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A Personal Farewell To Theo Van DortSeptember 2005 Yesterday I was with some of the Thai fishermen victims of the Tsumai who Theo helped as part of my appeal. They could tell I was very sad and asked me what was wrong. When I told them what had happened they tried to comfort me by telling me that for them life is represented by the coconut tree, which sheds its fruit no matter how precious, even when we think it is not ready to go. It is simply the way of things. They will be holding a Buddhist service in memory of Theo next week as they want to thank his spirit for all he did for them. They would also like to dedicate the next boat being built to Theo. I am still devastated about Theo's death, even though he had been ill for some time. I had prayed for his recovery every night since he was diagnosed as being ill, but sadly it was not to be. Sometimes the world appears a very unfair place, and despite the conviction of my Buddhist friends here, faith seems to have little place in it. To me, Theo was a man who epitomised many outstanding qualities; openness, wisdom, compassion, generosity, a just sense of fair play, to name but a few, and for me the most important; a selfless degree of personal integrity I have yet to see matched. We met under difficult circumstances when our entire industry seemed against Rob and myself, and yet he chose to judge us by himself and make his own mind up about the two impetuous young men he met so many years ago, embracing us into the fold when others had shunned us. I have, and will never forget that for as long as I live. He was my mentor in so many ways. He always told to me "...there is a time to come, and a time to go..". Good-bye Theo my friend. Gone but always remembered. Eduardo Phuket, Thailand, August 25th 2005.
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