Dear Friends,
Greetings of love and peace.
It is with the sadness we inevitably feel at the loss of a bright spirit and dear friend that I inform you of the passing two days ago of Harvey Masonek, who joins the souls of URI's Celestial CC abiding in eternal light.
Harvey was a wise, astute and gentle businessman. Among other things, he sponsored an annual series on international careers at the University of California Berkeley.
Harvey was an early URI board member and a dedicated member of our Interim Global Council. I have an especially vivid memory of Harvey's passionate commitment for the IGC to speak out on 9/11. He helped craft the following statement issued by the IGC:
We, members of the United Religions Initiative's Interim Global Council, express our deep sorrow and grief at the acts of terrorism against the United States and all humanity on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. As people of diverse religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions throughout the world, we unite in mourning for those who lost their lives, and we offer our prayers for their families and loved ones, and for all of humanity.
In an instant, an explosion of hatred and fear darkened the skies over the United States, and around the world. The forces of hatred and violence are suddenly so visible. People call for killing in response to this killing; for acts of war in response to this act of war.
In our shock, grief and fear, and in response to the rising tide of hatred and violence, we give thanks for our existing interreligious relationships dedicated to peace, justice and healing. We - Buddhists, Bahai's, Christians, Hindus, Indigenous peoples, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Taoists, and many other faiths - declare our intention to grieve together and to support all others who grieve.
We pledge, together, to offer the gift of prayer and meditation for peace; for justice, not revenge; for healing, not further violence. We state our commitment to build new relationships of peace, justice and healing until no one is left out. We pledge together to give our lives to the challenging, daily work of peacebuilding so that humanity might claim out of this tragedy a new day of compassion, healing and light.
Harvey and his wife, Eve (pictured above), opened their beautiful home, which was filled with wonderful works of art, to host gatherings for URI.
Once his service on the Interim Global Council was over, Harvey continued to support URI. When the Global Council created an Audit Committee many years ago, Harvey graciously accepted an invitation to serve on that committee, a service only his passing has ended.
I have vivid memories of Harvey sitting in our annual meeting with our auditors as we began the audit each year. The auditors always asked me what had happened in URI's life during the past year. It was such a joy, as I spoke, to see the broad, luminous smile on Harvey's face, and feel supported by his frequent comments about how impressed he was by URI's growth.
I last saw Harvey and Eve at our Circles of Light this past March. Though Harvey seemed quite frail, he was beaming with happiness.
I will always remember him that way.
I invite you to join me in offering your prayers/meditations/thoughts for Harvey and Eve. If you feel moved to send a message to Eve, please send it to [email protected]. We will collect all the messages we receive and deliver them to Eve.
Thank you.
Love,
Charles
The Rev Canon Charles P. Gibbs
Executive Director, United Religions Initiative
