For nearly two decades, children all across the world have enjoyed the show Spongebob Squarepants with their family and friends.

At the ripe age of 57, the creator of the cartoon, Stephen Hillenburg, passed away.

Since diagnosed with the incurable ALS in March, Hillenburg made the best out of the remainder of his life. In an interview with Variety, he vowed to work on the show “for as long as I am able,” and so he did. On November 11th of this year, the show’s twelfth season premiered, nearing almost 250 episodes of the show altogether.

In honor of one of the longest running cartoons, internet meme sensation, and childhood idol Spongebob Squarepants, we honor Hillenburg for giving the world such an iconic staple in our lives, and the lives of our generations to come.

Today, we give a moment of silence for grievance towards Hillenburg, and now it is our turn to knit sweaters out of tears.