Memorial Service Held

The memorial service for Ben took place on Sunday, Jan. 30. The service, attended by hundreds of people, was a true reflection of Ben in its spirit of love, hope, and sentiment. More details about the service will be posted soon.

Here is a message from the Abels family, read by Todd Musburger to the press prior to the memorial service:

There are no words to describe our feelings today, or for what we have experienced over the past month. Yet, there is so much we need to express to the overwhelming number of people, many of whom we have never met, who have offered their support, their assistance, and their prayers. To all of you, we offer our profound appreciation.

As we gather to celebrate Ben’s life, we realize that he was not only our son and brother, but a true citizen of the world. Over the past several weeks we have been reminded of how many lives he connected with, and the indelible impression he formed. However, we are acutely aware that we share our grief with thousands of other families throughout the world who have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami tragedy. It is important for us to remember that as great as our loss is, it deserves no special place on the list of the countless families who have been affected.

We know that Ben would not approve of our behavior being governed by despair. His spirit and compassion obligate us to attempt to make the world a better place. To both honor his memory and to act in a way befitting his reputation, we will continue to raise funds whenever and wherever we can for the needs that still exist. We hope that all those interested will consider a donation to the relief agency of their choice. As you know, we have established The Tsunami Relief Fund in Honor of Ben Abels. Money raised will be shared with several different relief organizations through the auspices of the Rotary Foundation.

Please visit benabels.com for more information.

Thank you,
The Abels Family

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that made all the difference.

"The Road Not Taken," by Robert Frost