Koni von Orelli

As we go to press, we learn of the death of our dear Koni von Orelli. A wonderful life has come to an end. Koni leaves behind a wealth of memories, which time and space do not allow us to evoke here.

I will never forget Koni and Marlies's wedding in Caux in 1946, followed by a reception in the great hall of Mountain House where the newlyweds danced a waltz. It was to be the beginning of a life together full of joys, but not spared the hard knocks.

How can we forget the terrible accident that befell Marlies when Koni was already so ill in the Inselspital in Bern? The courage, discipline and faith shown by Marianne and Monica were exemplary. In the years that followed, our two friends always knew how to use the experiences, good or bad, that life brought them, to enrich those who came to see them, and one always knew with them where the deep source of their inspiration was.

The Moral Re-Armament Foundation also owes a lot to Koni. He was one of its founding members and secretary of its board for many years. A gifted writer, Koni was a mainstay of Caux Information (a monthly magazine of the German-language RAM).

But he also left a multitude of poems, some of which made us laugh to tears and others touched us deeply. We will miss his friendship terribly, but for now we think of Marlies, Marianne and Christoph and Monica and Folker. May they know that all their friends in the Swiss team think of Koni and them with affection and gratitude.