Rune Bergsby

Rune. Too much to say. Never enough space. I met Rune when I arrived Jerusalem on my way to Gaza in September 2002. I entered the office of our Head of Logistics and here was Rune, large and bright. Little did I know that he would become one of the best friends ever. We were three colleagues that were alone for Christmas, Rune went through the entire ritual of obtaining pork, cabbage, potatoes (small), and all the other small things belonging to a typical Danish Christmas dinner. He proceeded to cook one of the best dinners I have ever had. Rune, at that time, was assigned to Ashdod and I was in Gaza, so we were in almost daily touch via both phone and some strange, newly invented thing called skype (we both agreed that this thing has no future). Very often, we would meet in Ashdod and I would learn something new each and every time. Following Gaza, we lost touch, workwise, but definitely not on the private side. Rune went on to Angola and other places, I went to Zimbabwe, Pakistan and other countries, but in spite of the physical distance, we would be in regular touch throughout. Whenever we happened to be in Denmark at the same time, we would find the time to meet and discuss the situation around the world, often over a great, open Danish sandwich. During the past months, after Rune came to Ethiopia, he was a bit frustrated that he was not able to do what he came to do. During our last conversation, he was already in hospital. He mentioned he was looking very much forward to being medevac’d home to Denmark so he, again, could be with his wonderful wife and all other family members. Unfortunately, this was not to be. I received the news about Rune’s death on Sunday afternoon and was devastated. I had only just spoken to him some 30 hours ago, how could he, one of the best persons to walk the earth, be gone so suddenly. The memory of Rune, his kindness, his larger than life personality, his professionalism, will always be with me. May he rest in eternal peace. Æret være hans minde.