Memorial Service for Ahser Edward

The family, friends, and colleagues of Ahser Edward gathered to remember Ahser and to comfort each other upon his passing.

Ahser was who was always filled with joy. He greeted everyone with a smile, he always approached life with a positive attitude. Although at times he must have been in pain, he never mentioned it, never complained.

In my earlier years at the college I had the opportunity to go out on the water with Ahser and his marine biology class. Out on the lagoon Ahser seemed the most at home.

Watching Ahser interact with his students on field trips helped me understand that the students at the college engage in more effective learning in a non-classroom environment. This is not simply that field trips are beneficial. Possibly too many years of sub-optimal teaching within the walls of a classroom have tainted that environment.

The passing of a husband, a father, a brother, is always painful. My own father died at 56 years old, Ahser at 54. The sharp pain of the loss may occur less frequently as the years go by, yet with each new grandchild born there is a tinge of sadness that grandpa did not get a chance to meet and know the new grandchild. For the grandchild, grandpa remains a picture in an album and a few stories of his life.

A death in the family of the person who was to deliver the meditation left a gap in the program only hours before the program. I was asked to deliver the meditation. I owe a debt of thanks to Bruce Robert for reviewing my meditation and making excellent suggestions on text choices. Without Bruce's approval, I would not have had the confidence to stand before as many church leaders as were present in the room and deliver a meditation.

My colleague and good friend Paul Gallen whose words always comfort delivered the benediction.