Bridget's Thoughts

Silvanos was a brilliant teacher, thoughtful advisor, unfailing colleague, and irreplaceable friend. His genuine love for life was infectious. His wore his optimism like an impenetrable shield. He reminded me to keep smiling and live each day with a sense of wonder and real happiness. I feel blessed to have experienced the goodness that Silvanos shared freely with everyone he met.

I first met Silvanos last January when he warmly welcomed the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program team to Kenya. We quickly became a trusting family and within only a few weeks our friendship grew strong roots.

Silvanos loved introducing his student friends to the new and sometimes surprising world of East Africa. A few weeks before the end of the program I remember discussing our favorite aspects of working for CFSIA, and with no hesitation Silvanos enthusiastically replied, “My favorite part of the job is working with the students.” Be it giving impromptu Swahili lessons as we bumped along in the trucks, explaining the medicinal use of a plant on a nature walk, discussing Luo culture on the shores of Lake Victoria, or chatting about one of the student’s favorite hockey teams, his approachable and friendly nature made him the perfect Assistant to the Director. Silvanos made everyone feel valuable, comfortable, and at ease.

Silvanos was also a role model for anyone who wanted to get involved in social justice and environmental management. In a formal or an informal setting rarely a day went by when we did not discuss an issue related to food security, health, water, or the environment. I loved discussions with Silvanos because in his mind every problem had a solution. While having enough heart and personal drive to tackle every problem that crossed his path, he was an incredible team player and rarely tried to “go it alone” if he knew he could recruit others to join him. Silvanos did not want any of the glory; he just wanted things to get better for every living thing he worked with. He was always thinking about how he could help everyone and everything. With ease and honest concern he supported and motivated coworkers and students alike to become involved and invested in communities throughout his beloved Kenya.

Having Silvanos as a friend was a wonderful gift. He helped me remember my strengths if I was feeling tired or down. If I felt unsteady he was right there, providing balance. He reminded me to believe in the beauty of the earth, in spite of her scars, and the goodness of humankind, despite inexplicable violence and greed.

As I struggle with the loss of Silvanos I find that I can sense his guidance. If I close my eyes I can see his smile and hear his voice, “Bree, You ARE Strong.” I can hear him telling me to seek understanding and search inside for a hopeful seed he has planted in my heart. When I find this seed I will cultivate it by staying active in the good works that fed Silvanos’s soul. I will use my hands, my mind, and my heart, to keep his hopeful spirit alive. I will attempt to live my life as Silvanos did, full of genuine love for life and all of the challenges and joys it brings.

Jesse Jenkinson's Thoughts

This is my first time ever speaking at a memorial or funeral of any type. The last time I can remember someone I knew passing away was my grandfather when I was eight years old and the memory is faint. So how to say some comforting words at a time like this almost escapes me. I don’t feel as though there is comfort with the way Silvanos died. There are no words that I can say to make anyone’s heart ache less or soul feel at ease. The only experience I have had with death was with a justified death, someone who had lived a long and full life and it was their time. But there is no justification I can think of for Silvanos’ death, nothing that can make me feel as though he was ready and it was his time. As much as I believe that everything happens for a reason, I cannot convince myself of that right now.

Silvanos was a young, bright, remarkable man. He was my friend, my mentor, my guide and my role model. He was the most positive, optimistic person I have ever met and it is really hard to know that I will never see him again. I think of his family, of his young children who will now grow up without his soothing and inspiring presence, growing up without their father. The hardest thing to come to terms with is that I never got to know him as well as I wished I had. That is the hard thing about being one of the ones left behind; you think of all the things you should have said or done, questions you should have asked, ways in which you should have cared more.

The right thing that we can now do is to remember Silvanos. He is not lost to us if we are active in our remembrance. Let not the memory of his smile or his contagious laugh fade. We can help to continue his fight for equality, for peace, for helping those in need. To know how many people he has touched around the world, to hear the cry of grief from all corners of this earth brings a smile to my face, knowing that Silvanos’ goals and dreams for his own family, and for the families and children he worked for can be met through all those who loved him and benefited from his guidance and presence. It is now our job to keep his work going and in that way we can keep his memory with us always.

Derek Brine's Thoughts

"First I'd like to say that I truly regret not being about to attend this service for my good friend.
Silvanos has made an indelible mark on me. When I think about him I can't help but be happy, and I am sure that that is what he would want us all to feel. Picture for a moment that infectious smile and one of the many handshakes that he used to give. Or the way in which Silvanos used to start every conversation with "Actually...". Or that personal moment or activity that you shared with him, as I know many people did. For me and my good friend Zach it was spending long hours teaching Silvanos how to play chess. I spent 5 hours straight playing with him on the bus from Voi to Mobasa. We played 8 times and I never lost. At the end he said to me "Thank you. Derek, my guy, I have to keep practicing, but I will get you one of these days!" That was the type of friend and person Silvanos was. He was always ready and willing to share personal time, always interested in learning and appreciating new things and always interested in developing genuine relationships. It is that appreciation of life and the little time we all have together that I learned from Silvanos.

Meeting Silvanos changed my definition of friendship from something that two people simply acknowledge to something that two people truly feel and live. Silvanos is my genuine friend and I know he continues to be with me. Even though in reality we didn't know each other long, I feel - and I think he felt - as if he and I shared a deep bond, one that will continue for my entire life. For anyone that knew him, this is not surprising. It was Silvanos's warm, welcoming, one-of a kind smile that drew people in and made them feel comfortable and his strength of character and authentic compassion and caring that created lasting bonds. I am proud to have been included in Silvanos's circle of colleagues and friends and am sad for those who never had the chance to come to know this great man.

I can also personally attest to Silvanos's pride and joy in being a father and husband. Silvanos invited me into his home and shared with me his personal life. I had the privilege of meeting his wife Seline and beautiful children Ronnie and Anto. Silvanos cared for and loved them deeply and showed it both in his tender interactions with them and his tireless work to create opportunities for them. His work in Mikinduri not only provided for his family but also contributed towards making Kenya a better place to live, not only for his children but for all young Kenyans.

I feel as if I have been robbed of the opportunity to really know and learn from a wonderful person. I will miss my buddy Silvanos, but he has left me with a new understanding of what it means to truly care for one another. For that I will be forever grateful.

Asante Sana, Rafiki Zako.

D"

January 3rd Gatherings

Hello everyone,

I wanted to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the service at Birks and evening gathering on the 3rd. While all of you could not be there, your presence was felt in our gathering of ~50 of us. Birks Chapel felt full as people spoke with love about Silvanos.

The following poem was written on a card with a picture of Silvanos for people to take home with them. I wanted to be sure that you all can share in its message.

I part the out thrusting branches
And come in beneath
The blessed and the blessing trees.
Though I am silent
There is singing around me.
Though I am dark
There is vision around me.
Though I am heavy
There is flight around me.

-Wendell Berry

The following is a poem I wrote for Silvanos, while journeying north on a train from NY on the 1st:

The air moves
In this still space miles away
And I find I can taste:

Sudden rain in Kibale.
Red dust of Laikipia.
Salty heat in a Stone Town sunset.

I see you in these frames that memory provides.

Generous and steadying.
Careful and carefree.
Your strong heart,
Imparting wisdom with love.

“Bree, You ARE Strong.”
You left me no choice but to believe.

Believe in:
The beauty of the earth,
In spite of her scars.
The goodness of humankind,
Despite senseless brutality.

Closing my eyes,
I seek understanding.

And find the smallest, hopeful seed in my heart.
I will nurture it with good works using:
My hands
My mind,
My heart,
To keep your spirit alive.

I will be strong.

And in the goodness that grows in these spaces
My need to comprehend the mysterious will rest,
And you will dwell.
In peace.

--
I hope this brings you all some of your own peace, as we keep Silvanos alive in our hearts, minds and actions.

Bridget