REC: The Bulletin 8/3: Farewell to Ferenc

Obituary - Farewell to Ferenc
The REC is used to the frequent welcoming of newcomers, and farewells to colleagues entering a new stage of their lives. But this is different. Dr. Ferenc Feher joined the REC in 1993 with a diploma in biology from Budapest and a degree in Environmental Management from Manchester. Ferenc set up the Earmarked Grants Program and supervised the development of the Grants Team at the Head Office of the REC. He also served three years in the management of the Center and moved on recently to the Biodiversity Initiative. But closest to his heart always remained the small, creative undertakings of grassroots NGOs. He was one of the best qualified among the staff, well-read and sparklingly intelligent — yet he was friendly without condescension and humourous without sarcasm. He knew no compromise in his principles but managed to stand up for them without aggression. He believed in ideals and suffered much from meeting realities. A large crowd of family, friends and colleagues said farewell to him on a chilly morning a few weeks ago, paying respects to his life, his work, his personality. Dr. Ferenc Feher, one of the longest-serving employees at the REC, was hit and killed by a speeding car on October 30, 1998. He was 40 years old, 20 years married, with four lovely children. We still can't quite believe it. — By Janos Zlinsky Editor's note: The story written by Ferenc was the last thing he wrote for the REC. Its style, rhythm and vision can only have been illuminated by one who mimics nature's beauty. The stories City mountain or nature mountain? and Batman forever were inspired by Ferenc.

Obituary - Farewell to Ferenc

The REC is used to the frequent welcoming of newcomers, and farewells to colleagues entering a new stage of their lives. But this is different. Dr. Ferenc Feher joined the REC in 1993 with a diploma in biology from Budapest and a degree in Environmental Management from Manchester. Ferenc set up the Earmarked Grants Program and supervised the development of the Grants Team at the Head Office of the REC. He also served three years in the management of the Center and moved on recently to the Biodiversity Initiative. But closest to his heart always remained the small, creative undertakings of grassroots NGOs. He was one of the best qualified among the staff, well-read and sparklingly intelligent — yet he was friendly without condescension and humourous without sarcasm. He knew no compromise in his principles but managed to stand up for them without aggression. He believed in ideals and suffered much from meeting realities. A large crowd of family, friends and colleagues said farewell to him on a chilly morning a few weeks ago, paying respects to his life, his work, his personality. Dr. Ferenc Feher, one of the longest-serving employees at the REC, was hit and killed by a speeding car on October 30, 1998. He was 40 years old, 20 years married, with four lovely children. We still can't quite believe it.

— By Janos Zlinsky

Editor's note: The story written by Ferenc was the last thing he wrote for the REC. Its style, rhythm and vision can only have been illuminated by one who mimics nature's beauty. The stories City mountain or nature mountain? and Batman forever were inspired by Ferenc.

REC * PUBLICATIONS * THE BULLETIN * AUTUMN-WINTER 1998