WebProNews

Andrew Bourland, the co-founder of ClickZ passed away yesterday morning after battling cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease. He died around 7:00 am in Reading, Massachusetts.

Besides being the co-founder of the site, he was also the former publisher and CEO of ClickZ, which was acquired by INT Media Group in 2000. In '97, Bourland, along with Ann Handley, founded ClickZ as "an online publication to cover the fledging Internet advertising and marketing sector."

"I got to know Andy from numerous telephone conversations shortly after he founded ClickZ," WebProNews Publisher Rich Ord tells me. "I had just founded NewsLinx the year before and we were both looking at ways to make our respective sites more successful. Andy was one of the original great Internet business visionaries and will be missed."

Before launching ClickZ, Bourland was involved with the launch of the Andover.net network, which was later acquired by VA Linux. Before that, he spent 15 years in high-tech sales.

Bourland also ran Bourland.com, his blog where he covered topics like blogging itself and various forms of marketing and entrepreneurship (he has an archive of articles at ClickZ as well). Back in November, Bourland announced his condition and chronicled his remaining time at the blog. His last post before the blog was taken over by family members discussed the details about his decision on whether he wanted to spend his last days in his own home or in a Hospice Residence.

We at WebProNews would like to express our condolences to Andrew's family and friends. He will be missed by many. More here.