Ethan Elliott Balcer-Silvers, 36, also known as Cepheid, left planetary orbit in early February at their home in Chicago. A Cepheid is a type of pulsating star whose extremely regular variations in luminosity allow an accurate measure of its distance from Earth.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Cepheid earned their B.A. with honors in American History from Suffolk University in Boston in 2009 and an M.B.A. from Texas Christian University in 2015.
Cepheid fed their expansive, voracious imagination and love of storytelling with video games, horror movies, tabletop RPGs, speculative science fiction, philosophy and pondering the overthrow of capitalism. They had a fierce intelligence, a sharp wit, an impeccable taste in fashion and a deep empathy for any kind of suffering. Like their namesake, Cepheid burned brightly and darkly in turn. Now, no longer bound by the burdens of the body, they have realized their final wish, to become starstuff.
They are survived by their sibling Shay Mackenzie Park of Pittsburgh.
The family has chosen a private green cremation.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois or SisTers PGH. Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-370-2959.