Many people gathered to pay their final respects to "Re McDonald." They came in large numbers before sending Re on his long final journey. Prior to the cremation ceremony, "Chakrit Yaemnam," a close friend of over 40 years who shared a lifetime together, spoke a final tribute to Re, revealing that
"Many may know my friend as a host, actor, traveler, or leader of a nomadic group, but to me, the first word I associate with him is 'friend.' I'm not sure if Re and I were each other's first friends, but as far back as I can remember, he has always been part of my life. We grew up together, always going wherever the other went, so much so that many asked if we were brothers. Yes, Re was like a father figure, and I was like a mother figure. We've had each other throughout life—loving, fighting, arguing, and then making up. There were laughs and tears; whether in joy or sorrow, we were always together."
We started as a group of school friends and even joked that we were 'friend-poor,' wondering if we didn’t make many friends or if few befriended us. But that’s not true. Throughout our journey of growth, we built true friendships. I thank everyone here. I believe each of you has your own version of Re in your life.
One thing I believe everyone felt, because I experienced it throughout life when near him, was comfort—the freedom to be our true selves. Re seemed to have a special power. He never had to be the most outstanding person in a room; just being himself, he could draw out the best versions of those around him. That was his power. He made us smile.
Having grown up with him for over 40 years, even though we each have our own families now and don’t see each other often, sometimes speaking only occasionally, and perhaps meeting twice a year, every time we met it felt like just yesterday. We never felt distant. We would revert to being those kids again, teasing and joking, talking about nonsense, releasing the stresses around us.
I believe Re didn’t give this feeling only to me. Whether you knew my friend as a friend, brother, or colleague, he always made us feel good.
Another role we were lucky to witness was that of a father. I was there from Day 1 when Re courted Maem, from their youth. His style was straightforward, saying, 'Hey, I like that person,' and he pursued her until they became life partners. Before Mika was born, Re and Maem spent much time together because naturally, he was a homebody, devoted to family and his wife, living simply and staying true to himself. But after Mika’s birth, his perspective changed in many ways.
You could see it in his travels around the world, seeking experiences and broadening his horizons. Yet he also desired to be closer to family and to deeply explore Thailand. My friend was a father full of energy when playing with Mika; it wasn’t a matter of being tired and telling Mika, 'Alright, Dad’s tired,' but rather Mika would get tired first.
Re was determined for Mika to grow up well—to be Thai, thoughtful, and respectful. He planned many things for the family. One unexpected thing he did was plant teak trees, thinking that one day, as Mika grows, these trees will flourish and benefit him in the future.
As I said, Re had already made plans. He certainly wanted to give the best to his family and his only son. This is a small glimpse into the man named Re McDonald. Thank you."
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