By Indra Sofyan (Ino)

I have to admit that while I was growing as a teenager up in Soroako I heard a lot of good things about Oom Beni and Tante Soffie.  My parents spoke of wonderful things about the couple and I played a lot with their boys – Reza, Kemal, and Emir.  Once or twice I have been to their house, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to know Oom Beni and Tante Soffie in person.  I must admit that it is a big loss on my part.

Fortunately, I was given a second and a third chance to meet these wonderful folks.

It got started in 2008…Some of the early graduates of Singkole Intenational School decided to do a reunion to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first graduating class from Singkole Junior High School.  Proudly we call it “Napak Tilas 2009”.  One of the unexpected yet pleasant events during the reunion is the “post-Napak Tilas” celebration.  Everyone with Soroako connection was kindly invited to the Wahju’s residence to “re-live” the reunion. This was basically a chance for those who couldn’t make it to the reunion itself to see Soroako and the surroundings through the eyes (and the digital pictures) of those who were fortunate to be there in person.

Oom Beni and Tante Soffie provided the venue at their house and the meal for everyone. To add a touch of class, the meal was mostly typical south Sulawesi variety – notably, coto Makassar.

Oom Beni didn’t have a hard time picking me out of the crowd and started talking about my parents.  He offered their condolences of my mother’s passing away in 1983.  He reminisced about my father’s contribution to the success of establishing communication in the early days of Soroako and Malili.  It was very touching since the event was from more than 30 years ago and he talked about it as if it had happened just the day before.

We had a great time showing the thousands of pictures from the Napak Tilas trip.  I was excited when Oom Beni made impromptu showing of pictures from the old days of Soroako. Two things that stuck in my mind: (1) he remembered everyone in the old pictures, and (2) there were only comforting and encouraging words he used to described the people in those pictures.  Deep inside I said “Wow, Oom Beni is a good guy.  No bad bones in his body”.

It was late in the evening when the picture showing was over. Before we parted, Oom Beni and Tante Soffie personally invited me and my family to stay at their house next time we visit Jakarta.  They didn’t know who my family was yet they opened their house to us.  I was touched.  I promised them that I will bring my family to meet them.

It was 2010 before I got a chance to bring my family to Jakarta for a visit.  Oom Beni and Tante Soffie hosted a party for us at their house.

We will always cherish this clipping from Facebook. This show the generosity and thoughtfulness of Oom Beni.  And here’s Jenni’s perspective on the brief encounter with Oom Beni and Tante Soffie…

On his return from the Napak Tilas trip, Ino was very enthused to have met a man whom he had heard so much about, and whom he was very impressed by.  This was Oom Beni. 

When we returned to Indonesia as a family, he was excited to have the opportunity for us also to meet Oom Beni and Tante Soffie.  They opened their home to us and to several families from the Soroako group, and treated us like family; it was such a pleasure to be there!

They were so generous to provide delicious Sulawesi foods, including one of my favorites, coto Makassar, and buras.  With such pleasant company, and surrounded by the beautiful, elegant atmosphere of their home, we had the chance to chat with both of them.  I enjoyed chatting with Oom Beni about his travels, and about some of the interesting and lovely mementos of his time and learning in other places and cultures.  It was a pleasure to talk with him; he struck me as a truly cultured, open-minded person of strong intelligence.  I felt welcomed and included, and appreciate his and Tante Soffie’s kindness to me and my family personally, as well as toward the Soroako group of which Ino was part.  I count it as a blessing in my life to have met them both.

Both of us were saddened to hear about Oom Beni’s final moments.  We followed from the chat with friends in Jakarta via our Blackberry group.  When Oom Beni passed away, we felt that there is a big loss for those of us who have managed to be associated with such a humble, generous, and loving man.

May your soul rest in peace Oom Beni.