To watch the Memorial Service livestreamed on October 6, 2019 @ 3pm EST, go to https://vimeo.com/363140591/4508b90217

Article about Andrew in the Villager

OBITUARY

Andrew Quarles Blane, of New York, NY, died on Friday September 6, 2019 at his home in Greenwich Village, where he had lived since 1965. He was 90.

Andrew was born on March 16, 1929 in El Salvador. He spent his first decade in Guatemala, after which his family returned to their home state of Kentucky. He graduated from Centre College in 1950, and enrolled in Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville. After seminary, Andrew traveled the South, where he was billed as a "dynamic lay evangelist" speaking to gatherings of students. His interest in religion led him to earn his Master's degree in Divinity at Cambridge University in 1957.

While studying at Cambridge, he traveled to the Soviet Union to attend The World Festival of Youth and Students. The trip changed his life's path. He returned to America to attend Duke University for a PhD, but switched his field of study from Religion to Russia. He became a professor of Russian history at the City University of New York in 1965. He published five books during his academic career, including the definitive biography of the Russian ecumenical priest Georges Florovsky – whom he met during a period of study at Harvard.

His job in New York City prompted a move into a backhouse on Morton Street in the Village. He lived there for over half a century.

During the 1960's, he was active in the civil rights and anti-war movements, and in 1969 he joined Amnesty International. In 1974, he became the first person from the Western Hemisphere to serve on AI's International Executive Committee, and he served as vice-chairman of that committee from 1979-1981. In 1977, he was one of nine delegates from Amnesty to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1980 he met his wife, Jaana, through their mutual Amnesty activism. He briefly moved to her home city of Helsinki, Finland, and together they returned to New York to the house on Morton Street. They married in 1983 and had two children.

The home on Morton Street was a hub for human rights activism. Amnesty's United Nations office was born in its basement. Activists from around the world spent nights on the pull-out couch. The Nobel winning poet, Joseph Brodsky, became a longtime tenant. Dissidents and asylum seekers found refuge on Morton Street, where they were welcomed with generosity and Southern charm.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Dr. Jaana Rehnstrom, and their two children, Saga Blane and her husband Jake Jeppson of Brooklyn and Eliot Blane, of Manhattan; and a grandson, Finn Blane Jeppson. A memorial service was held on October 6 at 3 pm. at Grace Church in Manhattan. Andrew’s ashes are buried in a family plot in the churchyard in Degerby, Finland; near Jaana’s family compound by the Gulf of Finland, where he spent time with his family each summer for 38 years.

Contributions in Andrew’s memory may be made to Andrew Blane Memorial Fund for Human Rights Defenders, administered by the nonprofit The Kota Alliance.

PHOTOS TAKEN IN THE LAST MONTH OF ANDREW’S LIFE IN FINLAND AT GRANDSON FINN’S BABY BLESSING

Tributes and photos

The family would like to thank everyone for their emails, cards, phone calls, and flowers during and after Andrew’s last days. We copy here some emails sent to Andrew in the last days of his life by friends who had heard he was ill, and some which came after. We list them here in the order they were received.

YVONNE TERLINGEN, London: Thank you dear Jaana for including me in this. I am so sad to hear this but also so glad that choose to let him come home. Tell him I think he has done fantastic things for Amnesty and that I love him dearly/ And strength to you all…

(later): Andrew was a man who touched so many lives for the good. Even when I could see he was in pain - he never complained - he was lively, sharp and so interested in what you were doing and what was happening, whether in Amnesty or the UN or in your family.

He was always hospitable and generous in sharing what he had, whether a meal if you dropped by unexpectedly, or his home, a refuge and warm place to stay for so many. I will never forget how you and Andrew let me and Hannah stay for a month when I arrived in New York at super short notice to start work at the UN and Hannah was returning via New York from Recife. That month of August 2001 was simply bliss, to be with Hannah after missing her so much, staying in the most beautiful place in New York I could imagine. It gave me the time needed to find a flat. And when I had moved out to Cornelia Street and locked myself out on the night of 9/11 being utterly confused by the shock and when I failed to break into my flat by climbing the fire escape ladders from the outside, you were both kind enough to put me up for the night. Of course Andrew knew exactly the right locksmith around the corner who got me in the next morning without any problem.

Although I did not know him that well, we go back a long time. And he could not only be nice but also a little naughty. Some fifty years ago when I had just started work at Amnesty, I went to my first ICM in blissful ignorance of the rules. I promptly occurred the wrath of Martin Ennals when he discovered I had lobbied on behalf of a man or woman standing for IEC election, at the urging of Andrew. Little did I know that was not on for a simple researcher who had to stay out of Amnesty politics. But Andrew loved politics and intrigue as well as being the most meticulous IEC member I have known, although he found his match in our formidable friend from Sri Lanka, Suriya, one of many who adored him.

He also had courage and knew no fear in critical situations. I will never forget the deft way he handled a very tricky situation near the Irish cottage that you, Jaana, will remember so well, when we somehow got involved with a weird and frightening Irishman who was very cross when we failed to pay a somewhat outrageous fee to see a ruin proclaimed to be the oldest house in Ireland. Andrew was a model of tact and firmness in reasoning with him when the guy got very nasty demanding a lot of money to let us out and he showed his deft skills as a driver steering our car out of the ditch at great speed to the delight of all the scared women folk in his car, who were the subject of the Irishman's attention. He saved us!

Many friends will have similar stories about support that Andrew gave at crucial times, or ideas that he had that proved to be of lasting importance. Take the job I did for Amnesty at the UN, his brainchild. And then he persuaded no less than Margo to be the first occupant, setting the bar so high that it was hard for her successors to meet.

So I will remember him with great fondness and am thinking of all of you without Andrew, But you have so many memories of a devoted, good and generous husband and father. I wish I could be with you on the 6th of October, but will be with you in spirit.

KAREN KENTER-POTTY, Norton, MA; I always enjoyed time spent with him. Andrew is so friendly and easy to be with as well as being so knowledgeable and interesting. He is one of those unforgettable people you feel fortunate to have met.

HEATHER SENSING, Hopkinsville, KY: Jaana, I wanted to reach you and family to give my love and support with Andy’s sickness. Uncle Andy has always meant the world to me as well as you Saga and Elliot. ( Just sad how distance and life keeps us all apart) But no matter what we will always be family and be here for one another. I will always cherish the last time we sat around Malcolm’s table reminiscing about how you all met, college days, and stories about growing up with my dad. It was a time where most was there and time stood still. Just perfect, as life as been for my Uncle Andy. To have married the love of his life, have two children, and a grandchild, not to mention his professional accomplishments. You could not have said it better in your ending. Its like I always tell everyone my dad had a wonderful life and so has my sweet Uncle Andy. Many prayers, hugs, and love. Tell everyone hello! Please keep in touch and take care.

TATYANA AND IVAN KOVALEV, Flower Mound, TX: It's shocking news about Andrew. I cannot believe that just several months ago we saw him in your house and he looked great! I even thought that Andrew will join a fast-growing cohort of centenarians... Andrew knows that we love him, but he probably doesn't know how much! Please tell him that we admire and adore him with all our hearts! For what he did for the world - he definitely made it a better place. For what he did for our family - for his help and friendship. But most of all for his personality: wise, warm, witty and kind. He always generously shares treasures of his knowledge and treasures of his heart. And he is one of the most handsome men I ever have seen.😍 I hope that it's not time to say 'goodbye' yet, but please, let Andrew know how much we love him.
ДОРОГОЙ ЭНДРЮ, СПАСИБО ЗА ВСЕ!
Dear Jaana, our hearts are with you, Andrew and your family!
We are not sure how prayers from agnostics like us would be delivered, but we try. We love Andrew and think about him, and would like him to hear it from us once more. Tanya-Vanya-Lizka-Deniska

MARTIN ENTHOVEN, London: …Do give him my warmest wishes and as big a hug as is possible . He has always been one of the most special friends I have been fortunate to have during my lifetime…(later): I was so sorry to hear about Andrew but glad to know that he died peacefully and had all his family with him at the end. I have so many happy memories of him. I even didn’t mind being beaten by him at golf as I recognised my elder and much better player! We had so many good times together and I know as a mere 83 year old how precious these memories are. The Reader’s Digest used to ask people to name “The Most Unforgettable Person I ever met” and Andrew would be high on my list. Although we only met occasionally in recent years, he was always there and I will miss him enormously.

MAGGIE BEIRNE, London: Thanks so much for letting us know that it is so near the end.  I am delighted to have had the chance to see hm not so long ago and when he was still in very good form. You are clearly doing everything you can to make this last part of his life’s journey as good, comfortable, and rich as possible.  My own experience with my mother, was that this was a special time of grace for everyone concerned, so my thoughts and prayers are indeed with you all at this difficult time. Tell Andrew that I will get a Mass said for his intentions – and I have no doubt at all that he will enjoy getting prayers said from such an ecumenical array of his friends and family ….he should be ‘well insured’ by the spread of faiths amongst his wide circle of friends….

THOMAS HAMMARBERG, Stockholm: Many, many thanks for keeping us informed. You know how much we care for Andrew, as we always have done. It gives some comfort to know that he is at peace and even joking. He has a wonderful family around him. He knows he will not be forgotten by his many friends.

ROSEMOND KISSI AND VINCENT WOJSNIS, Kumasi,Ghana: Rosemond and I are writing to you from our home in Ghana. It's a nice home and we are happy here. But I do not think that it is lost on either of us to realize that all that we have here is in great measure because of you - you and Jaana, of course.

There is something I've wanted to tell you. Maybe you know this already but I am deeply grateful for all you have done for my family - even before I knew them and ever since. Your love and support of Rosemond when she first arrived in New York and your embrace of Beatrice as part of your family was the foundation upon which our family was built. If any of that didn't happen first there would be no "us." Likewise, I very much appreciate the friendship we have forged over the last 21 years and all of the conversations we've had over that time. Andrew, you are truly "your brother's keeper." Whether it was opening your students' minds as an educator, or through your involvement in Amnesty, or through the simple kindness and generosity you have shown so many in the course of your lifetime, you have, to my mind, exemplified the meaning of the word, "brotherhood." Thank you for your humanity and compassion.

I guess if there's a final point to be made here it is that you should know that Rosemond, Beatrice and I love you. We are grateful to you. We are better people because we know you.

ANNE ALITOLPPA-NIITAMO, Helsinki: …Kiitos paljon viestistäsi. Olettekin olleet mielessäni kun mietin miten lentonne kotiin onnistui ja miten Andrewn vointi on kehittynyt. Toivon teille kaikille voimia ja rohkeutta kohdata se mitä on tulossa. Ja lämmin terveiseni tietenkin Andrewlle. Voin kuvitella miten vaikeaa hänelle on erota ihanasta perheestään, ja kuitenkin - niin hyväntahtoinen ja empaattinen kuin hän on - hän pyrkii pehmentämään ja helpottamaan teidän läheisten tilannetta hänelle tyypillisellä hassuttelulla. Ikävöin häntä jo nyt…..(later): Olen niin pahoillani, että joudutte kohtaamaan tämän suuren menetyksen, jonka syvyyttä on vaikea edes kuvitella tällä hetkellä. Vaikka suru-uutinen oli odotettavissa, vie lopullisuuden tiedostaminen aikansa. Mutta kuten, Jaana, kirjoititkin, ehkä surun rinnalle tulee kiitollisuus siitä, että olette saaneet jakaa elämänne niin erityisen humaanin, empaattisen, lempeän ja lämpimän ihmisen kanssa. Se on elämän lahja, joka varmasti antaa teille voimia ja suunnan tässä vaiheessa, kun tuntuu, että perheenne tärkeä peruskivi on poissa.

 Andrewn kaunis muisto tuo varmasti valoa ja lohtua tulevaan aikaan. Teillä on edelleen toisenne ja Andrew elää keskuudessanne ja teissä jokaisessa miljoonalla eri tavalla. Vähitellen muotoutuu teidän perheen uusi elämä, jossa Andrewn muisto elää kaikessa mitä hän on teille antanut. Andrew oli poikkeuksellinen ihminen. Minä ja lapset jäämme kaipaamaan häntä, hänen lempeää hymyään ja huumoriaan.  

SURIYA WICKREMASINGHE, Colombo: Thank you so much for the update. I have been thinking how extraordinarily lucky I have been in my life to have had such long and phenomenal friendships. Of the extraordinary times we have had together, whether engaged in weighty discussions in Amnesty's IEC, or enjoying fabulous parts of the world in the most incredible company. To say nothing of all the laughs - despite groans at Some One's dreadful puns. Andrew, I owe you so much, my life has been blessed indeed. Much love to you all dear Jaana and a special hug to Andrew,

CLAIRE QUILLIN, Bradenton, FL: Dear Andy,
We’ve been thinking of you. ❤️ We went to church today on Anna Maria. We put you on the prayer list for healing, love, comfort and peace. The pastor and associate pastor and wives sang as a quartet today as the choir is away this month. I thought they sang well...beautiful song. If you would like to listen I’ve sent the link and our prayer request is around the 25 minute mark or so.
Big hugs and love to you always! ❤️Claire https://youtu.be/od00MufFMWo

With Heather and Claire in Florida

STEFANIE GRANT, London: Thank you for this very complete message, which explains so clearly what is happening, and answers all the questions. I will be holding Andrew and all of you in my heart, and hoping that he has as little pain as is possible. Please give him my very, very best love, and my thanks for his love and friendship over all these many years. And for his humour - whenever I press the button in a certain sort of elevator, I'm to this day reminded of the tallest Soviet dwarf in the world, and how beautifully he told the joke.......(and later: ) Thinking back over the 45 years Andrew and I were friends, so many, many good things stand out. But here are three big ones.

First, Andrew’s intuitive gift for friendship, which he gave to so many of us, from all parts of the world, and with an invitation to Morton Street – beds, meals, jokes, loving curiosity about what had been happening in our lives, and often a little jotted ‘agenda’ of things he wanted to talk about in his most recently discovered café in the Village.

Then, his huge contributions to Amnesty, of so many kinds. For me they started in the mid 1970s when, together with Thomas Hammarberg and Whitney Ellsworth, he recognized the risks US human rights foreign policy presented to Amnesty’s delicate ecosystem of impartiality in the deeply divided world of the cold war.  Their wise conclusion: Amnesty should welcome the Carter White House embrace of human rights, BUT from a distance and on Amnesty’s terms. They  thought distance would be easier with an un-American face in Amnesty’s DC office; and so [thanks to Andrew] I spent three marvelous years in Washington.  Later, Martin Enthoven and I had walk-on parts in Andrew and Priscilla Ellsworth’s Oral History project. At the time, the Amnesty high command was less than enthusiastic. But over time Andrew and Priscilla were proved right, and their record of what was actually in the minds of those who created Amnesty in 1961 has become ever more important - and a reality check on the wilder theories of some American human rights academics. And out of Morton Street came the first Artists for Amnesty project: only last year, Andrew gave his own collection - Botero, Calder, Hockney, Miro - to help today's prisoners of conscience.

But above all, and most recently, I remember the joy - and the privilege - of living in Morton Street, an oasis of peace and kindness in the tough world of Manhattan.

JAN EGELAND, Oslo: Warmest thanks for updating me. Please try to tell my brother Andrew I think of him all the time now and pray for him. He has been the most wonderful close friend for 40 years. We have so many fabulous memories of being together.Big, big hug from me and the girls. Jan

DON PRICE, Davis, CA: Dear Andy,

            I’m thinking back to our visit with you in New York, enjoying your hospitalityfor a week, occasionally foraging for key lime pies at the nearby Brooklyn Bakery, and enjoying various meals of Jaana’s creation, as well as her Emperor’s Bride tea. Before that there was our wonderful sojourn in Finland last summer, with the delicious seasonal blueberries and strawberries, drives around your countryside there, and explorations of Helsinki together.

Now older memories come back, especially since I am in the old cabin in New Hampshire in front of the fire where, some 59 years ago, we sat reading real hardcopy books one long fall weekend. I think we had first met the previous summer as roommates at Middlebury in 1960, where you complied with the pledge to speak no English, compensating for beginner level status by such creative neologisms as “Openski the doorski.”  In New Hampshire, I was trying to cram in my Russian history, as I recall, maybe To the Finland Station,  and from time to time you regaled me with a passage from Billington’s Icon and Axe, of which I particularly remember his account of some ambitious Russian playwright who created a production which could never be performed because of its utterly impossible stage directions, which, as Billington noted, “nobody held against him.”

And now I am typing away on a laptop that would have been impossible to imagine back then. After we cooked a few meals together (I may have tried my Yugoslav Djuvec rice) we mused about the possibility of opening the cabin during the skiing season as a kind of B&B with dinner included, another totally impossible scheme. Now chronology fails me, since I can’t remember when the two of us, driving between New Hampshire and points south, prospected antique furniture and the old barn boards with which you lined the walls of your house in the village, probably several years later. Such are the vignettes that come to mind.  

There are others. I met you again in Helsinki on the occasion of the World Youth Festival in 1962. I think you must have come over from Russia after a research trip, and I don’t remember how we managed to meet up among the crowds, but we found ourselves together at one point standing on the wharf where the Soviet delegation’s ship, their lodgings for the duration, was docked. We conversed with them, ship to shore, and I remember after telling them that I had sung in a Russian chorus and had a balalaika, that I was wryly complimented as “pervyi paren’ v derevne,”(coolest guy in the village). And then you took over asking them whether Moscow or Leningrad was the better city. It was a clever ploy, a wedge issue that really split up the other side most uproariously.

            Then after two years in Taiwan I came back to finish up at Harvard, and went to Johns Hopkins in DC. This was perhaps when you went to Grinnell, then to Hunter, but when I came to Yale in 1968, that was the great opportunity to get together again with our rental in Branford. You managed some kind of leave of absence or sabbatical and took off the year. There I remember our tennis matches, in which you consistently won. “Class tells,” you would say. And minor tiffs over pileups of the New York Times, kitchen messes, punctuality, etc. You stoutly refused to change your ways. And most of all, the visits of your colleagues on the Florovsky project. They would sit around and hash over questions of organization, perhaps translation, and lots of things I don’t remember, but you seemed to make a lot of progress there.

            The next year you just had weekends in Branford, and that was the year I met Nancy, and before you know it, we were getting married at the Branford Chapel. Nancy and I can’t remember what she selected for you to read in the ceremony.

            Crummey, to whom you introduced me in Helsinki, followed me out to Davis after we got the boot from Yale, and I remember his returning from one New York trip to report that he had shown up on your doorstep to be greeted by a beautiful young Finnish woman, who turned out to be your bride. We were floored after none of your previous attractive girl friends had managed to snag you, and this was the first either of us heard of it, but it was clear that you were preoccupied with other things than cluing your friends in.

            At some point in the ‘90s, Nancy and I began our annual fall migrations south, and on one occasion visited you when Saga must have been about 14. I remember nothing else about that except that she looked like the absolutely most beautiful 14 year-old I had ever seen. She was about to go out to school, and when she left you were worrying about how to protect her from the dangers of predatory males.

And then you came with Jaana and Eliot to New Hampshire again, and I can’t remember whether we fell in the water trying to get in the canoe or not. It’s a pretty regular summer ritual. From then to now it’s been annual or near annual visits and birthday dinners in New York, all enormously enjoyable.

            I hope my mellifluous prose has helped a bit to occupy your waking hours. These are such great memories. We’ll meet again. Tvoi vernyi slug , Don

TARI HAAHTELA, Helsinki: Andrew on meille läheinen, esikuvallinen ja inspiraation lähde. Miten upeaa ja ainutlaatuista, että Ilonakin sai teillä asua ja tutustua teidän perheeseen. Nyt hänellä ja Antilla on kaksi tyttöä: 5-vuotias Loviisa ja vuoden ikäinen Maisa. Ilona on Amnestyn jäsen ja varmasti aktiivi, kunhan lapset hieman kasvavat. Andrew on jättänyt pysyvät jäljet meidän perhekunnan ajatteluun. Emmekä unohda ”Irish Cottage” –matkaa. Se oli kerta kaikkiaan mieleenpainuva, Andrewn puheet, kirjoitukset ja ajattelu olivat siellä hyvin voimakkaasti läsnä. Ja aurinko paistoi kaksi viikkoa! Andrewn lämpö, taito kuunnella, myötätunto ja humaani ymmärrys maailmasta on aina meidän mukana. Myötäelämme kanssanne ja anna Andrewille halaus, silitys ja suukko koko meidän perheeltä. Hän on rakas. t. tari

ALEX KLIMOFF, Poughkeepsie NY: Hello Andy, dear old friend. I am sorry to learn that you are under the weather, but I know that Jaana is providing the best possible loving care for you. Both you and I are getting old and that is not much fun, alas. But on the other hand the accumulated fund of memories has become enormous. In our case it goes back more than half a century to the summer of 1964 in Bloomington, Indiana. And in all the following years the theme that contributed most to our friendship was our mutual fascination with the headstrong and opinionated, but dazzlingly brilliant man whom we all lovingly called GVF. This is still true and relevant today in our shared desire to move the Florovsky papers from the facility overseen by Katie Baker to the Harvard Divinity School. Although that has not yet been achieved, I can promise that I have made it my responsibility to make sure that it will be done in good order. And when that happy moment arrives, I trust, GVF will give all of us a pleased smile as looks upon us from on high. All the very best, good friend. Obnimaiu [ab-nim-Ayou (stress on A)], as they say in Russian. Louise sends her love. Alex

DAVID HAWK, Sarasota FL: Grateful for the note about Andrew. You know, we’ve been fond admirers of his for more than 4 decades…. We so enjoyed spending time with you both, especially discovering how much he enjoyed touching roots again with the Gulf Coast. Long dinners watching the sunset and jumping topics from the past to future to present…good times is what we remember throughout, so sending you both our love and thanks.

DANIEL TERNA, New York: I have many fond memories of visiting your home as a child. The steep wooden staircase, rolling marbles on the floor, running around with Saga in the garden, likely having a water fight of some sort. Andrew's presence is also there in my memory, with his amused expression, cheerful eyes, and soft voice as we ran through the house and clambered over the furniture cushions on the top floor. His accent and chuckles are palpable in my mind, and while I have never told this to Andrew, I have always admired his intellect, experience, and calm manner in the room. You are an extraordinary family. My love to him and all of you. Warmly, Daniel

SHERMAN CARROLL, London: Here (below) is a statuesque photo that I stumbled upon in looking back at old correspondence between us. Your Christmas 2013 letter celebrates "our recent trip to Argentina (view over the Nahuel Huapi lake in Bariloche)". What a fine pair you two make: Whether young and younger or old and older, age makes no difference to love and tenderness. Your memorable image will last for all who love and care about you. ….and later:

From my first encounter with Andrew in London at Amnesty, in 1974, the most striking features were his kindly smile and smiling eyes. The photo on the memorial webpage recalls my own first impression. His eyes were a window into his core: thoughtful, wise, generous, humorous, and always engaged with the world.

As the years passed and I left Amnesty to set up a small human rights publishing house, Andrew offered his moral and financial support, and significantly his Morton Street home and cavernous basement library as the New York operational base for Readers International. He was an early subscriber who added every new book to his RI shelf. No young publisher or friend could ask more of a committed supporter.

It was at Andrew’s home that I met many of his Russian friends and the occasional exile, including Joseph Brodsky and so many others dedicated to opening up the USSR and then Russia to liberal ideas. The Morton Street compound became the haven of choice in New York for several important Russian reformers.

 If Russia and Russian religion were a longterm professional and personal interest, Andrew never lost sight of global human rights issues. During the 2008 US presidential campaign, he initiated a project called “Reject Torture” that sought to encourage media across the country to adopt an editorial position explicitly condemning US torture. After Abu Ghraib the issue of torture had become a topic of public debate, and it was not obvious that the American public or government would even pay lip service to international standards against torture, much less support and uphold them. I worked with Andrew as a kind of remote research assistant, compiling lists of US editors and writing individually to many of them. In setting out to build widespread editorial support to abolish torture, we completed the circle that we had begun to sketch 30 years earlier working at Amnesty to abolish torture worldwide.

I mention Andrew’s commitment to positive action for human rights because it signals that part of the man inclined toward the active life in the midst of a life also given to contemplation, books (so many thousands of them!), study and writing.

Over the span of many visits to Morton Street, I met Jaana and enjoyed playing with and later conversing with their children Saga and Eliot, as Andrew had welcomed my children many years earlier. The seemingly confirmed bachelor became the dedicated family man, to his own and all his friends’ joy. While not losing his enthusiasm for human rights activities, he re-centered his life toward his family.

Andrew was the best of friends with an untold number of human rights activists from different continents and backgrounds. His circle of friends is global; his center of gravity, to the end, was his family and 44A Morton Street. Rest in peace., Your friend Sherman

PRISCILLA ELLSWORTH, Salisbury CT: For dear Andrew: I often think often of our days together in London, interviewing Peter Benenson, and others who worked in the early days of AI, having tea and cookies and hearing about their childhoods, hoping to find out why they became interested in human rights. You, with your southern charm and Russian beard had a knack for putting people at ease, getting them to open up. And you were great listener, and a pleasure to be with!!

As for the Irish cottage, how can I ever forget the hilarious arguments you and Whitney had about what furniture and kitchen items to buy Both detailed and a bit obsessive you made an interesting pair. Luckily, your passions for decorating overcame your disagreements and you got it done!!!

A memorable trip to Finland and Lapland, weekends at Hall Brook Farm in Vermont with old Amnesty pals, so many wonderful hours spent at Morton Street with you, Jaana and your kids. How lucky Whitney and I were to have been be apart of the Blane family!!!

Andrew, you have blessed us with your friendship. Now that you are sailing off to join Whitney and Ed, I pray that the last part of your voyage goes smoothly. Much love and a big hug. Fiddle

JANNIK EIDEN, Trier, Germany: Dear Andrew,

The last time I visited you in New York we talked about my bachelor and the thesis I was writing. Well, I am happy to report that, last Friday, I have received an email from my university that I passed my thesis and therefore finished my bachelor in European Studies. Only two days later, or two days ago, I started a double degree Master program in Public Policy and Human Development at Maastricht University and United Nation University. I am excited to pursue this program and are looking forward to my future career.

Now you are probably asking yourself why I am telling you this. Well, starting a new program gave me time to take a breath, reflect on the past years and think of what got me to this point. And this brings me to you and Jaana. Even by changing different perspectives or considerations, I like to think that you two got me where I am now. Of course, I am not saying my parents had nothing to do with it or that I not had to study for it (J), but I like to think that I have copied from you the love, respect and interest in people, different cultures, and people’s individual stories. Before becoming an exchange student, I have travelled but I arrived, went to the beach, and told myself I know the country and the people. During my exchange year, you have taught me to listen to people’s story and to appreciate and enjoy the international atmosphere at Morton Street. Starting from teaching me English (or Finnish), weekly briefings about new dinner guests, talking about NGO’s, people’s accomplishments and people’s stories, taking me and Eliot to weekly think sessions at cafés, showing me NY and the US and most importantly make me feel home in a new environment. This might sound cheesy but hey it’s true. This year had huge impact on me which is hard to describe. I learned how to appreciate and survive in a new environment, communicate with people from different cultures, grow as a person and even hey even developed the courage to come out (J). After this year in your family, I visited and experienced Israel, Finland, Russia, NY, Kenya...and not just the country but experienced the people.

See where I am now. Studying in English in the Netherlands, having more international friends than German friends, interact with people around the world and even studied Arabic and Chinese to interact with more people, being free and open minded and trying to learn

how to make a positive impact in this world. In addition, every single time I am visiting you in Finland or NY I immediately feel welcomed and home. So, what I am trying to tell you with this letter is best to summarize in two words: Thank you.
Thank you for teaching me. Thank you for showing me. Thank you for allowing me to become part of this family and to enjoy visiting you in Finland or in NY. Thank you, Andrew, Thank you, Jaana.

Unfortunately, I cannot be there to read to you this letter by myself but I hope to visit again and we can have a conversation about it. But Andrew, I wish you all the best, health and strengths and the support you need. Love, Jannik, Your German son

PS: In the last years, we have never managed to take a picture as a family since some people were always missing. Every single time, you told me, “You always leave one thing behind, so you have to come back again”. Last march we almost made it. We managed to take a picture with you, Jaana, Eliot and me. So, I guess we need one more shot to get a picture with Saga as well…

NATE SCHENKKAN, New York: The many years we spent together made me who I am today. Our work on the torture project together, all the conversations about your time with Amnesty, listening in to all the conversations you had with your colleagues, brought human rights to me in a way I could understand. Your passion for Russian culture became contagious and brought me to graduate school and beyond. Your patience and generosity with strangers--and with me--changed how I looked at the world. It still shapes how I am and who I am. I loved our time together and I am so glad that we had so much of it.

RUPERT EVERETT, London: Dear Jaana, I was so upset to read your email. Poor darling Andrew. Please send him much love. Even though I haven't been there I have always felt him to be a big part of my life. Our little world there has taken such a hammering in the last two years and I am so sorry Jaana. I wish I was there to help or do something but knowing you as I do - I know everything will be perfect. How great that he is at home - where the Amnesty International was started all those years ago in a time when New York was a happier place. Jaana if there is anything I can do, don't hesitate to ask. Much love Rupert

TIA ITKONEN, Aland Islands: Hela sommaren har jag suttit vid det bordet här på Ströms (där jag fortfarande skriver på min bok, på slutrakan nu) där jag hade glädjen att en varm julimånad få ta emot er här. Ofta har mina tankar gått till den tiden, att någonting fint utvecklades här som jag fick ställa upp med. Och att det var hit ni ville komma. Och än finare när jag fick äran att ordna ert bröllop. Ett förtroende som jag med glädje tog emot.

Kära kära Andrew, om du visste hur mycket jag har älskat dig. Din godhet bara strålar ur dig och den gör alla gott; man skulle önska att världen bestod av sådana som du. Jag är så glad för varje tillfälle jag har haft möjlighet att träffa dig. Du finns i mitt hjärta på alla sätt och vis och det gör mig varm bara att tänka så.

Jag skriver inte mera nu av rädsla för att komma för sent. Tack kära älskade Andreew för allt som du är och har varit. Loving you, Tia

ROGER LOUIS, Austin TX: Of course we’re very sorry to learn about Andy.  But we’re glad that he was able to make it to Finland and is now having a peaceful time at home.  We’re especially glad that he is lucid and that he’s able to enjoy the family visits.

 He is one of my oldest friends.  We met in 1955 on a train to Vienna and have kept in touch ever since, well over six decades.  So I know very well that his marriage to you was perhaps the great event of his life, the most enduring, the most satisfactory, the most significant, the most joyful.

 There’s not much else I can say except to mention that Dagmar feels the same way, sad and yet glad that he is now with you and the rest of the family The sad circumstances have the positive side of giving opportunity for further expression of love and gratitude. Dagmar joins me in send her love, our love, and warmest good wishes.  Please say a warm and gentle goodbye to Andy for us.

BARBARA SPROUL,New York: I am thinking of you and sending much love to you and my sweet brother Andrew... Tell him that I am sitting with him here at home, thinking of him, remembering our wonderful times together.. hearing his voice in my head, glad he is at peace and so grateful he is with you and his children, loved and cared for so well. Big hugs to all of you….(later to Amnesty USA listeserv): “Andrew was an original member of the first AIUSA adoption group, an AIUSA board member, a long-term IEC member, a scholar of Russian Orthodoxy and culture, a professor at Lehman College, City University of New York and the author of Georges Florovsky: Russian Intellectual & Orthodox Churchman.  He was married to the wonderful Dr. Jaana Rehnstrom, father to Saga and Eliot, and ‘godfather’ to so many people in the early Amnesty, co-founder of the Art for Amnesty program and so many other human rights initiatives. ‘Brother’ Andrew was thoughtful, dedicated, thorough, wise, persistent, centered, humorous... he was dear and deep friend to so many of us whose gratitude for the gift that he was is unending.”

ANN BLYBERG, New York: …I'm so sad that I didn't get to see Andrew at that time (August), but am glad he had some days in Finland. …Andrew has indeed had a long and blessed life--with so many friends who love and appreciate him so deeply for his generosity, hospitality, eccentricity and humor……Andrew has been on my mind constantly since I got your email on Thursday. He will always be in my heart. Such an exceptional mentor, colleague and friend. A few words are not enough.

(See photo above with Martin Enthoven)

JOEL REHNSTROM (JR.) AND FAMILY, Geneva: Dear Saga and Eliot, Your father was very special to us and we will always remember him with great fondness.‎ May his soul rest in peace. Jonne, Eugenia, Sofia and Olivia

JORKKE AND ULLA HAGGBLOM, Helsinki: Det var med en känsla av stor tomhet som vi mottog beskedet att vår vän
Andrew inte längre finns ibland oss. Vi har suttit och bläddrat i fotoalbum och minnats fina stunder
tillsammans. Bilderna och minnesbilderna säger att det var ett långt och rikt liv som kom till ett slut. Våra tankar finns hos dig och din familj nu i sorgens tid. Varma kramar

YVA MOMATIUK AND JOHN EASTCOTT:

Dear Jaana, Saga, Eliot --
Sadness.
Gratitude.
And love to you --
Yva and John

DICK OOSTING, Amsterdam:
Hearing about Andrew’s passing away is like one of life’s most precious gifts suddenly being taken away. I am so sorry for you and Saga and Eliot. And so glad to know that he had the joy of his grandchild, and could see his family grow strong.

I can hardly believe it. He meant very very much.

With love from us both,
Dick and Marion

CATHY FITZPATRICK, New York: I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of Andy. He was such a wonderful man and I was truly fortunate to count him as a friend.

And here is Cathy’s Facebook post: (Thank you Cathy!):

“I'm sorry to report the death at the age of 90 on September 6 of my long-time friend and colleague, Andy Blane, whom many of you know as a great friend of human rights at home and abroad.

This photo was taken at the last meeting of the Sakharov Foundation board before Ed Kline's death in June 2017.

Andy was a great help to me as a friend and board member of the League for Human Rights, and recently in supporting me in an effort to write my memoirs. He was a founding member of the Andrei Sakharov Foundation in the US.

Andy worked on so many issues as a board member of Amnesty International, the Human Rights Project Group and more, focusing on topics from armed conflict in Northern Ossetia, which he visited, to torture by US troops in Iraq. You could always count on Andy to sign petitions and write letters and help you draft reports. He was a professor for many years, a scholar of Fr. Florovsky, and a wonderful writer and editor.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/677373.Andrew_Blane

He was a soft-spoken and friendly scholar and activist who didn't seek the credit for all the good that he did! So few people like this nowadays.

I last saw him a few months ago when we had to sign the paperwork to dissolve Chekhov Press, which published works by banned Russian writers back in the day and helped a wide variety of people from Chechen refugees to Memorial scholars. We took a tour through his many old rare books on Russia. Andy himself was the treasure with all of his knowledge and lore.

Somewhere I have a photo of Ed Kline and Andy, who was really his best friend, at La Lanterna in the West Village where they often went for lunch, and I sometimes joined them.

You can read about a fund to honour his work here:

https://www.kota-alliance.org/our-funds

h/t Ivan Kovalev

Царство ему небесное!”

LIGIA BOLIVAR, Bogota: We are very sorry for Andrew's departure, but it comforts us to know that he left in peace. Andrew left leaving us a legacy of love and good works in favor of all of those who had the pleasure of meeting him. I will miss him a lot, but I have the memory of the privilege of his friendship. I dreamed about him on Friday and when I told Victor, he told me that Andrew had come to say goodbye.

It will be an honor for me to devote a part of my first salary in Colombia to contribute to the Andrew Blane Memorial Fund for Human Rights Defenders!

LIISA VALKAMA, Tampere Finland: osanottomme sinun, Sagan ja Eliotin suureen suruun. Näillä sanoin toivotan jaksamista.

 Olen kimallus tähden, olen pilven lento,

olen kasteisen aamun pisara hento.

En ole poissa, vaan luoksenne saavun

mukana jokaisen nousevan aamun,

ja jokaisen tummuvan illan myötä

toivotan teille hyvää yötä.

(Eino Leino)

 SASHA KORBUT, New York: Andrew means to me more than I can currently express with words. I peacefully smile in my heart as his journey continues in another form. I would be honored to attend the NY service and internally bow to Andrew.

OLIVIA MA, Washington DC: (To Saga) …I remember well the joy on his face during your wedding and how proud he was to watch you and Jake come together in marriage. I also remember feeling the love and comfort in your family's home when we came to your house for dinner that year we were living in New York and I was newly pregnant with Aurora. Your parents were so warm and welcoming and I felt like I had a better sense of you from getting a better understanding of where you came from….

PAVEL LITVINOV, Dobbs Ferry NY: All love and sympathy. I was lucky to know Andy for 45 years. He was the sweetest most talented and compassionate man! His dedication to defense of Human rights and Russian culture was legendary.

ESTERLINDA KELLER, Mineola, NY:  Please receive our deepest sympathy on the sorrow caused by loss our dearest Andrew . He leaves a vacuum difficult to fill in the lives of his dear family and on the lives of many people who benefited from his life work defending human rights.

Our family feels deeply his departure from this world but he will live in our hearts for our lifetimes. We will hold on to his memories of better times and when we benefitted from his humanity, generosity, wisdom, and more. We will never forget his invaluable help and support during or family most difficult times. He was a profoundly kind and generous human being. He will be sorely missed.

 Our hearts and thoughts are with you at this very sad time. Alfonso Sr. also send his deepest condolences from Peru (he’s still recovering from his mild stroke). May I just add that  establishing  The Andrew Blane Memorial Fund for Human Rights Defenders  is perhaps the best way to honor his memory and his life work. We will be supporting this fund. With much love from all of us, Chachi

DIANORA & JOSE ZALAQUETT, Santiago, Chile: Hoy hemos recibido con tristeza la noticia del fallecimiento de Andrew: gran amigo, solidario, comprometido, honesto. Una gran pérdida. Estoy segura que Pepe lo lamenta mucho aunque no pueda expresarlo verbalmente.

JOHANNA AHLSTROM, Helsinki: Jag vill skicka er alla mitt och vårt varmaste deltagande i er sorg och saknad efter Andrew. Det är ofta som jag tänker tillbaka på er generositet då jag bodde i New York hösten 2008 -tack! Särskilt kommer jag så tydligt ihåg när jag varit på middag hos er (på tv debatterades de dåvarande presdentkandidaterna) och då det blev lite sent ville Andrew absolut följa mig till gatan där min taxi väntade. Han gjorde det med en sån naturlig värme och omtanke att minnet stannat kvar hos mig. Kram till er alla, Johanna med familj (Marcus, Bianca 6 år, Rafael 4 år och Alicia 1,5 år)

SARAH AND DAVID MUNVES WITH FAMILY, New York: Please accept our condolences on Andrew's passing. He was truly a special person. As you message said so well, he meant so much to so many people, and in so many great ways. We were privileged to have known him, and to have benefited from his friendship, generosity, and kindness.

BARBARA FUTTERMAN, New York: I am sending you love and support during this sad time. Andy brightened the world for so many people. He and Ed were quite a team! I am thankful he was in the world for ninety years. His memory will always be a blessing to you, your family and all who knew him. With love, Barbara

MARIE-LAURE LAMOUROUX, Nancy, France: …As you and Saga wrote,his last days were peaceful ,he was in your house with all of you.Including Finn who looks to be very funny on all the pictures. I remember the days when you came to Issac for a new year many years ago now.He wanted to “restore” the hill after the wild boars had made so many holes in it ! The last time I saw Andrew ,and all of you,it was in Degerby. Even if I don’t write very often,even if I’m far away,I’m with all of you now. Avec toute mon amitie, Marie-Laure

JUAN FRANCISCO LOBO, Santiago, Chile: I want to convey to you my deepest condolences for the passing of Andrew. I just heard about it from Dianora today. I can't imagine a harder time for a person to be going through right now. I am so sorry. Andrew and you were always very supportive of my many endeavors - from the festschrift for Pepe, to finding a home in NYC and venturing into the editorial world. I know it doesn't mean much right now, but please take my gratitude and appreciation as a testament to Andrew's character, a most generous man who was always willing to give a hand even to the most remote people with the silliest dreams.

SUSANNAH SIRKIN, Boston: Andrew had a great influence on so many of us in the human rights movement, sharing his passion, his deep knowledge and wisdom, his attention to history and impartiality and his wonderful and witty humor. His generosity, including the opening of your home to traveling activists was legendary. I am enormously indebted to him in how I think about and do my work and will always appreciate his care and affection. He was an important mentor.

EIJA BUCCIARELLI, New York: Dear Jaana and all of you that loved Andrew as a husband, father and grandfather.... my deepest sympathy on your great loss. Such a warm, wise and sweet man.... thinking of him with following: “The kindness we show and the love we give keep changing the world long after we have left it behind....one well-lived life makes a difference forever!

PAIVIKKI NURMI, Helsinki: Otan osaa suureen suruunne ja voimia teille jaksaa eteenpäin. Ajatukset ovat luonanne Morton Streetillä. Olette olleet suuressa ja tärkeässä osassa elämääni. Te annoitte maalaistytölle mahdollisuuden, josta ponnistaa eteenpäin. Ilman kokemusta luonanne New Yorkissa ja sitä kautta englanninkielen taitoa, en olisi tässä missä nyt olen. Kiitos ja suuri halaus teille kaikille!

LIISA ROBERTS AND SIMEON BUROV ROBERTS, Helsinki: Simeon and I are very very sorry for your loss and we too are deeply saddened, Andrew was also loved by us-- a loving, kind, generous, funny, smart and open human who we were so lucky to have had in our lives and who we will both remember and be inspired by always. Each of you, Jaana, Saga and Eliot, are also beloved and so important to us. Your family has been our family and shown love and support to us in ways only family would.

There is nothing I can say I think that would be appropriate right now, but still I want to share what a support Andrew was to Simeon when we called you out of the blue a couple of years ago and Simeon had appendicitis, already in ER and about to go under the knife. Andrew passed us the story of his appendicitis as a child in South America, how he rode quite a instance on his bicycle enduring his accute appendicitis pain and made it to a doctor, I seem to recall the story also involved ice cream. This was such a help to Simeon for not being scared. One of many lovely moments we had the privilege to share with Andrew. ️

MATTI AND MARIANNE VAINIO, Helsinki: We were heartbroken to hear about Andrew’s passing away. We knew that he was getting weaker but still the news numbed us. We have so many good memories of Andrew and started to talk about his kindness, wit, occasional temper and very big heart. Matti remembers fondly the dinner with Jaana and Andrew in Greenwich Village a couple of years ago and even more so the tennis matches between the “fab four” (Andrew, Vellu, Joel and Matti) on the roof top tennis court of Manhattan in 1994.  We were relieved to hear that Andrew passed away peacefully with you all were around him. We send your our deepest condolences and wish you strength for the coming days.

LEENA LEHTOLAINEN, Inkoo, Finland: lämmin osanottomme Andrew'n poismenon johdosta. Hyvä kuulla, että kaikki
sujui rauhallisesti ja saitte olla hänen luonaan. Andrew teki minuun ja koko perheeseemme lähtemättömän vaikutuksen. Älyn
ja lämmön yhidstelmä oli ainutlaatuinen. Kuulen edelleen hänen naurunsa ja näen silmiensä tuikkeen. Parasta muistotyötä on puolustaa hänen edustamiaan arvoja.

VERONICA AND TIMO ASSMUTH, Helsinki: …Han var en person, som hade en förmåga att få en att känna sej speciell. Och själv en mycket speciell person i sin förmåga till inlevelse och engagemang. Våra varmaste tankar och hälsningar.

KARI KIESILAINEN, Helsinki: We are so sorry and sad to hear the news and our thoughts are with you.
Please accept our deepest and warmest condolences for your loss. A true husband, father, friend has left us, but we remember Andrew always happy, ready for a chat and joke! I remember when I told Andrew that I have started to play golf. He said:"Kari, I started golf in early 30`ies!". I have a friend Tim from DC who actually visited Morton Str home one christmas. I told Andrew that Tim had his first child at the age of 54. Andrew replied: "Kari, I had my first child at the age of 65, and another at the age of 69!" Andrew was so happy of you Saga and Elliot, and of course of the first grandchild Finn! I remember those great stories about Josip Brodsky and Irma too. There are so many of them. Andrew always had time for you despite of the fact he might have had much more important things to do. At this sad moment it is time to remember what a great person he was and all those great moments with
him. We also have enjoyed enormous hospitality in your Morton Street home as well as in Stävö. It was great to stop by on our trips to Birkebeiner ski races in Wisconsin. As Jaana put it, Andrew sought to make the world a better place. He really did it!!

SIRKKU ENBERG, New York: Although I didn’t know Andrew very well, the few times we met, left a lasting impression on me. He was a gentle soul, so lovely and had a wonderful presence. I especially remember him from one Christmas party at your home a few years back. He and I had a wonderful conversation and I vividly remember thinking what an intelligent and lovely person he was. He was one of those rare people who was genially interested in what one has to say. He saw you, and listened to you. Hope it is comforting to know, that no matter how big or small he did or said on this life time, he will be remembered with appreciation and will be deeply missed.

MARTIN SCHEININ, Monteloro, Italy: Please accept our condolences by e-mail. Margot, and especially I due to a much longer history, will always remember Andrew for his big and warm heart and the eternal spark of humour in his eyes….Andrew was a role model for me also in the decision to have a child at “old” age (I turned 62 just when Sofia Natalia was born). It has been a great experience over soon three years, and I will do my best to stay around until the age of 90.

STEPHEN NEFF, Edinburgh: Thank you for this message, despite the sadness of the contents. I did not know of Andrew's illness. What I did know, however -- along with countless other people -- was what a magnificent friend he was, and what an unrelenting champion of human rights. My first contact with him was when he was on the international committee of Amnesty International in the 1970s. But that was only a small part of his academic and activist life. He was not just a devoted Russian studies scholar and human-rights supporter, though. In addition to these, I will always remember his lively personality. He radiated an aura of good humor and optimism. He was so good at making people feel that they could make some kind of difference, that a better world really could be coming. His influence on so many of us will be immense.

TARJA KOSKELA, St. Petersburg FL: Andrew oli valloittava, lammin, mielenkiintoinen ja kannustava ihminen.

SUSAN GRANT, New York: Andrew Blane was a force, yet a gentle soul. He will never be forgotten.

ANSSI RANTANEN, Helsinki: Tulemme aina muistamaan Andrewn ihmisenä, joka oli sydäntä, viisautta ja iloa.

HELI BLUM, New York: He was a wonderful person who was always a delight to engage with. He will be missed.

PETER REDDAWAY, Washington DC: …Thank you for letting Betsy and me know about dear Andy's death. He and I became friends in 1962, when we were both studying at Harvard. Everything you write about him is true…

HOWARD HOVDE, Kerrville, TX; We have many choice memories of Andrew during seminary days and days with you all as well.  He was a caring friend, superb student and exceptional athlete particularly in golf.  He was a  member of the Great Heart for the World Family.  His life echoed that.  He will be dearly missed.

LARRY COX, Tivoli, NY: I am so very sad to receive the news of Andrew's passing and your great loss. I loved Andrew and admired him greatly. He gave me so much guidance and kindness over many years.He was a uniquely good man who did so much to make this a more just and kinder world.

IZUMI YOSHIDA, Tokyo: ..I will always remember his warm smile and his gentle heart. He was always very kind to me and the family. We will miss him a lot. He will always live in our hearts forever and will always think of his kind and beautiful soul.

BLANE FRYE, Palo Alto, CA: I'm so very sorry to hear of Andy's passing. It goes without saying how fortunate you all were to have him as a husband and father. I treasure my little time spent with him, particularly our trips to New York in 2013 and 2016 when I was finally old enough to begin understanding the magnitude of his work with Amnesty and beyond. I'm happy to see you all have come up with a way to continue his work through his Memorial Fund.

CARNE ROSS, London: I was very sad to hear this news. It was a great pleasure and a privilege to have known Andrew. Time spent with him was always so rich, encouraging and edifying. He was a lovely and inspiring man and the world was surely the better for him being in it.

YLVA & ARVID NYBERG, Helsinki: …budet om Andrews bortgång kom ju inte oväntat , men det är ändå svårt att förstå att en vän med så otroligt mycket värme, humor, stor humanism, wittiness, gästfrihet och djupa insikter, är borta. Det har varit ett stort privilegium att få ta del av allt detta i så många olika sammanhang….Vi tänker mycket på er alla och på de många vackra, roliga, varma minnen som Andrew gett oss, inte bara Arvid och mig utan också barnen. Vi sörjer vår vän mycket och sänder de allra varmaste tankar till dig och hela familjen.

INGRID WITTEBROODT: My heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the passing away of Andrew. He was, indeed, a very special person and very much loved by all of us in the human rights community.

LEIF REHNSTROM: Teitä on kohdannut suuri suru. Otan osaa suruunne. Minulla oli ilo pelata Andrewn kanssa golfia useina kesinä, lähinnä Pikkalassa. Hän oli sympaattinen, kannustava ja taitava pelikumppani, jonka kanssa aina oli mukava lähteä kentälle, kun oma intoni vielä oli riittävä.

MAILIS TAMMI, Pori, Finland: Mailis Tammi : I was truly sorry to hear about his death. Like you said he was a great friend of all kinds of people. He did great job by defendig human rights. We would have needed his latest analysis about the sitation in Russia, expecially here in Finland. My condolences to you all. I will miss him.

FRANK JOHANSSON, Helsinki: Jag såg att Andrew har gått bort. Träffade honom tillsammans med dej någon gång på 1990-talet. Den generationen som byggde upp Amnestys ”moraliska trovärdighet” (moral authority) som Stephen Hopgood i sina böcker och artiklar så väl har beskrivit, börjar försvinna. Deltagande i din sorg.

JUIDTH TIGERSCHIOLD, London: Andrew was a very special person and a significant figure in my life, even though I have not seen him for many years. I first met him in 1978, when I started working at the International Secretariat, and I got to know him well when I was secretary to the IEC and he was a member of that committee. He was always a thoughtful and valuable contributor to discussions, with a strong understanding of what Amnesty International should and could do well, as well as knowing the issues which were best left to others. Andrew could be great fun, although as you are well aware, he had a tendency to work up to the wire, meaning that things could get rather frantic (generally just for the rest of us, as he managed to appear unruffled even as the clock ticked down).

Andrew was a generous man and I fondly remember being taken to the Rainbow room by him for cocktails on my 25th birthday and several times being lent a room in New York. He managed to be both scholarly and an enjoyer (and sometimes a provider) of juicy anecdotes, which made dinner with Andrew an event to be remembered and relished. He attended Malcolm and my wedding party in 1985 and kindly took on the role of photographer of the event, creating a record that I treasure. I am very happy that we exchanged letters several times in the last few years, although I am sad that we were not able to meet up.

Having lost two significant people in my own life in the last five years, both of whom were around 90 years old, I know that no amount of hearing, or knowing, ‘a life well lived’, or ‘a good age’, softens your own grief. When you love someone, you miss them when they leave, no matter their age at the time. I know Andrew will leave a great void in your lives and I, at this distance, feel that a light has gone out in my own life with his passing. I do also know that it is true that time helps you deal with the pain of loss, even if it can’t eliminate it; you carry on living and gradually become able to experience joy again, richer because you hold memories of the departed person and the love you shared.

(Photo: see under Thomas Hammarberg above, Judith second from right in second row)

MAGGIE NICHOLSON, UK: Andrew’s death has struck me profoundly. As for so many people we know, Andrew played such a very important role in the direction of my life. He showed he cared about each and every one of us. I am sorry that I missed seeing him on my last visits to New York but hope that he knew he was never far from the minds and hearts of us all. Attached are some of my favourite photos - from the first - and perhaps only - AI UN Office day out (Sandy Hook). I would very much like to be able to be present for the memorial service, and will do all I can to be there.

JUDITH TUCKER, MI: ….For me, 44A Morton Street will always remain a very special place, a magical bubble that Andrew created with his gregarious generosity.   He gladly entertained so many fascinating visitors, always welcomed with enthusiasm and interest.  When I worked in the office in the basement of 44B he even tolerated a semi-tame squirrel I adopted who would sit on my deks to be fed – we named her Lily.  And our extraordinary trips to Father George in Princeton. Lunches in the garden, often with beer! Sitting on the floor of his basement library surrounded by piles of scrappy receipts trying to sort out his taxes.  What a great gift he has left me with those happy, magical memories.

NOEMIE DUHAUT, Mainz, Germany: …I still can't quite believe that I won't hear anymore all the wonderful stories he seemed to have stockpiled in one corner of his mind, ready to relate to absolutely everything. As I was rummaging through old photos and memories in the last days, I suddenly remembered how Andrew started telling me some joke about Jewish samourais and circumcision that time I visited from Jerusalem. I'm attaching a few pictures from that wonderful New Year 2008 in Périgord.

OLIVER ADLER, Zürich: As you know, Andrew was a very important person for me at the beginning and throughout my US “ventures”. When I arrived the first time in steaming hot – and, for me Swiss country bumpkin, rather scary… - NYC in August 1980 Andrew and 44A provided the refuge I needed. When I returned to study at Columbia in January 1981 it was Andrew again who made my start so much easier than it would have been. Becoming a member of the 44A community with Andrew at its center was so nice because, as you say, he was such a people’s person. And on it went until you – officially – appeared “on the scene”, became Tani’s doctor, helped her give birth to Peter and became a friend of the family as well. The “pre-history” of all that was my mother meeting Andrew at the Amnesty meeting in London sometime in the mid-1970s at which he was elected to the Council; she was there as the representative of the Swiss section and reported enthusiastically about him. Tani and I will always remember Andrew, and we will very gladly contribute to the fund you have set up in his memory. It is a wonderful idea because it will help carry forward all the good work he – and you! – have done over so many years. - p.s.: The fact that dear Andrew – 25 year years my elder - regularly beat me at tennis, is a further memory. He was not only a people’s person but also a talented sportsman. Lucky that I don’t play golf.

MARIA BRODSKY, Milan, Italy: …I have just learned from Ann about Andrew's death. I am so terribly sorry and feel very close to you  -- This must be such a difficult time for you, Saga and Eliot. Of course, Andrew wasn't young, but his passing came to me as a shock. So many memories in a flash -- the wisdom in his words, so much kindness. This sad news brought all those moments at Morton Street back, with a deep sense of nostalgia but also of huge gratitude for having been part of that world.  I will always remember the way he looked at you -- his eyes would light up when he saw you. He loved you and his children immensely…

EDY KAUFMAN, Haifa, Israel:
"Remembering dear Andrew is not just telling how close we were as friends but also as partners for memorable small stories that show how simple citizens, empowered by Amnesty International had the cumulative effect , if not to move mountains, to start a chain of actions that could help derrail a military dictatorship in Uruguay - granted of a small country with at that time [1973-1983] with around 3 million people.
I promise to concentrate in an anecdote related to Andrew but I wish to put it in the context of our interactions: the International Executive Committee of AI we had several Spanish speaking members:[Jan Egeland from Norway Andrew with a Colombian experience; myself -born in Argentina and with a strong Latino identity; and last but not least- our Chair among the four- the only one among the four of us living back in Latin America, Jose [Pepe] Zalaquett -a Chilean erudit [law professor, committed human rights activist, champion league chess player, classic music and aficionado opera singer, paintings expert and above all - a phenomenal memory for friends and family names, stories and more] . In 1975 I was teaching at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and decided to spend most of my first Sabbatical year in "learning by doing" and i was lucky to be invited to join AI's the International Secretariat to replace Inger Fahlander [on maternity leave for a year] as Director for the Americas in the Research Department. My IEC supervisor was Andrew and together we brainstorm with CAT -the Campaign Against Torture Unit [created after the first World Conference Against Torture [Paris 1973] for what would be the first worldwide country campaign for AI -born mostly to deal with individual POC. Torture was rampant in Uruguay and .with multiple contacts of exiles and their families back home as well as political parties' activists we had a signifcant number of data and adopted around 400 prisoners of conscience- in other words- 400 AI groups in about 30 countries more than ready to involve themselves for one month in one active campaign not only to release their adopted prisoner but also to stop torture. So we allocate to each country to undertake the responsibility for the campaign at least for one pre-determined day -without telling the government in Montevideo which country is going to be next.
Andrew in New York not only had access to the United Nations but given that the US government under Ford was initially supportive of the regime the American delegation at the UN was also an important target. [I think that before this time AI did not have an IS full time representative at the UN headquarters].
To make a long story short, the main trigger was a small brochure that we prepared in three languages with 12 documented cases of death under torture of political prisoners- their names and a couple of lines about each, and most saliently the case of Alvaro Balbi, a trade unionist. His coffin was given back to the family with the explicit command that nobody should open it. His wife [I later got to know her in Montevideo when she identified the torturer and asked for help to him brought to trail]. We set the date for starting the campaign on May 15, 1975 but a week earlier we provided the brochure to Andrew in NY to meet the Uruguayan ambassador to the UN and the AI sections to his homologues in Washington, Paris and London; the specific instruction was to offer them the flyer and say that AI's accuracy policy is not to get public iwth sensitive information without checking with second source, often the governments responsible for the alleged violations. Andrew was in NY and his recollection was that the Uruguayan ambassador was shocked; when he put himself together he promised to consult his government and provide a response. And so it was that in Montievideo at the eve of our AI Campaign against Torture in Uruguay the EL PAIS officialist newspaper in Montevideo carried an half-- page headline, sometjhing like WORLD COMMUNIST CAMPAIGN AGAINST URUGUAY orchestrated by Amnesty International. Tnxs to Andrew, and a few more inputs, the Uruguayans back home got to know that the beginning of global campign in solidarity with their imprisoned fellow citizens was starting, and I myself got years later many testimonies of prisoners how much their hopes were stimulated by the news. Many thought that the staged slow montion coup d'etat in June 1973 Uruguay was overshadow by Pinochet's bloody coup in Chile a few months later. More about the impact of this first AI country campaign with a global outrich, I suggest those who read Spanish to enjoy reading Marisa Ruiz "Amnistia Internacional: La Piedra en el Zapato de la dictadura en Uruguay [AI- the stone in the shoe of the Uruguayan dictatorship]. Marisa is a well known Uruguayan historian and eventually among the founders and long serving Chairperson of AI's Uruguay National Section- I wrote the introduction to the book, and believe Andrew's role is mentioned there. The story goes on and includes very moving moments, including the rescue Wilson Ferreira Aldunate and his son Juan Raul Ferreira -whom once we met and Andrew and Jaana's place in NY- of the political leader of the democratic opposition; minutes before falling into the hands of the death squads in Buenos Aires,this dramatic episode occuriring after the kidnapping and assassinating two Uruguayan parliamentaries in exile, and a younger couple of activists, and more tragic stories and eventually a "happy end" Uruguay not only the best democracy in South America, but also with a generation that has found many ways to express their gratitude to AI and people like Andrew .

There are several moments with Andrew [and Jaana, Saga and Eliot] that come to my memory but one story is enough. Dear Andrew is now physically absent but over the years, our friendship also including Jaana and Lisa the children both sides has been ongoing and strong. We will be missing you, Andrew, so much. As many many friends, we are still around and committed to be symbolically with you and your causes.

GREGOR YOUNG/JESSI TAUBE, London:…You and Andrew have hosted us a couple of times (and SagaJake innumerable times). We visited together in autumn 2010 and predictably found Andrew in his sunny library. As ever he was an engaging host and we got just a hint of the amazing conversations that must have taken place over the years. I can see why your house in the Village became such a refuge of so many sorts amongst the city. We met again at the Onteora wedding where Andrew was no less charming in his duties as father of the bride and I remember your very moving speech about the responsibilities which come with the privilage being free to choose your partner. While obviously very shaped by Andrew and his achievements, Saga has inherited the Finnish trait for modesty and understatement so that both Jessi and I learned a lot more about Andrew while reading his obituary than I think we already knew.

Similarly it was such a delight to visit Stavo this summer. I was struck by the way that the the rhythm of the day ties you to nature and to family. All of your family were so welcoming and it was a pleasure to get to know Risto and Moona better. I will cherish the experiences of swimming in the baltic at dusk after sauna and picking wild mushrooms. I understand a little better how important it was for all of you to spend time there with Andrew for Finn’s naming ceremony. What an achievement it was at that late stage in his life.”

MARGO PICKEN, London: …Andrew was very dear with a special place in many hearts and we his friends, his people, will miss him greatly. It's hard to imagine being without him. …

(later): I started writing this letter to you after Jaana’s message came about how ill you were. I’d hoped it would reach you in time.  Why do we always leave things too late? 

Our friendship began in February 1975, do you remember? I came to Morton Street on my way to Mexico.  I’d just finished a Masters in Latin American Studies.  With Russia and Latin America in common, how could we not have become immediate friends?   You were then teaching at CUNY and had recently joined AI’s International Executive Committee, entrusted also with responsibility for the UN.  You wrote to me in Mexico asking if I would come to work with you and help establish an AI presence at the UN.  First I said no, then that I’d come for a year, then stayed for eleven.   

We worked from the Morton Street basement until an AI office was opened in the Church Centre in 1977.  In those early years, Morton Street became a hive of “quiet” diplomacy and a refuge for many, from Latin America and the Caribbean especially at a time when much of the region was under ruthless dictatorship.  Our first General Assembly in 1975 was described by one Ambassador as one of the most tumultuous in three decades:  the anti-zionist resolution; Moynihan’s retaliatory resolution on political prisoners; the protection of human rights in Chile, and most importantly for AI the draft UN Declaration against Torture, the culmination of its worldwide campaign to end torture.   Martin Ennals came at the start of the session to canvas support for the Declaration, leaving us to follow up.  You proved to be a brilliant ambassador for AI with your winning ways and your combination of charm, good humour, wit and conviction.  You’d dress up in your suit, we’d grab a cab because you were always late (I called you the White Rabbit) and off we’d go, somehow always miraculously arriving in time.

You were forever hospitable and welcoming, kind and generous.  You were constantly plotting and you made so many good things happen. You could be infuriating but it didn’t matter.

On a more personal level, do you remember Hettie’s chicken?  And the Flying Horse of Kansu? And your befriending of the local squirrels? Memories come crowding in. 

There’s so much more to be said.  I thank you for everything. I’m going to miss you terribly. 

DOROTHY CONNELL, London: Andrew's name will be one of those read out at the All Souls' service at St George's Bloomsbury in London on the evening of Saturday, 2 November, when Mozart's Requiem will be sung by our young professional Choral Scholars. It should be a dignified and beautiful event, and Stefanie will attend with me. We will be thinking of Andrew and giving thanks for his life.

YUTAKA OGITA, member of Amnesty International Japan: Last week Makoto Teranaka, a friend of AI Japan who visited Morton Street together with me after the Boston ICM in 1993, transferred your message telling the death of Andrew Blane. I was stunned at this sad news. Since then I’ve been thinking of the good memories of Andrew in my mind , who was always kind, cool but warmhearted to all of us.

Jaana, do you remember our camping in Gaspe Peninsula after the Montreal ICM in 1981, which was organized and led by Andrew? There were a series of accidents then. My backbone pain, missing of the passports of participants in Quebec and the locking and breaking of the trunk room of a rental car at the US border. At all these occasions, Andrew cooly decided what to do and the international group who participated in the camping tour followed his decision. All these incidents are good memories in me.

I met Andrew for the first time at the ICM in Belgium in 1979. It was my first attendance in an international meeting and I was tense. Andrew warmly received me, guiding me about everything related to the ICM. Thanks to his advice, I could fulfill my mission. Since then I was looking forward to seeing Andrew at every ICM till 1982 and other international Committee meetings in London. His smile was a mysterious medicine to solve the tension of discussion.

Andrew shortly stayed in Japan in 1981, when we went together to Mt.Fuji and a Onsen (hot spring). He seemed to be enjoying a lot, curious to know everything he saw. Finally he bought a Japanese Kimono at the inn we stayed.

All these are good memories of Andrew in me together with his constant dedication to human rights through Amnesty International. I can never forget his style of life. Jaana, Saga, who I met when you were little, and Eliot, the birth of whom Andrew told me about, Andrew was such a wonderful man, respectable in everything. Please accept my sincere condolence on your beloved person’s death.

JOHANNA NIEMI, Turku, Finland: Otan osa suruunne, ja voin vain kuvitella, miten paljon kaipaatte häntä. Samalla olen iloinen siitä, että saitte pitää hänet niin pitkään luonanne ja olla yhdessä. Myös me ystävät saimme pitkään olla hänen ystäviään ja olla osallisia hänen elämänviisudestaan ja ystävällisyydestään. Andrew vaikutti niin monien ihmisten elämään. Hän auttoi niin monia ihan konkreettisestikin, puhumattakaan pitkästä työstä ihmisoikeuksien puolesta.  Mutta eniten ajattelen, että hän osasi kuunnella ja ottaa huomioon ihmisiä ja jakaa kokemuksiaan. Andrewssa amerikkalaisuuden parhaat puolet, ystävällisyys, aurinkoisuus ja avoimuus muita ihmisiä kohtaan yhdistyivät uskomattomaan tietomäärään maailman asioista ja kykyyn toimia niiden parantamiseksi. Jäämme kaipaamaan häntä niin monessa asiassa.

IRMA SWAHN, Helsinki: Kära Jaana, Saga, Eliot, Jake och lille Finn, mina tankar är med er idag när Andrew välsignas till den sista vilan och jag är ledsen att inte själv kunna närvara. För tiillsammans med er sörjer jag en av mina bästa vänner. Sorgen lindras bara av tacksamheten över att ha haft en så extraordinär vän som Andrew och att vi fick hålla honom kvar så länge. Han är den mest varmhjärtade, generösa, kloka och genuint goda människa jag har känt. Jag minns alla fina långa samtal om historia, politik, mänskliga rättigheter och aktuella frågor under de årtionden vi har känt varandra. Hans breda kunnande, hans vida intressen och hans humor. Hans generositet och hans syn på livet var beundransvärda. Andrew lever kvar i oss alla som hade ynnesten att vara hans vänner. Stor varm kram från Irma...

ELINA SANWICK, Ingolstadt, Germany: What an unbelievable website! So many beautiful letters! I have not been able to find the right words to write, but I have a clear picture in my mind how these two wonderful members of our family, mother (Mummu) and Andrew, are waiting for us in heaven full of joy and love. I was so very fond of Andrew! (as my brother Joel jr would say about us Finns "We loved him so very very much that we...almost told him..".)…adds Jaana: but he knew it.

ZOYA SAMOYLOVA, New York:

Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,

And say my glory was I had such friends.

W.B. Yeats

I had first met Andrew more than a half century ago in the City of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). It was still period of “Thaw”, when freedom of speech and mingling with foreign students and scholars were taken for granted. Soon the ephemeral thaw gave a way to frosty age which lasted till “Perestroika”. In 1990s I had a chance, for the first time, to use the right on freedom of movement and travel to the United States. During the quarter of century I am privileged to be involved in a few projects of Professor Blane, to listening him and be heard, to talk frankly and always find understanding. I was accepted by his wonderful family, many times got shelter in their marvelous house. Amazingly how all of Blanes-Rehnstrom fit each other and their estate in the magic area of Village.

I like to study, and I am deeply grateful to outstanding Mentor, his quality standards were always excellent whatever kind of work he took to perform. The publishing project “Collective Works by Father Georges Florovsky” is invaluable gift to future enthusiastic scholars, and I am proud to participate in its fulfilment as well as in the preparing and publishing the Russian version of his monograph “Georges Florovsky. Russian Intellectual, Orthodox, Churchman” and selected works by GVF “From the Past of Russian Thoughts”. Recently we were sorting out archival materials of Amnesty International, old and rare books, manuscripts, a lot was done completely, but not entirely. It would be unbelievable to listen from Andrew “I have done all I could. Basta”. Until the last days he worked, he thought over, he joked, he was interested in number of things. We started to talk about the forthcoming centennial of Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov. By the way, years ago Andrew put ADS name on the first line of his handwritten list of distinguished people of Russia. I look on my recent draft writings and see a habitual mark on the margin: “Ask Andrew”… and it seems to me I guess what he would answer… It’s time to learn how to live without such habits.

Should those who making decision be able to heed the persons of such a high level of intellect and virtue, together with humor, kindness, and understanding the human needs, we probably would live in a less imperfect world. We love you, Andrew. Thank you for being in our life. With much love to Jaana, Eliot, Saga, Jake and Finn

Zoya Samoylova, New York, and family scattered throughout two hemispheres

WARREN ILCHMAN, New York : I knew Andy in Cambridge and much respected him then. Although I, too, live in New York and always intended to re-establish the relationship, time passed and now Andy is gone. He was the person I always hoped I could be.

SHARON WOOLUMS, New York: Dear Jaana, Elliot, Saga and family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know Andrew longer than anybody in this city. Andrew was dear to me as a friend, role model and mentor in many ways. I am so glad I saw him recently.

Our world is a better place for his contributions, his insight, his love of country, humanity and God. To me there was none so fine, sweet, kind, brilliant, thoughtful, giving, loving as Andrew - the quintessential charming Southern gentleman! I am so blessed to have known him. I will forever cherish his sweet gentle spirit in my heart. I send you all my deepest condolence and love.

NICHOLAS ARENA: It was always a pleasure to see Andy -- often with close friend Ed Kline -- at Russia-
related events. I very much enjoyed our lively discussions about the former USSR and today's Russia. RIP Andy!

UNKNOWN: Visiting Andrew was always a joy. My husband respected him so much. I have some comfort in thinking of them together along with Fr Georges. Eternal Memory!

IRMGARD HUTTER, Vienna: ….Forty years had passed since I had had the honour and the pleasure of knowing Andrew at the IEC. We never met again. But to my infinite surprise and pleasure, in a beautiful exchange of e-mails on the occasion of his 90th anniversary, I realized that we both had kept a vivid place in each others memory. It makes me happy to think of him, his warmth and wisdom, his generosity and precise intelligence. Thank you, Andrew, for allowing me to meet you.

PATRICIA BRONSTEIN: Andrew was the second person I met from Amnesty, even before I was a member. Barbara Sproul, the first person I met, was my professor in 1973 and knew that Andrew needed an assistant. Working for him changed my life in so many ways. Among other things he taught me that I could use paper towels as a coffee filter. He shared his mother's biscuits with me and I found out about the 17 year old teenager who hung the Ukrainian flag out of his window and was sentenced to 6 years in prison. I thought, that could be me. He helped to make me aware of the world around me. Here's to you Andrew.

ANITA BENNETT, London: “Andrew was a wonderful host and helped so much to get the 1977 Prisoner of Conscience Year off the ground, with our first international PR and fundraising campaign. A fighter for humanity. Xx

DON BELL, WOODSTOCK,GA: At the age of 14 or 15, Andy lit a spark in me that totally changed the course of my life. Not only in me, but in so many others. In part, we are what we are because of your husband. 

It is good news that Andy had a long life, and was able to spend it with his family.

So many times, have thought of Andy. Peggy Prather had visited you in your home in the city and told me about you and your son? Believe at the time , Andy was mostly homebound.

I do hope you and your son are also well and thriving. Eva and I are retired in a small village north of Atlanta in the foothills of the Georgia mountains. So far, have survived the pandemic and enjoying life.

It is difficult for me to express my gratitude for your husband. Attaching photo of a group of us as teens. All had their life changed in some manner by Andy.