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News and Notes
We mourn the loss of Jane Blaffer Owen, one of the patrons of The Friends of Saint Benedict and a key sponsor for our Benedictine Experiences at New Harmony. We especially remember her as being partially responsible for bringing the Benedictine Experiences to the United States. She was the first to suggest having Experiences at New Harmony after her own Benedictine Experience at Canterbury Cathedral in 1982. Her insight and enthusiasm for the Rule of Saint Benedict and Benedictine Spirituality will be greatly missed. Stay tuned for a longer article in her honor.
The Reverend Craig Eder
We also mourn the loss of Mrs. Edith Eder, who recently passed away on July 10, 2010.
On Sunday, November 22, The Friends of St. Benedict lost a highly valued Friend of many, many years, The Rev. Craig Eder. It is difficult to imagine life without his loving support and wise counsel. Craig was an amazingly wonderful human being. He was kind and generous, always saw the very best in people, a great storyteller, adventurous, and full of fun. In spite of being incarcerated in the nursing section of his retirement home, he tried to think about the positive aspects of his very limited life. Towards the end, life was not good for him, although his mind remained alert. We certainly will miss him, but give thanks that he is now at peace in a far better place.
Craig and Edith Eder were introduced to us when they participated in a Benedictine Experience at Canterbury Cathedral in 1984. I can well remember them arriving at our office with their enrollments, walking a couple of miles in the rain from their house with their golden labrador. From then on, Craig, and sometimes Edith, participated in or helped to lead numerous Benedictine Experiences in this country, and participated in our pilgrimages abroad. In 1997, when the Friends of St. Benedict was established, Craig became a member of the Board, then Chairman, and later Chairman Emeritus. He contributed to our partnership with the Center for Prayer & Pilgrimage in creating the Community of Reconciliation at Washington National Cathedral. As long as he was able to drive, Craig helped to lead our Benedictine Way group at St. David's Church. Craig and Edith were generous with their hospitality at their home in Washington and on their island off the Maine coast.
The Rev. Craig Eder turned 90 on September 6 of this year. He graduated from Harvard in 1942 and completed studies at Virginia Theological Seminary in 1944, serving at a church in West Virginia and several in the Washington area. From 1953 to 1973 he was chaplain at St. Alban's School in Washington. During this time, he started the school's community service program. He had many wonderful stories about his role in this program--taking students to work camps in West Virginia, a church mission in Tanzania, a Dakota Indian reservation and to Coventry Cathedral in England. He was a member of St. Columba's Church in Washington, where he assisted for a number of years. Among his many interests were icons and icon writing. Craig is survived by his wife of 41 years, Edith Brown Eder, and three stepchildren.
Several years ago, the Friends of St. Benedict established a Craig Eder Scholarship Fund. This fund enables people to participate in a Benedictine Experience who otherwise might be able to do so. The fund will now become the Craig and Edith Eder Memorial Fund and donations are welcome.
Click here for Craig's last article for Regula, the Friends newsletter, entitled Godly Conversation.
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