Richard and Jean Van Loon
We were all enriched by Alan. So while we write in sorrow and condolence at his loss, we write also with a feeling of privilege at having been his friends.
We know that you, the family to which he was "papa" loved him, were loved by him and will miss his loving and guiding presence. He instilled in you - and everyone - a sense of fun and enjoyment combined with both public and private responsibility which ranges over all our lives.
But to us, Alan was most of all a true and deep friend and we share your sadness at his loss. With Alan and you, Christine, we spent so many happy hours in the lovely town house in Anghieri. We trembled in pleasurable fear as Alan took on the Italian highway system and Italian drivers. We gasped as Alan whipped the Nymark VW Golf over precipitous Tuscan switchbacks. In our adventures together, Alan was the initiator, the adventurer.
We enjoyed countless evenings of fine wine (chosen and lectured upon by Alan), fine food (prepared by Alan) and fine conversation (guided by Christine) with others of the Nymarks' close friends. We travelled, we talked, we dined, we drank. Our own enjoyment of life was hugely enhanced by our time together over the years. We will miss Alan so much and we know that you, the family will miss him so much more.
His life was too short but we were all lucky to have known him as long as we did.
Tuesday May 17, 2016 at 12:16 pm