Rasjad (Robert) Hopkins passed away on Sunday, November 5th in Battleground, Washington at 89 years of age. He passed after contracting Covid 19 which was difficult to overcome because of other underlying health conditions.
He had a chance to say goodbye to several people in his life before his passing, and shared that he was at peace with his life and God, that he had lived a very full life with many blessings.
Rasjad was born in Chicago in 1934, and spent his formative years in Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco. He was a sculptor, painter, and used his passion and knowledge of the fine arts to represent artists through several galleries he participated in and/or owned during his life.
In the early 1950s, Rasjad had a spiritual experience that led him on a journey to better understand what had transpired and to seek others who may have had similar experiences. This led him to finding Subud in the late 1950s. He was an active Subud member for many years in Seattle, San Francisco, and Marin. In his later years, he began to find it physically difficult to attend latihan, and we are grateful to brother Damon who would visit Rasjad weekly to do latihan together.
There were many friends and neighbors who knew, visited and supported Rasjad in his final years in San Francisco, until he moved to live with his daughter in Washington. He served many roles throughout his time as an active Subud member, but most importantly, he felt that it was important to share his story, faith, and love with others so that they could find their own path toward God.
Rasjad is survived by his former wives, 7 children, and 10 grandchildren. He once shared with me that the one thing he prayed for at the birth of his children was that they would grow to have a kind hearts and generous natures, and he felt blessed beyond measure that this was true for each of his children. For those who knew him, he was charismatic, had a strong zest and love of life, was passionate about art and gardening, was a supportive mentor, and always grateful to God for his many blessings.
To share your own memories of Rasjad, please use the comment box below, at the end of this post, below “Leave a Reply”
Remembering Rosada Russell
by Waqidi Falicoff
My sister Rosada Russell passed away on October 17, 2023, at the age of 73. A long time member of Subud earlier in her life, she was an extraordinary sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
On the day of her passing, I wrote a song “One-Way Walk” in her honor and used a recording of it in a YouTube video of the same name. The video includes many photos of her from childhood to recent times. A link to it is available here: https://youtu.be/uQCH30IAVEQ
May her next journey be more beautiful than what can be imagined.
To share your own memories of Rosada, please use the comment box found at the bottom of this webpage, under “Leave a Reply”..
Remembering Sasha Greenawalt
by Sylvia des Tombe and Lianne Card
Sasha Greenawalt passed away peacefully on September 3, 2023, in a care facility near to her twin sister outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sasha was born in Chicago, IL in 1943. When Sasha was ten, the family moved to Seattle, Washington. While her parents liked it, Sasha found it too rainy. She found drier weather when she was accepted at Stanford University. Having taken a class in Russian to fulfill a foreign language requirement, she ended up majoring in Russian language and literature. Indeed, she even started dreaming in Russian!
She married after graduating and, along with her husband, completed a three-year course of training on medical technology and lab work to obtain her laboratory technician license. In addition to her hospital work, she began doing research connected with space stations. She drew on her Russian language knowledge when visiting Star City in Moscow, Russia, and working at NASA to prepare cosmonauts and astronauts for experiments to be performed at space stations and shuttles.
Sasha first became aware of Subud while at Stanford, where her Jujitsu class teacher was a Subud member. Feeling that she was looking for some kind of spiritual guidance, Sasha eventually told this teacher that she wanted to be opened. After doing latihan with different groups in the Bay area, she joined the Palo Alto group in the mid-1980’s. Irena fondly remembers commuting together to latihan.
Her parents had chosen the name “Sally” for her, but when she was older, after considering many names, she changed it to “Sasha.” When she became a Subud member, she wrote to Ibu to check that this name was right for her but, not receiving an answer, continued to use it. Then, two years later, she came across a letter from Ibu which confirmed her choice. Sasha meant “helper” and “one who assists a helper.”
Sasha was intrepid in her love of adventure. She and Maia Chisholm paddled their kayaks together through the Elkhorn Slough, Lexington reservoir, and Pinto Lake. She also loved to camp out in the desert in Baja on weekends.
Although she suffered from Parkinson’s Disease since the late 1990’s, Sasha remained very active. With Sylvia, she joined a meetup group where they read Russian Classics in Translation. In this way she maintained a connection with her original college love of Russian literature. She also participated in a discussion group about foreign affairs, and spent weekends with Leoma and Leanna in creativity workshops.
She pursued an interest in Marine Biology and started to lead tours of tide pools as a docent. With her housemate, Jan Pelinka, she moved to Half Moon Bay in 2017, to be closer to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. They became co-editors of the Reserve’s newsletter, Between the Tides.
In the years when she lived in Half Moon Bay but could no longer drive, Sasha, Rosabelle Lynes, and Sylvia des Tombe commuted together to latihans in Palo Alto. Both Sylvia and Rosabelle remember Sasha’s strong and quiet presence as well as their wide-ranging conversations.
Sasha moved to the care facility in New Mexico in 2022. Sasha wanted to be cremated, and her twin sister in Arizona arranged to send her ashes to family members in Seattle, who will cast the ashes into the Puget Sound. The Puget Sound splits into two currents; one goes south to California and one stays near Seattle. So, her ashes will go to the two locations where Sasha lived.
Sasha is very much missed by all who knew and loved her.
(Pictured left) Sasha between friends Rosabelle Lynes (at left) and Sylvia des Tombe (at right), in front of the Palo Alto Subud Center, after a Saturday morning latihan.
Celebrating the lives of Luzita and Ralph Davila
by Halimah Collingwood
Over 100 adults, children, and possibly animals joined together on Saturday, August 12 at the Santa Cruz Subud Center to be part of the Celebration of Life for Ralph and Luzita Davila. It was a righteous send off for these two Great Spirits to their heavenly home. Ralph and Luzita would have been so happy.
(L) Ralph and Luzita
From the delicious food, including Davila-inspired sushi prepared-on-the-spot by Chef Sjarif MacNeil, to the beautiful montage of photos, to the many shared memories, to the songs from loved ones,to the dancing hosted by DJ Hamid – it was a spectacular event.
As MC, Harlan Gleeson told many humorous and poignant stories about the adventures shared by the Davilas and Gleesons as next-door-neighbors, on Kingsley Dr. in Los Angeles.
And of course, many friends contributed to the tears and laughter as they recounted their experiences with our departed ones.
Emotional as it was to say goodbye to their beloved parents, Hartwell, Alaya, Donahl, Ramsay and granddaughter, Haydyn, all expressed their love with great heart. They also conveyed their gratefulness for all the love and help they have received over the last months.
(L) Davila’s daughter, Alaya
Have your own reflection or remembrance of Luzita or Ralph? To share it, go to the remembrance webpage for Luzita HERE or for Ralph HERE.
The Memorial table with wedding quilt and ashes
Dancing to celebrate life!
Remembering Simon Dick
by Salamah D. LeClaire
After a long bout with dementia and a rapid decline in the last two months, Simon Dick passed away on Saturday evening, August 5th at 9:08 pm, in the VA hospital in San Francisco, CA. It was the exact time of the Sunday morning latihan here in our home in Rungan Sari. He passed away, to the day, two years after our son Halim.
His family were unable to be with him; I had just returned to Indonesia from the U.S. and a message that the hospital left for our grandsons (who live in Berkeley) never reached them. We found out three days later, when our brother Manuel Oliver was trying to see him to do latihan at the hospital, and could not go in. Trying to unravel the mystery, I phoned the doctors to get an update on his health condition and found out then about his passing.
I think that is how Simon would want it: no fuss: just let me move on and be on my way home to North Dakota (a symbol of US for him), and so he did. That had been his non-stop quest for over three years, so being back in the states allowed him to move into his next journey.
Many of you knew Simon for his long life in Subud, his hikes in the Sierra, his trips to Indonesia (the first in 1971) and life there, his work on the national by-laws, his work for YUM, his love of Shakespeare, his writing, his sense of humor, his teaching English at BCU, his love of life, his goodness and caring nature, and his law career. As a lawyer, Simon was always interested in helping those in need rather than the material side of the practice. His easy answer whenever asked “how are you?” was, “I am well, super!”
We began our Subud life on the East Coast and lived in New England before moving to Indonesia for the first time and were blessed in being there while Bapak was still with us. There, Simon worked for YUM as director. In the early 1990s, we lived in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara CA for several years, joining latihan at the Palo Alto Subud Center. We lived in Spokane at the time of the 1997 Congress and for a few years after. We then went back to Indonesia and Rungan Sari, where we lived until bringing Simon to San Francisco in June of this year.
Along with his son Daniel, and grandchildren Latif, Raynard and Reza, I pray and ask that you join in asking that he be rewarded for his good deeds and forgiven his shortcomings as he embraces this next journey in the light.
May God bless him.
Please share your own memories of Simon Dick on our website HERE, using the comments box at the end of the page, under Leave a Reply
Remembering Mardiyah Tarantino
by Lydia Feltman
Mardiyah A. Tarantino, Subud Pioneer, passed from this life on Friday, July 7, at 10:10 pm surrounded by her husband Rashad, her son Edward, and three of her grandkids (Sidra, Ambrose, and Razel).
The first thing I remember about Mardiyah is her smile. We were in a crowded room for latihan and, as she was walking, she turned her head toward me and smiled. I don’t know if I had formally met her yet as I was new in Subud.
When my husband Robert and I were going together, he used to take me on “dates” to visit Subud families, like the Tarantinos. I had given up using drugs (pot, LSD) the year before, and being with them made me feel “high.” I was so impressed with Mardiyah’s ease with cooking her marvelous meals and taking care of young children. She, like me, had been an only child. I didn’t have any experience with children or being a housewife. Her dedication and joy in this really influenced me to be willing to get married and have kids, despite my fears.
In 1967, I had been in Subud about a year and didn’t feel much or move in the Latihan. Well, it did make me feel good. I was committed to continuing with the Latihan, and my life was changing in many ways. One night during Latihan I had a “convincing” experience (as Bapak would say). It was as though the room was filled with light and a feeling of Bapak (although I had never seen him). Afterwards I saw Mardiyah who had just gotten back from being with Bapak in New York. I hadn’t known she was there, but I knew she brought the feeling with her. I told her about this many years later, but she hadn’t noticed anything different. It was proof to me that the Latihan is passed in ways that we may not know.
Whenever we visited the Tarantinos they usually said “want to do Latihan?” and we did. In this way they took us under their wing as mentors in Subud. They were our Matron of Honor and Best Man at our wedding as well. They also did testing with us when things were difficult.
One time when doing Latihan with Mardiyah in their living room, she started laughing and laughing. I was a little disconcerted. She said afterward that she had just received the answer to a test by Bapak that she hadn’t received at the time. The question was “How do you laugh from the inner?” In her book Bapak – Lost in the Amazon and Other Tales–Adventures with Bapak and Ibu Siti Sumari, Mardiyah describes how she was able to receive laughing from the inner in testing with Bapak, when she was traveling with Bapak and Ibu in South America.
I was happy that Mardiyah, as a regional helper, was the one to test with me about being a helper as we had no helpers at the time in our group. When asked the question, “How is your willingness to be a helper?” I had bowed down. So she asked an extra question, “How is your willingness to be Bapak’s helper?” and I bowed down even lower. She said she asked the extra question because she wondered at first if I was showing a burden, and wanted to make sure it was really a bow. Then she said, “I’m just not that subservient!”
Here is an example of her honesty and humility: One time at a helper’s meeting when I was a candidate helper along with several others, Mardiyah and Lusana Faliks had a disagreement. It was pretty subtle and we all thought it was resolved. Months later after Mardiyah had moved to Hawaii, she wrote to Lusana asking that the letter be shared with all of us. She said that Lusana was right and she wanted us to know. I was impressed with both of them in their ability to be restrained in their disagreement.
Robert and I always enjoyed Mardiyah’s sense of humor, honesty and observations. Here is a quote from her book, Life at the Cafe Berlitz- A Memoir of Paris: — “Anything that came my way, in those days, I welcomed as a stroke of luck. I was incapable of conforming, but I wasn’t a real rebel. I haven’t decided if this attitude – acceptance of fate and working hard to make the best of it – was peculiar to me, or learned during a period in history when children still obeyed their elders because they lacked the imagination not to.”
To me, it’s an astute observation, as I’m on the cusp of the “baby boomers,” and it seemed that those older than me were different than those younger than me. Well, I’ve seen in her life that Mardiyah certainly did “make the best of it.”
Many years ago, after her kids had grown up and left home, Mardiyah told me she wondered if her job here was done and if it was okay to “kick the bucket.” So she tested and asked God if it was time, and received “no,” she still had work to do.
In the last years, whenever I called Mardiyah and asked how she was, she always said something that sounded hopeful, like “learning to walk again.” One time when I said “You sound really good,” she replied, “well you know I’m an actress.”
Some people don’t know that Mardiyah and Rashad had a baby girl, Harlina, their last child, who died in the first few months of life. Mardiyah told me this story about what Ibu Sumari told her when she was traveling with Bapak’s party in South America: Ibu said to her, “Why are you still grieving about your daughter who died? You know that Ibu also had a daughter who died. When Ibu dies, Rochanawati will come to take Ibu to heaven. When you die, Harlina will come to take you to heaven.”
In her book, Bapak-Lost in the Amazon, Mardiyah writes about how Ibu Sumari again mentioned this shortly before Ibu died. Mardiyah ‘s books, including Bapak-Lost in the Amazon are available on Amazon.
You are invited to use the comment box at the bottom of this page, under “Leave a Reply”, to add your own remembrance of Mardiyah.
Remembering Ralph Davila
NOTE: You can leave your own remembrance of Ralph Davila in the comments box at the end of this post.
by Ramsay Davila
A few days ago, with his kids surrounding him and my hand on his chest, I felt my dad‘s heart stop beating. He had been in the hospital for about a month, we tried everything possible to get him home to see my mom before she passed but unfortunately he didn’t make it in time.
A few days later he went on hospice. We brought him home, put him in the same place by the window, in the same bed my mother had died a few days earlier. He didn’t wanted to live in a world without his wife. Eight days apart from her was long enough for him.
As a kid, my dad was passed around from family to family, boarding school to boarding school, and was never shown much love. He overcame a very difficult childhood to become one of the most beloved people I’ve ever met. It’s hard for me to understand that someone who was showed such little love as a kid could learn to possess so much love for his own children.
He was constantly changing, learning, evolving to be a better person. He was the softball pitcher, grill master, the unofficial mayor of Melrose, the tickle monster, a burner, a mountain biker, a cab driver, a student of life, an amazing father, and husband to his wife of 52 years. You will be missed by many, pop.
Remembering Luzita Davila
NOTE: you can leave your own remembrance in the comment box at the end of this post
by Ramsay Davila
My Mom had been battling cancer for a number of years now. Her journey with cancer can only be described as utterly graceful. Somehow, she escaped the pain and suffering that goes along with this horrible disease.
Most people aren’t aware that my mom had this amazing ability and strength to be there for people in their dying days. A number of people died in my house as a child, people who are sick and needed support. Other times she would fly across country to be with people who are alone, people who she hadn’t seen in years and years. I always thought my mom was doing this because she had some sort of fear of dying alone, and she was trying to use karma to head your bets. I was completely wrong. My mom is not afraid of death. She chose to discontinue cancer treatments, even though they could’ve extended her life. She had seen so many friends struggle with different cancer treatments and decided she wanted nothing to do with it. My mom is karma was to not die alone, but die without pain and suffering with the most grace I ever thought imaginable. She was with her kids at her passing.
My mom‘s name Luzita, translates to “little light”. That could not be more of an understatement. There was nothing little about the light my mom brought. She brought warmth and comfort to everyone around her. She was an amazing mother and wife to dad of 52 years. We lost a good egg. You’ll be missed, mom.
By Halimah Collingwood
For nearly 60 years, Luzita Davila and I were the best of friends. We met in the music scene of the Bay Area in the mid-1960s. She was this happy, smiling, friendly genuine spark of Life that was at every music concert, party or gathering where she would light up the room. My boyfriend at the time and I moved in with her in a tiny funky one-bedroom house in Larkspur, a small town in Marin County. She always had her friends from Santa Cruz visiting and going to, you guessed it, parties. When it was just the two of us living in the house, we were like sisters of the Spirit, ready to be on the go…somewhere.
I had already joined Subud when we met and when a job took her to New York City, I knew she was going to need something to keep her sane. I gave her the phone number of a helper I knew there and soon she was an applicant. I’ll never forget the first time I saw her after she was opened. She came to visit me on my houseboat in Sausalito. I went to the door at her knock, threw it open and there was this Light in front of me – her smile was so bright, her eyes twinkling and I fell in love with her all over again. My feelings were so deep, I knew that I would die for her to save her life.
We met up again in 1970 at Skymont just before Bapak’s visit. She was dating Ralph and they became a couple while there. I went to Indonesia after Bapak left and then the UK, but we continued to write (real letters) and keep abreast of the happenings of our lives.
I wasn’t able to attend her double wedding with the MacNeils at Skymont but I was there for their first child’s birth. My dear Godson, Hartwell, was born in their tiny cabin in September of 1971, surrounded by her Subud sisters and her Subud midwife. I distinctly remember Ann Holiday saying after two hours of pushing, “If you don’t have your baby now, I’m going to take you to the hospital.” He popped out shortly after that!!
In 1983 when my family moved from the UK to the US, we stayed with Ralph and Luzita for 10 days while we decided where to go to find our new home. My sons, three and five, who had lived their first years in a village of 100 people in Scotland without any nearby friends, were overjoyed to be living with four Davila children and with the many Gleeson kids next door. Our lives were bound together forever.
When Luzita was a National Helper, she traveled around the country, making close friends wherever she went. Everyone loved her. She was everyone’s best friend. I remember going to Subud meetings and gatherings and spending very little time with her because she had to catch up with this lady or have lunch with someone else. I once told her that I was jealous because she never made a point to be with me. She was surprised because we were so close that she thought we’d always be there together. Ever after that she was conscientious to spend time with me at each event.
Over the years, Luzita helped many women transition to their new life, giving her all to those people she loved and who deeply loved her. I once told her I wanted her to be my death doula when it was my time. Little did I know that it would be me who was one of her close friends at her side to say good-bye.
“We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day!”
Remembering Sofiah Sexton
Sandra Sofiah Sexton, died on April 20, 2023 at age 78, after a long battle with cancer, in the presence of her sons at the Ruth Wood Open Arms hospice in Visalia, CA.
She was born on September 22, 1944 to Louise (neé Coleman) and Walter Olan Sexton in Covington, KY, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.
(L) Sofiah with Sjahari and Djamal
Sofiah grew up in Northern Kentucky with her brother, Larry Olan Sexton, and moved with the family to Florida in 1960, where she graduated from West Palm Beach High in 1962. During her time at West Palm Beach High, she was an enthusiastic member of the school choir, which performed throughout South America on a goodwill tour. Sofiah remembered the choir as a deeply spiritual experience, and the tour of South America as an important step in her understanding of the brotherhood of mankind.
After returning to Northern Kentucky and holding a series of odd jobs, Sofiah discovered the latihan kejiwaan of Subud through her cousin, Deanna McFadden, and her cousin’s husband, Lucien McFadden. At a Subud Congress in California, Sofiah met Rasjid Pullom of Highland Park, Michigan, whom she married in December of 1969.
The couple lived in Detroit and New York during the four years of their marriage, during which time Sofiah gave birth to their two sons, Sjahari and Djamal, in 1972 and 1973, respectively. The couple divorced shortly thereafter and Sofiah returned to the Greater Cincinnati area, where she put herself through the University of Cincinnati, earning a degree in education.
After graduating, Sofiah became the county librarian of Bracken County, Kentucky, before becoming the school librarian for Piner Elementary, a role she held for the next 20 years, until she retired. In retirement, Sofiah cared for her mother until she passed away, and then moved to Exeter, California, to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
She was an active member in the Subud San Joaquin Valley group as well as the Quaker Friends Meeting in nearby Visalia, and enjoyed attending Subud California’s regional and other Subud Congresses. She also served at various times as an active local helper, a Regional Helper in Subud Midwest, a local chair, and the Regional Chair of Subud Midwest.
Sofiah had a deep sense of gratitude for the latihan, and a deep sense of connectedness to God Almighty through the spiritual exercise. During the difficulties of her last days, it was apparent that the latihan and that close connection to the Almighty helped her to stay centered throughout the process of letting go of this life.
She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Sjahari & Roekmini Pullom of Visalia, CA, and Djamal & Candice Pullom of Seattle, WA. Sofiah is also survived by seven grandchildren, Stephen (23), Morgan (23), Alejandro (21), Matthew (20), Rahim (18), Matiana (13), and Rafael (8), as well as her dogs, Mellow and Sparkles.
(L) Sofiah and Matiana
Sofiah’s kindness, wit, and wisdom will be missed by family and friends alike. A memorial was held on May 20 at the Visalia Friends Meeting House (Quaker Church), where she was a member. An additional memorial and burial will be held in Augusta, Kentucky, in July.
Please share your own remembrances of Sofia Sexton here on the regional website. Use the Comment box at the bottom of this post to add your thoughts (below “Leave a Reply”).
Remembering Robert Goonetilleke
by Lianne Card
Our brother Robert Goonetilleke passed on Sept. 17, 2022 just after a visit to Santa Cruz from his home in Sri Lanka. A longtime member of the Santa Cruz group, he came to visit his sons Harendra and Ramesh and his grandchildren but while here was diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer, returned home immediately, and died three weeks later.
Robert was born in Sri Lanka March 23, 1937 and was opened in the early days when Subud first came to Colombo. Robert’s rich and colorful accounts of the visits with Bapak and his helpers can be read on the Subud Colombo website https://subudsrilanka-en.blogspot.com. Click on the “Robert’s Memoirs” tab of the pull down menu to read Robert’s writings.
Robert was born to a landed family during the time when Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) was still a British colony. Ridwan Fleisher was once asked by Robert to clarify his lineage. Robert wanted to assert that his family were farmers, not aristocrats and said, “My Grandpa was a Queen’s counsel who fell out with the British.” Although Robert denied that he was upper class, Ridwan remembers that he had once commented that he had grown up riding horses with his father on the family property and, when they went on vacation, his father would rent a train car for the horses.
When Robert grew up he went to work at a remote governmental electronics installation and was motivated to learn to cook for himself. “Robert’s golden rule of seasoning” that his Grandmother passed on to him was : “Seasoning’s must be balanced with great care so that none stands out from the others.” Many members of Subud Santa Cruz remember sharing many meals with Robert, both ones he cooked and meals at Sri Lankan and Thai restaurants.
Robert was one of the youngest members opened in the famed Colombo group that Varindra Vittachi wrote about in A Reporter in Subud. Robert emigrated to the USA and was a member of the Santa Cruz group when there were many young families. Besides Subud, Robert loved soccer. He played whenever he could and served as a coach for local teams for many years. He was very proud that his love of soccer has persisted in his family because his granddaughter now plays in a highly rated league. Robert also appreciated American football and enjoyed watching NFL games on a large screen with Gregory Tarsy and others. He was always up on all the players and their statistics.
Robert was a dedicated and committed member of Subud Santa Cruz. Under his leadership the “men’s hall” was enlarged to almost twice its original size. When Subud Santa Cruz hosted Bapak and grandchildren in 1975, the group chose a redwood tree for Bapak to plant. Robert and Rachmat Martin assisted Bapak in the planting of the redwood. Symbolizing strength and longevity, the very tall tree still presides at the edge of the incoming driveway.
Robert served as a center helper and later as an International Helper when he returned to live in Sri Lanka. He was able to share a deep insight and wisdom in person and through his writings.
At the Santa Cruz house, we have framed a statement from Robert. Here is an exerpt from that statement: “We enter this world with nothing and must leave with nothing, the departure is known onto to Almighty God and none is exempt from this reality…Above all my Brothers and Sisters do not neglect the Latihan, for the spark that you once received at your opening is the light that must guide you when you leave this world. May the Grace of the Almighty be with you always.”
Please share your own remembrances of Robert Goonetilleke. Find the Comment box following this post (below “Leave a Reply”).
An Update on Rachman Palmer, April 7, 2023
by Stephen Kelly
Since Rachman’s passing, many of us have been concerned about the County of San Diego having custody of Rachman’s body and how the County would proceed. Yesterday, the County administrator called to tell me that Rachman did have a Pre-Need contract with the Trident Society and that his body will be treated with dignity in accord with his wishes.
Rachman, as we know, was a very private person and there was no ceremony stipulated. However, we will be able to provide a tribute to him on the Trident Society’s web site. I have been in touch with Sarah Harkins, a close friend of Rachman’s mother, Thelma. She’s known Rachman since he was a boy and she will be contributing to the narrative. Rest in peace, dear Rachman.
Remembering Rachman Palmer
The local helpers of Subud California at San Diego regret to inform you of the passing of our brother and friend Rachman (Reynold) Palmer. Rachman was a long time member of the San Diego group since the early 80s. He was devoted to the latihan, a local helper, and for many years a dedicated informal caretaker of our local Subud hall. Rachman was a contemporary artist and sculptor, constructing pieces out of found objects. He was also an avid reader and lifelong student of classic philosophy.
A selamatan will be held immediately following latihan on Saturday, March 4th at the San Diego hall. Please join us to share remembrances of Rachman. A zoom link will be provided for those who would like to join us remotely. Send your request for the zoom link to: renatareid88<at>gmail.com
For more information, please contact Halim Berrier (619) 729-7404, or Renata Reid (760) 420-5464
Please share your own remembrances of Rachman Palmer on the regional website. Find the Comment box at the end of this web page below, under “Leave a Reply”).
Remembering Jeff Blackburn
Jeff Blackburn, of the Santa Cruz Subud Center, passed away in January. Here is an excerpt of an article published in Neil Young News:
“Guitarist and songwriter Jeffrey Reid “Jeff” Blackburn died January 5, aged 77. Blackburn started out in California in the early 1960s as part of folk duo Blackburn & Snow, who released a few singles, and later played in San Francisco-based psychedelic rock band Moby Grape”, with whose bassist Bob Mosley he then founded the “Jeff Blackburn Band in Santa Cruz.
In the summer of 1977, Neil Young, a friend of Blackburn’s Buffalo Springfield days, joined his band, which also added Johnny Craviotto on drums. The formation changed their name to “The Ducks” and played almost two dozen gigs in local clubs around Santa Cruz from July to September.”
The entire article, which includes photos and many details about Jeff’s life as a musician, is available HERE.
To add your own remembrances of Jeff, please use the Comment box below, under “Leave a Reply.”
Remembering Jayana Emory
by Ishman Clarke
Long time Subud brother, Jayana Emory, passed away on February 1, 2023 at 3:13 PM. He was opened in the mid-60’s and was an active member for a good part of his life.
He grew up in Steinbeck country (the fertile Salinas Valley) with the companionship of his dog and horse. He was a Clinical Psychologist and most recently worked with youth at risk.
Jayana is survived by wife Cathy, former wife Laura, his children Danny, Halima, and Rolf, and his grandchildren.
He was a dear friend who will be missed and always remembered. May the lightness of your spirit be the wings of your journey, old friend!
You are invited to share your own remembrance of Jayana Emory in the comment box at the end of this post (see below under “Leave a Reply”).
For background and stories about the San Diego Subud Center in the late 1960’s, when Jayana joined the group there, see this article by Ruben Andrews.
See Sulfiati Harris’s comment on this post below to find out the names of these Subud kids who attended a nursery school run by San Diego Center members in the 1970’s.
Remembering Fredrick Branchflower
Fredrick Branchflower, our family’s beloved patriarch, Subud brother, and dear friend to so many, passed away peacefully in our home on November 28, 2022 at the age of 86. See details on a celebration of his life to be held in February, below. His loving commitment to family, his friendships and service, along with his deep love and appreciation for Subud, were the principles that guided his life.
We have been so blessed to receive an outpouring of love from friends sharing their condolences as well as their experiences with him. One poignant card contained the quote, “Sometimes only one person is missing and the whole world seems depopulated.” Yes.
Dad was born in 1936, raised in both Seattle and Bainbridge Island, a child during the second World War. When he was two years old, his parents took him to meet their dear friend’s new baby (Melanie) in the hospital. One of his famous family stories recalls that twenty years later, in 1958, he impulsively shaved his head after watching Yul Brynner in “The King and I” and then proposed to my mom the next day. Despite the loss of that beautiful head of hair, she said ‘yes’! He figured she must have loved him then. Last June, they celebrated their 64th anniversary together.
Dad seemed to naturally embrace fatherhood. I can still hear his loud whoops at our many games or plays, and remember so many games of catch or Pickle in the backyard. He invited us every night at dinner to share about our day. He taught us Mastermind and Go. We felt listened to and challenged.
In his memoir, Dad wrote, “If I was to say what is most important to me, I would say God, Family/Friends and Health would be my top three. It is because of family and friends that my life has been so complete and wonderful.”
Dad had friends all over the world, in every walk of life, because he cared deeply about people. He had stories in his pocket from 50 years in Subud, 20 years in the Navy, and was a tireless advocate for the homeless and active as a volunteer in so many organizations we’ve lost count.
If Fredrick touched your life in some way, our family invites you to come appreciate and remember him with us. A celebration of his life will be held at the Spring Street Subud House in Seattle on Saturday, February 25th, beginning at 3 p.m. Debbie Machado will be preparing heavy hors d’oeuvres, all dad’s favorites, so please take a moment to RSVP here so she can prepare the right quantities.
Should anyone wish to make a memorial donation, we know Fredrick would greatly appreciate a gift to any of the Subud charities/organizations.
With love and gratitude,
Isabel Gates (and Melanie)
A Remembrance of Fredrick from Oswald Norton
For details on Fredrick and Melanie’s life, please click on Paul Nelson’s interview with them, from May 28, 2015. See some of Rachman Cantrell’s pictures of Fredrick HERE.
I’m sure that each of us has a story about how Fredrick touched us in one way or the other. The November 2022 Kejiwaan Gathering at Menucha was the last time I saw and spoke with Fredrick. We all told stories about either our opening, or something about our Subud journey we wanted to share.
My story concerned the different Subud enterprises that I had been a part of and how each one of them helped me to find what I needed for that time in my work life. One of those Subud enterprises was Branchflower Software.
In 1991, we moved to Bellevue and became a part of the member group which practiced the latihan on the east side. Sometimes we did latihan at the Branchflower’s home in Redmond.
When we moved to this area, I fully expecting I would continue the work I had started in the Los Angeles area, selling used technology. That wasn’t happening and I was pretty depressed about it. One time after latihan, I mentioned this to Fredrick and he offered me a sales job with his Branchflower Software company, a contact management program for small businesses. I was given the task of training and sales, and started to go to conferences with Fredrick’s son, Stephen. I didn’t make a lot of sales, but I did learn the software business and gained confidence in my abilities because of Fredrick’s confidence in me.
Later, Fredrick worked with a partner to create a product configuration software add-on for a major manufacturing software company, the first such product for the new Windows platform. Out of his work, I was given the opportunity to sell an entire manufacturing software suite for that company. I never sold a single one. However, what I did gain from both of these experiences was the confidence I needed to next be able to work for Microsoft and many other software companies over the next 20 years. All of that success I owe to Fredrick’s faith in me.
One last thought, about Fredrick’s work on enterprise: his desire was to leave an enterprise that would provide funds for Subud. This continued to his last days, when he was working on 3 different marketing websites that he hoped would eventually produce profits he could contribute.
I ask other brothers and sisters who knew him to please chime in with their remembrances.
NOTE:Share your reflections or thoughts on Fredrick’s life in the comment box below, under “Leave a Reply”
Remembering Latif Stephen Allen
by Stefen Solat
Per his adopted Tamil son, Roshan, Latif Stephen Allen died on 10 October, 2022, at 80 years of age. He was in a hospital in the rural town of Kandy, Sri Lanka, having lived there for over 20 years. During those years, he continued his chiropractic practice and wrote classical music, in collaboration with a Colombo-based Subud composer.
Before that, he lived his whole life in Los Angeles, where I met him in late 1960s. My earliest memory is of being in the airport waiting, among many others, for Bapak to appear. Looking over at Latif at that moment, I realized he’d partially left his body; I figured it was because his inner self was drawn to be next to Bapak.
This reflected his unique ethereal nature, which always left me in awe. Hence, how fortunate I felt to be able to follow latihan with him once or twice a week for last year or two, via Skype. It also came through during his two to three years living in Wisma Subud/Cilandak, during which time he was an integral part of the orchestra formed, at Bapak’s request, to play for 4th Subud World Congress.
I ask other brothers and sisters who knew him to please chime in.
Inna Lillahi wa ina Illahi Rojiun: We come from God and return to God. May your journey, Latif, be full of guiding Light. Amin.
NOTE: Share your own reflections on Latif’s life below, under “leave a reply” in the comments box at the end of this post about his passing.
Remembering Rohana Salzmann
Our dear sister, Rohana Salzmann, passed away gently on Saturday, September 3, 2022, at her home in Santa Rosa.
With her loving husband, Muchtar, holding her hand and surrounded by the affection and love of her family, she passed peacefully on to her journey home.
(above) Muchtar and Rohana Salzmann
Rohana will be missed by her family and friends and the members of the Sonoma Subud Center, where she is remembered with fondness and affection. We pray that she may be blessed and guided on her path to her new life. –Hanafi Fraval, Chair Subud California
NOTE:Please share your own reflections on Rohana’s life here on our Subud CA website by going to the “Leave a Reply” section below, and adding your comments.
(L): On Sunday, September 11th, the members of the Santa Cruz Subud Center remembered Rohana’s passing with love and prayers.
Our Subud brother, Hans Cavins, passed away on February 16, 2022. Hans suffered with heart disease for a number of years before passing. He leaves behind his loving wife, Linda, two sisters (Rosalyn Neel and Serena DuBois), 3 children and 3 step children, 17 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Hans and Linda were active members of Subud CA at Butte County, and acted as caretakers of the Subud House, cleaning and doing electrical and plumbing maintenance of the hall until the house was sold. Since then they have been California Regional members, living in Los Molinos, CA.
Hans was born in Berkeley, July 30, 1948, and grew up in Roseville, before joining the Air Force during the Vietnam War years. After his honorable discharge he worked as a contractor with Pac Bell, doing cable splicing.
Hans was a man of many talents; he loved building, and was a craftsman who took great pride in his work. He was also a musician who played the guitar and the harp. He will be especially remembered for his kind and loving ways, his generosity and for his dry sense of humor. We miss him.
May God speed him on his way in the next life.
Remembering Bill (Vale) McCutchen
Bill McCutchen passed away on January 28th, 2022 at the VA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Born December 1945 to Sara and Jim McCutchen, he grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas. His childhood was full of adventures and he made lifelong and loyal friends. After serving in the Navy, he began making his way in the world.
In his 20’s, he lived in San Francisco, enjoying music, art, and friendship, and had an epiphany that opened his heart and mind to the development of his connection with God for the rest of his life. He then traveled in Europe, ending at Ibiz, Spain, where he met Jennifer Chapman. They fell in love and returned to California to be married in 1971. They lived in a small house on Cannery Row where he cultivated a career as an artist, Jenny attended the local community college, and their daughter Laura was born.
During this time, he was opened in Subud. Developing an interest in Javanese mysticism and shadow puppetry, he moved the family to Jakarta in 1973. They lived in a Subud community and he was employed designing silk carpets. Their son Danny was born there in January, 1974.
The family traveled back and forth to the US regularly, with a base in New York City, where Bill attended the Art Students League of New York, specializing in fine art and stone sculpture. His intricate, and vivid drawings developed into what would become his unmistakable, luminous style.
In the early 1980s, Bill and Jennifer separated and he returned to the U.S. with the kids, landing in Hawaii. There, he felt a calling to the local church and went on to spend years studying scripture and immersing himself in Christianity. During that time he moved with the family from Hawaii to Texas, New Mexico, and finally, Topanga Canyon, CA.
In his years in Topanga, he devoted himself to helping others, becoming a fantastic guitarist, and honing his skills as an artist. Nurturing a growing connection to the Jewish faith, he visited Israel. Bill was overjoyed by the establishment of Chabad of Topanga and soon made many friends there.
Bill moved from Topanga to Point Dume where he narrowly escaped with his life in a fire which swept the area in 2018. He saved the lives of the wheelchair-bound neighbor and her caregiver, getting them into their vehicle and out before he saved himself. After the fire, Bill moved back to Topanga and then learned that he was seriously ill. He spent his final months in VA Nursing Care, where he celebrated his 31 Year Alcoholics Anonymous sober birthday with AA friends, who had become as close as brothers.
Bill was a local hero in Topanga. His calm sobriety and ability to advise wisely, understand profoundly, and connect deeply with those whose lives he touched, strongly binds all who loved him together. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, please make a donation to Chabad of Topanga in Bill’s name.
With peace and love, Alice Laura, Bill’s daughter
NOTE:If you would like to add your own reflections on Bill’s life, please go to the comments section at the bottom of this remembrance on our websiteHERE
Remembering Maya and Harris Clemes
Maya Clemes passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at the age of 92. She and her husband Harris were active members of Subud California for many years, at both the Santa Cruz and Palo Alto Centers. More recently, she has been living in Portland.
Her son, Jeff Clemes provides the following details on her passing:
“As many of you know, she was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s and had been on hospice care. The caregivers said she died more peacefully than most of their patients.
When my wife and I arrived at her bedside on Saturday morning, shortly under 2 hours after her death, her body was still warm to the touch. After Xiaohong and I said our words, I went into a spiritual practice including a latihan. After finishing, we noticed a change of energy in the room and her body was now cold to the touch. I like to think her spirit is free and doing a dance together with Harris.”
Harris Clemes passed away Thursday, July 29, 2021, peacefully in Portland, Oregon. A SICA memorial to him is available HERE. If you knew Maya or Harris, please do add your own remembrances in the comment box below.
