I guess I've never felt quite worthy to be your friend - I still don't. But I will miss having you in this world profoundly. You have been a good and gentle soul I could look to for guidance and attempt to model my life after. I have aspired to approach life in a positive yet philosophical way - the way you did. I will continue to do so.
Ken Coffeen was truly a wise elder of the human tribe - Madison, Wisconsin branch. He touched many lives and will be missed. Lo vamos a hechar de menos - that's the simple truth.
Ken worked as a civil engineer for most of his life, including a couple years in Ecuador, designing and leading the construction of a sanitary sewer system for a then small town. Ken was one of the first group of young Americans to answer President Kennedy's call to join the Peace Corps. 30+ years later he returned to Ecuador and received rare treatment as a valued elder who had helped lay the foundation for a now much larger and thriving town.
Here in Wisconsin, Ken was one of those who stood on the docks in quiet support of native Americans as they asserted their treaty right to spear fish. This he and many other brave and gentle folks did at a time when those native Americans were being subjected to vicious racist verbal attacks which threatened to become physical attacks.
This is just one of many stories about Ken's social activism which you would only hear if you were willing to take the time to listen as he spoke quietly. He was never a person to self-aggrandize or impose his stories upon others. But he told good stories!
Here in Madison, Ken volunteered often as part of the local returned Peace Corps volunteers group. He was the sort of person who is so reliable that others take them for granted. "Ken will be there." or "Ken is taking care of it." Ken has other business to attend to now, and we will miss him.
Since the death of my father, I have not felt the loss of anyone this strongly. As with Dad, there are things left unspoken that I wish I had said to Ken. I guess a big part of all grief is really self-pity. I already miss you a lot, Ken, and would like to be able to tell you so.
Ken spoke out against those things which need to be spoken against, such as war, and he spoke out in favor of those things we all ought to, such as social justice and peace. His quietly passionate voice will be missed.
