Passing of University founder, prominent philanthropist, Dr. Eloy Anello [SERVICE], [LOVE]

A truly dedicated servant to humanity, founder of Bolivias premiere University, Nur, has passed - bless his memory!

"No one who crossed his path could fail to be touched by his unbounded energy, by his sincere love of humanity, which he brought to every enterprise he undertook in service to the Faith." - The Universal House of Justice (full message below)

A favorite prayer of his:

If it be Thy pleasure, make me to grow as a tender herb in the meadows of Thy grace, that the gentle winds of Thy will may stir me up and bend me into conformity with Thy pleasure, in such wise that my movement and my stillne...ss may be wholly directed by Thee. - Baha'u'llah http://is.gd/45IDx

Flowers at the World Centre.

Listen to an edifying talk on Social and Economic Development (for download, in middle of the list) here: http://sed.skyrunner.net/list.php.
Two papers written by him on Moral Leadership:
http://is.gd/45His, http://is.gd/45HjB.
A report on a project he helped initiate: http://is.gd/45HNv
Facebook group in honor of his memory:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/in-memory-of-Eloy-Anello/145648438862

A member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Eloy Anello, of Bolivia, spoke on the topic "The Life of Dr. Muhajir" at the "Growth and Victories" conference in Ecuador.

Message from the Universal House of Justice (of October 6 or 7) on the occasion of the passing of Dr. Eloy Anello:

"With heavy hearts we received the news of the passing of Eloy Anello, indefatigable and valiant servant of Baha'u'llah. Nearly forty years ago, as the Nine Year Plan was drawing to a close, we urged the friends everywhere to emulate the Baha'i youth, "whose recent surge forward into the van of proclamation and teaching" was "one of the most encouraging and significant trends in the Faith" and who stormed "the gates of heaven for support in their enterprises by long-sustained, precedent and continuing prayer." Among those who had stepped into the vanguard was dear Eloy, who, as a young man, left the United States and settled in Bolivia in the early 1970s, making it his home and dedicating himself to the upliftment of its people. No one who crossed his path could fail to be touched by his unbounded energy, by his sincere love of humanity, which he brought to every enterprise he undertook in service to the Faith. Especially noteworthy were the valuable contributions he made to the progress of the Cause as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas for two decades. How many young people were awakened to the crying needs of humanity as a result of his efforts in this capacity. How many were galvanized to arise and serve the Cause. So dedicated was he to nurturing young minds that he co-founded Universidad Nur in Santa Cruz--an institution striving to apply Baha'i principles to higher education and to programs for the advancement of the indigenous populations.

"May his life of consecration to the Cause serve as an inspiration to those laboring to meet the requirements of the current stage of the Divine Plan. To his family and many friends, we extend our loving condolences. Our most fervent prayers at the Sacred Threshold join yours for the progress of his noble soul throughout the realms of God. We call on all National Spiritual Assemblies in the Americas to hold memorial gatherings in his honor.

- The Universal House of Justice

A yearning* for beloved Anello

[courtesy translation] *[translator’s note: The Spanish word for “yearning” (anhelo) and the name Anello are homonyms]

It seems that for him time did not exist. He confronted time and the hands of the clock obeyed; time was his steed and he was the expert, highly experienced rider who took it wherever he wanted to go and with it he put on the best displays. His time was that of service and he would always say when we undertook a project “I can dedicate myself ‘part time’ either to this one or the other one.” He often used the expression “part time”, so one day I asked him, “Dear Eloy, how much ‘part time’ do you have in your life to do all this?” He laughed out loud and was happy.
His spirit sought out his body until the very last minute in order to serve. Whenever he proclaimed the Bahá’í Faith in his talks his illness would disappear and his spirit took the reins and the controls of his body; his face became incomparably radiant and the connection between his soul and spirit even made him forget about the present and carried his thoughts into the distant future; his strength enabling him to be in the present and in the future was astonishing.
This indomitable strength that enabled him enlarge his services and to prepare the way for those who would follow him, was admired by many, as were his great skills which were always exercised in great humility; his sensitive soul was in constant communion with his Beloved, Bahá’u’lláh, and when he would recount stories of the Faith, the sacrifices of the friends, the early Bahá’ís of Bolivia, his own family whom he so loved, his travels and encounters with those who serve the Cause, his voice would suddenly tremble, his translucent eyes reflecting the pure feelings of his heart, filling with tears reflecting the love even more.
His beautiful letter to me which was mailed while I was traveling last week, created the image that my beloved friend Eloy had already prepared his path and in the depths of his heart saw the light of Bahá and was yearning to be united with Him, as he wrote, “I am now waiting for Bahá’u’lláh’s call; you must come here quickly so I can see you for the last time in this world.”
When I read this, the beautiful history of our acquaintance over the last twenty years, having been with him on so many occasions, so close to him and his family, unfolded before my eyes and the memories of seeing him “riding” in different limitless fields of service passed in a flash before my inner vision.
Shortly after receiving the letter we were now approaching Santa Cruz, unaware that our beloved friend Eloy had departed for the Kingdom just hours earlier when his noble soul stopped receiving the painful blows of this mortal world. On Friday, October 2 at 5:30 in the morning the pain in his weakened body ceased and his soul, like lightning, saw there was no time left in this contingent world and departed in that flash to the other worlds of God.
He had served for more that 40 years since his youth in Latin America and other countries around the world --a service at such a pace that time seemed limitless. His research, his written essays, his talks to the youth, his publications on highly-involved social issues, his moral leadership in service to the Faith, his incredible efforts in the founding of Nur University and the infinite love he felt as he saw it grow, his services as a Continental Counsellor for more than twenty years, the guidance he gave to those who supported any project – all this was as a constant “accompaniment” for this and for future generations.
The room was prepared with a simple, beautiful photograph of him as founder of Nur University, denoting his simple but dedicated life. On the first day many friends came from different parts of Bolivia. The room was constantly stirring with his beloved friends, those from the Bahá’í institutions, people from the academic world, from society in general, a beloved Counsellor from Africa, a dearly-loved friend from Indonesia, pioneers, youth, each one with their prayers shared the secret of his heart, each remembering moments with him, yearning for the exaltation of his praiseworthy spirit.
The night of the reception where the friends could say their prayers did not end until dawn of the following morning.
On Saturday, October 3, the room where his body was laid at rest was, in the final moments witness to a gathering of the friends. His wife, with firm conviction, was there. She had been with him to the very end and shared with the audience that the entire program, the prayers, the sequence and the details of the gathering had all been chosen by beloved Eloy, who had even chosen his resting place in the shade of some beautiful trees. His leadership continued to direct the gathering of the friends through his valiant spirit; the prayers being chosen by him, each a sign of his profound gratitude in this life and his great humility before the threshold of the Blessed Beauty as he neared His presence. His children had been asked by him to read the prayers; their souls in contact with that of their father in uniting all the souls there present. A close friend told moving stories about his life, stories full of happiness, enthusiasm, stories about his passion for teaching and his desire to be always with his beloved friend, Dr. Muhajir.
The immortal life after death and the sacred quotes informed the minds of those present in the room that the life to come is one full of hope and is a road to perfection. There was a reading of some of the messages from friends around the world. The sharing of these gave physical dimension to the love felt for Eloy around the globe.
The time had come to detach ourselves from the physical presence of one so dear to our hearts and, even more, to begin to attach ourselves spiritually to his radiant soul in the hope that he might be with us as we serve. There were thousands of flowers, prayers sung and chanted by the friends. The special prayer for those who leave this world was read by the beloved Counsellor.
Beautiful intonations of Ya Bahá’ul’Abhá and Ya, Alí’u’alláh were recited by his beloved daughters, each one increasing our desire for the exaltation of his spirit. The Concourse on High was dancing with joy, feeling even more fortified because of the arrival of an indefatigable warrior of the army of light into their mighty ranks. Pure and holy souls strewed flowers along the pathway to receive an incomparable soldier carrying the tablets of victories won in a 40-year span of service during a short earthly lifetime, yet enriched with unconditional service.
Junior youth, youth, adults, academicians, scientists, educators, sociologists, psychologists, researchers, writers and above all these, the servants of the Cause whose love is to serve humanity with great humility will very much and always miss his physical presence, his motivating speeches, his inspiring expositions, his articles of guidance his counsel given with such affection and infinite love in this world; but they know that the physical body is like a cloud which once it disappears the intensity of the sun’s light becomes evident, after momentarily being hidden from view. We will always have the rays of his sun to cultivate the fields in which he so loved to serve and so will continue his “part time” projects.
We join his beloved family in our deepest yearning that through our prayers the Blessed Beauty will beautify the perpetual existence our beloved Anello through His confirmations and that He will care for his family under the beams of His protection.

With deepest love,
Sohrab Yazdani.

Source: http://www.ertn.org/. Direct link to PDF version: http://www.ertn.org/Anello/Eloy%20Anello_ENG.pdf

Photos copyright Bahá'í International Community
http://media.bahai.org/subjects/5794/details
http://media.bahai.org/subjects/locations/holy_places_hai/shrine_bab_gard/6941/details