Dismas Becker 1936–2010
Today there was a funeral memorial gathering, mass and lunch for my friend Dismas Becker. There was a wide diversity of persons present at the service — present and past politicians, rich and poor persons, persons of all ages and ethnic and racial backgrounds. The diversity of the people at the service was a testimony to richness of Dismas’ life. His obituary in the newspaper called him an ‘activist’ but many of us will remember him as a kind and gentle friend.
How to be gentle and kind yet strong and passionate about my beliefs has always been a challenge for me. Dismas was a good model and I was blessed to renew our friendship as he approached his death.
Dismas was in great pain and dying for a long time. He prayed for death. Perhaps God extended his dying so he could teach us once again how to be kind and gentle in all situations.
Dismas had a past life as a politician but never could be one in this day and age of meanness and negativity. He leaves behind a faithful wife, a large family and many friends. However, the memory of how to be kind and gentle lives on with all of us.
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