what to do for deceased accounts (see e.g., <a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/38742/">here</a>, <a href="https://math.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/19822/">here</a>, <a href="https://ux.stackexchange.com/questions/29937/">here</a> and <a href="https://worldbuilding.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/7427/">here</a>).  At an organisational level, SE have decided not to form a policy on this matter, since they are afraid it may cause other problems.  I presume that it would still be okay for SV.SE users to develop our own approach to the matter through discussion on CV.meta.</p>
