Letter from a Friend

7 Aug 2001

Dear John,

Only a few days ago I heard of the tragic death of Lu, the mutual friend who told me did not know any details. A search of the internet revealed your touching words, the opening sentece of your words at his memorial service says it all "Lu Ryba was a character in the most complimentary sense of the word."

Lu and I "studied" together at Delft University, had many a glass of Jack Daniels together, shared a passion for all things mechanical and we rented out vans to the Delft student community that allways needed to move house at the lowest possible budget. He truely was a character, with a brilliant sense of humor, a strong guy both mentally and physically (in his words: "bullet proof"). Our friendship stagnated for some time as a result of some arguments. We lost track of each other, I went to Australia for a while, losing contact with many friends. During that time my father passed away, a time when one learns who onces true friends are. Surely Lu wrote me a very supportive and consolidating letter, he was one of few to do so and about the last person I had expected this from. He could do this you know, be a forcefull opponent and be a great friend with only days between these extremes. He had a colourfull social circle in Delft, one of those people that everybody knew, one of those rare people that add colour to many lives.

After Lu and Eeke moved to the US we have only met twice, once in the LA and once in the Netherlands. I felt I could allways look him up the next year, or the next... Allmost two years ago I send him a card when my son was born. He never responded to it and I never could figure out why, I'll call him and ask, tomorrow... It is sadening to realise that at that time he had allready been diagnosed with lucemia, just when for me this new life in my life was born, I can see now why he never did write back and I regret postponing getting in touch. The news of his death shocked me, and most of all the unfair fight he had to fight against cancer, the pain he must have suffered.

You must have been a good friend of Lu, discribing him so well in so few words, my condolances to you too. It is great to read how true he has stayed to his own personality and how he did persue what he wanted despite the fact that his mother had much rather kept him safe and secure behind a desk of an engineering firm. "You too can be a race car driver!". It is great to read how the bond between Eeke and him stayed, not much could come between them, ever.

I tried to find Eeke's adress or E-mail adress via the Internet. I would like to write her and wish her well. I have not had any success. Do you know were I may write to? I hope to hear from you,

Kind regards,

Jeroen Stoutjesdijk

Attached a photograph of Lu standing on the roof of his own van (the Toyota High Ace), the other guy is Wouter, his first rental van partner, the scrap heap around them are in fact the vans... He has allways been one for a tight budget! The picture was taken in 1983, "BOPI" stands for a mix of a beer and a shot of liquor; "BOSSE" stands for Vans in Lu-Dutch. I trust it will bring a smile to your face.

[Lu Ryba standing on a van]

Read a memorial article about Lu Ryba
Read a 1994 interview with Lu Ryba

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