Dear Soffie,

We were so very sorry and deeply saddened to learn from Kemal of Beni’s passing. He was a highly principled, dedicated and warm-hearted person and will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he enriched. His integrity, honesty, dignity and patience, deep-felt concern for people, and his loyalty to friends and colleagues set him apart from others.

I am reading tonight a 1998 article about him that I have saved for many years, “A Pioneer of the Soroako Nickel Mines”, that describes Beni’s contribution to his country and his countrymen; it brings back so many memories of receiving his wise advice and insights that greatly affected my life as it did the lives of so many. He was a teacher, a friend, a person deserving of the very high respect with which he was held by Canadians and Indonesians alike. It is an honour to have known him.

Please accept our most sincere and heartfelt condolences and our love to you and all your family,

Lindsay and Chris