Ruth Picardie (1964–1997)

Ruth Picardie was a British journalist, writer and editor. Her obituary in The Independent said: Picardie was a generous and sensitive editor. Friends who worked with her early in her career, when she edited the film trade magazine the Producer, or worked at the shortlived women's magazine Mirabella, remember her as being direct and clear about what she wanted. In the 18 months that Picardie worked as an editor at the Independent, she was unfailingly encouraging, full of ideas and determined to get the best out of everybody. If you were down, she would dust you off and make you shine.
Her memoir of living with breast cancer, Before I Say Goodbye, was published posthumously, culled from columns she wrote and from her personal correspondence, by her husband and sister.