My wife and I made friends with Ken, Beatriz and Eddie only a couple of years ago, when we moved to Capitol Hill in D.C. and became neighbors. I was also at the time Ken's colleague at the AFP office, and since my wife also comes from Latin America, there was an immediate connection.

With their hospitality and warmth, Ken, Beatriz and Eddie made us feel at home in our new neighborhood. We shared quite a few evenings together, talking, laughing, listening to music. These are precious memories.

After my wife and I moved back to my hometown Berlin, Germany, Ken, Beatriz and Eddie came to visit us for a week in the summer of 2007. During this visit, Ken often felt very tired, but no one was suspecting the terrible cause of his exhaustion. It was only a couple of weeks after his return to Washington, that his cancer was discovered.

Because of the large distance, we were not able to accompany Ken, Beatriz and Eddie closely during Ken's long battle against the disease. So we want to thank all the good friends who did so for their love and commitment.

We will always remember Ken as a very strong and independent character, with a deep love for life and a high spirit of adventure. He has embarked on a new journey now.

Daniel & Fabiola Jahn / Berlin