It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Rob Hassett, general counsel to the GGDA, organizer of the SIEGE Investment Conference, and friend to many both within and without of the Association. Rob’s ability to work with so many different types of clients highlighted his true passion - helping everyone around him succeed.Rob took great pleasure in the success of everyone he knew, be they his family, his clients, or people he just met. Rob continued to serve his clients long after most other attorneys would have retired, and provided immeasurable benefits to many in games, music, technology and more.

The family has asked that donations be made in Rob Hassett's name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

More tributes can be found HERE

I met Rob through our collective interest and work in the video game industry, but I like to think that we would have been friends had we met in any other way. Rob's kindness and curiosity were present immediately. He treated everyone with the same softness and compassion regardless of position or station in life and work. I will always remember him for his gentle, joyful, and unassuming smile. For his laugh and kind eyes. For his intelligence and for his willingness to help others out. I know these things will live on through the countless people he made his mark on through his work in the entertainment industry and through his many friendships.

• Dr. Jay O’Toole, Rob’s Investment Conference co-chair

Rob will be fondly remembered by Georgia's videogame industry as a trusted advisor and cheerleader for local game developers.  He was also one of the kindest and most generous people in our community and will be greatly missed.

• Todd Harris, co-founder of Hi-Rez Studios and founder/CEO of Resurgens Gaming

In 1993, Rob graciously welcomed me to this community and he never stopped. For so many, Rob has been a fount of humor, rumor, enthusiasm, skepticism, friendship and, of course, good advice. 

• Dov Jacobson, founder, GamesThatWork

This is very sad. A genuine, kind and good person. He will be missed.

• Michael Brown, founder, Vicarious PR

Rob told me a story once about his days as a Music Promoter/Manager. I think it was B.J. Thomas and the song was Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head. Short version, (and I don't remember if Rob was directly involved or just there) - they pranked BJ. by dumping water on him as he started singing Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head. And he was not happy about it. It blew my mind that Rob had been involved in the music business to begin with, and then this story just blew my mind even more. I thoroughly enjoyed being his timer for the SIEGE Investment conferences (I think at least three times) and always enjoyed both him and his wife, Lynn, as well as his son Joe, who I had the pleasure to meet a few times. I will miss him.

• Joe Cassavaugh, founder, Puzzles by Joe

Rob was instrumental in helping me start my business, and he believed in all of my endeavors. My heart is heavy with the news.

• Kimberly Starks, GGDA board member