The summary is both extremely interesting and recognition worthy. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
Andrew, while I agree with your compassion I think the idea would have a better chance focusing on recognizing of the efforts of those that have passed for their contributions to emulation engineering and preservation and as tragic as it was, keep it separated from the reason for their passing.
While I love this hobby I honestly know little about the individual contributions and that be preserved beyond just credit in source code. Perhaps this is me just me not looking hard enough? The closest thing I have found is the collection of links on the mameworld home page and somewhere I know there is a write up on the history on the lead developers.