Sedona Eye columnist, Mel Copen
Sedona AZ (March 12, 2012) – There are few words that truly express the emotion of losing someone as full of life as Dr. Melvyn Copen, a man who left too soon.
We, of the Sedona Eye and Sedona Times Publishing, will properly eulogize our deeply respected and admired friend, a remarkable man of all seasons, a gentleman filled with generosity of spirit and deed, a writer who offered ideas, suggestions, and opinions with wit and wisdom.
Today in this world of words, we are finding none, staring in disbelief at a blank page.
Once again, dear friend, you have given us reason to pause and reflect.
Go with God. May your journey be as rewarding as the last.
It is with great sadness that I, and our family, let you know that our beloved Mel Copen passed away today. After two and a half months of struggle and fight to regain strength and health after challenging open heart surgeries, he slipped away to his next journey.
With Mel and me are his 2 daughters, Erika and Susan, and my oldest son, Mark. Other family members are en route. I can assure you that he was at peace, was in no pain at all, and simply went to sleep surrounded by those who loved him.
We will be having a Celebration of Life on Friday, March 16th, at 11 am, at the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, 100 Meadowlark Drive , with Rabbi Alicia Magal.
I know how many people in our community, and around the world, loved and respected Mel, so we welcome you all to come help us celebrate his most well lived life.
Please forward this to all of his board members, tennis friends, and on and on. If you have a message to write about Mel, please feel free to bring it, and we will put it into some form for the family.
Hope to see you Friday, or one day soon.
Bev
Beverly Kievman Copen
With loving thoughts and a lifetime of memories of my Mel.
Escazú, Costa Rica
Monday, March 12, 2012
Dear INCAE Community,
Board of Directors, Rector, Faculty, Partners, Associates, Donors, friends all
Yesterday Sunday 11th with the sun at high noon, I spoke to Melvyn R. Copen, our fifth Rector, for the last time. I told him we had launched the ILLUMINATE Campaign to raise US$50 million for the INCAE Jubilee, and I told him Roberto Artavia is the new Chairman of the Board. Erika, his oldest daughter came on and said to me: “Jimmy his face is lighted up, glowing with a broad smile”. Then, fatigue took over and we ended our communication.
At sundown today Monday 12, Miriam and I were stepping out of the supermarket. The mobile phone rang. Erika said: “Thank you. You’ve said the right things. We’ll be holding a service this Friday at 11 a.m. in Sedona, and another the following weekend in New York. Of course, you will be most welcome to come to either or both. Dad loved you both very much.”
We will go to Sedona to honor a person of excellence, INCAISTA all the way to his last glimmers of light.
James (Jimmy) and Miriam Hirsch
To the writer of this report (tribute) —
There is no byline and it is with appreciation that we write this comment to you or to those of you if it was a collaborative project.
We read one of the most deeply beautiful expressions of respect for Mel Copen that he could have received. He would certainly have enjoyed the depth of emotion conveyed without resorting to the typical and the usual stats and time lines.
It was a gift that you wrote for Mel Copen. Thank you from these two admiring readers. We have subscribed and will appreciate the quality of your publication for a long time.
A. Steinberg
E. Levine
Miami
I had the honor of meeting Dr. Copen while I was a student at INCAE BUSINESS SCHOOL. It was clear to me how fortunate we were to have a leader like him sharing so much with our institution, fellow students and community. Although his intellectual leadership will definitely be remembered and missed, his warm and friendly personality will not be forgotten. Thanks for sharing so much with our community and institution Dr. Copen…..Regards. Felipe A Santos MAE XXIII
A delightful man. Outgoing. Great loss to this community.
How sad are we to hear this news. How very sad.
Thank you for your thoughtful and poignant words recognizing my father. He would have been both humbled and honored. I’ve found great comfort in learning of others who have been positively impacted by my father’s words, actions, or friendship. Finding this article this morning brought me that and more. You filled that “blank page” with a beautiful tribute for many to read and consider. Thank you. He was a very special man.
Here we are in Missouri and found this euology after Google to prepare one for a friend that died this weekend and we are using it with appreciation because it said it all in the nicest way