So we can't be mad, and truth is, we're all going to miss her like mad. I asked some staff members and arts contributors for their favorite Lori Hill Moments™ (coming soon to the Hallmark Channel), and if you look closely, you can see the gossamer thread of sorrow running through each response:

She's like the Mama Hen. No matter what you need (a book, a press release, the answer to 17 down from last week's NYT crossword), she's got it. Whenever shit goes wrong or you're ready to claw somebody's eyes out, she's your voice of sanity. She's the rock, the Chevy, the Bob Seger of City Paper. Only much prettier.

—Ashlea Halpern

A couple years back April 1 was a Thursday so CP put out a huge April Fools satire edition, a rare chance for editors to poke fun at the communities and people they usually cover seriously. Two of Lori's send-ups — on a ridiculous Rocky exhibit at the PMA and an even more ridiculous PA Ballet tribute to Dirty Dancing — weren't just funny as hell, they were effective. People actually called us for info on how to buy tickets. Lori is also one of the wisest, most creative and most dedicated editors I've ever worked with. I know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. She's also my best friend. Aw.

—Patrick Rapa

I remember noticing her cool and gorgeous on the Live Arts press tour bus on a sweltering day and thinking she was right out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. She is among the few Philadelphians who know how to dress at all times.

—Lew Whittington

Once, I wanted to write a book review for the BQ and Lori said the book was already assigned. I explained her why I had to write this review. (I'd done my undergraduate thesis on the author.) I went down to her office and made my case to her. She reassigned the story to me. It's not that I got to do the review that made this my favorite moment, it was that she was thoughtful enough to hear my plea, listen to my case and make a decision based on the new information. Lori is that kind of editor.

—Gary Kramer

Along with having her be what I think of as anenergized,like-minded kindred spirit (yeah, Lori — how scary is that!) and all-knowing oracle and editorial curator, I have totally enjoyed hearing and seeing her being excited by all this gosh-darned art. You go gurrrl! Don't go gurrrl.

—A.D. Amorosi

I think my favorite Lori Hill moment is debating with her over a Bell Curve item involving a woman giving birth in her car along the highway. Going back and forth with her over why the punch line where a KYW traffic reporter says, "That's what I call a gaper delay" wasn't sexist is one of the more absurd scenes I've experienced here. More than a few (juvenile) jokes have been pre-emptively killed because they wouldn't pass "The Lori Test" for being, y'know, not very, very juvenile. It's not that Lori doesn't appreciate a good laugh; she just keeps us on our toes.

—Brian Howard

And let me add that, before I took this job, I knew of Lori Hill only as my best friend's cousin (true story!) — a quiet Little Flower girl who'd made good and ended up working for the City Paper. Now I know Lori as a superb editor whose dedication to this paper is flat-out inspiring. CP won't be the same without her.

Damn those deserving kids.

(duane@citypaper.net)