Giovanni Lapenta is a towering figure in kinetic plasma physics theory, simulations and applications, ranging from laboratory and space plasmas to fundamental physics aspects. He made available his theories and insights to the community via the publicly accessible codes iPIC3D and ECSIM. His recent interests encompassed the most modern machine learning techniques, while his expertise in state-of-the-art software and hardware for high performance computing is worldwide unique. His legacy will live, thanks to his countless breakthroughs in numerous individual but also many interdisciplinary science projects he initiated and led. He will be missed sorely.