Horst Flotow ~ Class of 1979

Horst Flotow ~ Class of 1979

Arrived ~ 1/2/1961

Departed ~ 12/18/2023

Lovingly posted by his wife, Sue Flotow
December 23, 2023

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Goodbye to my darling Horst: 2 January 1961-19 December 2023

On Tuesday, we lost our beloved Horst as he moved on from this world after a 12 month valiant effort against a not so common cancer that manifested in a not so common place. Despite being told this was terminal from day one, my oft bloody-minded Horst refused to accept that this diagnosis was all there was. His determination to understand more than the physical, more about the metaphysical, our husband and father endured 10 months of non-stop chemotherapy to curtail the physical side of it, while he sought out all he could about the potential in the energy of this world.

With the primary cancer found in his oesophagus, and metastases into his liver, stomach and lung, he was restricted to such drastic treatment in an effort to eat, and of course, to have more time with us. Travel, however, was severely limited due to this esophageal blockage, despite hoping we could do so. We managed one trip in May: to Slovenia where he saw a Ural Owl, a first for him, and he was very happy. So was I. After four different types of chemicals and regimes being tried, nothing could halt the spread. Small-cell Neuro Endocrine Tumors are fast replicators and highly mobile. With so few cases occurring in the world, treatment options were always experimental. He stopped all treatment at the end of October. His decline, thereafter, was all too swift. How he endured 12 months of this colossal assault, I cannot tell you, other than his sheer bloody-mindedness.

Horst was an outlier, and I loved him dearly for it, even though it was not always easy. His love and respect for nature defined his life, and sometimes ours. The destruction of habitat for his beloved birds, animals big and small, caused him such a sadness. His career as a biologist and biochemist was to satisfy his intelligence and curiosity, the challenge to find novel medicines to help humankind in the future ignited his purpose. But his heart belonged to the jungles, forests and anywhere he could find the world’s fauna on this planet, where his first true love was found and remained.

Horst was a good man. An honest, kind, loyal and supportive man. He was also a funny man, a gentle and respectful man. It was my privilege to be by his side for over 38 years. Somehow, I have to go on without him by my side. Our dear daughters will help me, as I help them.

He lived a life in alignment with who he was. He was at peace, and full of gratitude for his life. These are intertwined and a lesson for us all.

To my friends around the world who have supported me over the last 12 months, I deeply thank you. There are only so many people one can share with regularly while caring for someone so ill. This message is for all of you who knew us, laughed with us, wondered at us, and experienced life with us. Thank you.

We’ll skip Christmas again this year. Nevertheless, I do wish you all a happy Christmas time with family and friends. Treasure them.
With love, Sue, Estella and Renata

This is Sabine Anderson his sister(Flotow)

I wanted to thank everyone for the kind words and condolences to the Post John shared for me. Horst and I loved going to ISB. He graduated in 79 and myself in 82. He loved the nature of Thailand and most of all his birds. He will be missed by my parents and I.

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories, and tributes to isbeings at gmail dot com or visit us on Facebook at ISBeings

Ann Burger DeRepentigny ~ Class of 1979

Ann Burger ~ Class of 1979

Departed ~ circa 1/8/2018

Lisa Foster Soule ’79 lovingly wrote:

David,
I arrived in 1978 and I quickly became friends with Ann.

Ann passed away on January 8, 2018 from lung cancer. Her husband, Kelly DeRepentiguy died 6 months earlier (August 2017) from a sudden heart attack. She had no idea she was sick until it was too late. It’s really tragic. They left behind 2 beautiful daughters Chelsea (who had a baby girl this summer and named her Kelly Ann) and Jessie. They lived a happy life in Old Orchard Beach, Maine where they raised their daughters.

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail dot com

Jeffrey Jeff “Jesper” Thomsen ~ Class of 1979

Jeff “Jesper” Thomsen ~ Class of 1979

Departed ~ 4/22/2015 ~ Heart Failure

 

Post By Pete Crittenden:

Jeff Thomsen was a friend of mine – we knew him as “Jesper” back in the old ISB days. Sadly, I just learned that Jeff died today in his beloved Bangkok; heart attack, they could not revive him. If I had known he was still in Bangkok all this time, I would have linked up with him during my time as a military advisor in the Kingdom, 1988-92. When the Facebook thing emerged, we got re-acquainted. I was hoping to meet up with him back in Bangkok one of these years . . . now it will have to wait for the Final Linkup in that big Blues Bar in the Sky . . . Farewell for now Old Friend . .

 

Email By Eric Dohlon, ISB class of ’79

I just had a look at the list of friends no longer with us.

I still live and work in Thailand. I work in the insurance business, I am the manager of Bangkok Insurance Brokers Company. After ISB, our family moved to Pattaya and I became a scuba diving instructor. In 1987, I moved to Phuket and have lived here ever since. I couldn’t speak Thai very well while I was at ISB, but now I speak perfectly and read and write. I also help out occasionally as a court translator in the Phuket court-house.

Unlike many students of ISB, Jesper and I are both grew up in Thailand and we were friends long before our teenage years. After ISB, I didn’t stay in touch with Jesper (because I moved to Phuket)……or any other school buddies for that matter! One year I attended the American 4th of July celebrations in Bangkok. The event was held at the Thai Tobacco Monopoly grounds. (I am not sure but I think it was around 2000) I was walking across the field in front of the stage. Jesper was on the stage checking the equipment and he saw me. I didn’t know it was Jesper on stage because I hadn’t seen him in many years. Jesper barked into the microphone “Hey you!”…..once again, “Hey you, walking away from me!” Only then did I realize he might be talking about me. I was walking away with my back to the stage. Jesper said louder….”Hey, is that Eric???” Then I turner around and realized Jesper was trying to get my attention. We had a long talk after that. It was nice to reminisce on old times. I felt sorry for him because he told me that it was tough, working as a single father in Bangkok.

I remember one more incident that happened during our school days. Jesper and I used to ride the regular bus home along Sukhumvit Road after school. One day he happened to be riding a bus that was pulling up alongside the bus I was on. I was sitting on the right side of my bus and saw him hanging on the rear entrance steps. I yelled out a greeting in Thai. He yelled a Thai swear-word back. The buses were traveling at close-to-the-same-speed so we were able to exchange many threatening sentences in Thai. The other bus passengers thought we were going to jump off and fight each other. It was funny looking at all the worried faces wondering if they were going to see two farangs have an altercation in the middle of Sukhumvit Road. To this day, I never knew why we started that impromptu performance.

As a fellow classmate of Jesper, I would love it if you are able to add a few more details to his page. It would be nice if a few more friends could share some of their “moments” with Jesper so we can all have a better memory of him. I leave it up to your discretion to add this or edit parts of what I wrote.

Sincerely,

Eric Dohlon, ISB class of ’79

 

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail.com

Peter Olsen ~ Class of 1979

Peter Olsen ~ Class of 1979

Departed ~ 1980

From: Allen Zim allenzim76 at yahoo dot com
Date: Sun, Sep 22, 2019 at 8:24 PM
Subject: GBNF Death of Wesley Olsen ISB Class of 1974
To: isbeings at gmail dot com

To The ISB Beings Network,   Wesley Olsen class of 74, died from organ(s) failures in 2012, we only learned of your organization, recently. His family left Bangkok in late 1971 – – Port Washington NY. His friends at ISB were Kurt Sigmund, Peter Schramm, Phoebe Bradley, Pam Curtis, Carl Penuel.

Younger brother Peter Olsen ( Mrs. Chances’ 4th grade )  class of 1979, he died in an accident – 1980