Edouard Burnier
During the night of May 25 to 26, our friend, Professor Edouard Burnier, left us; he fell asleep peacefully at the Château de la Rive clinic in Lutry. He was in poor health and had to decide several years ago to leave his apartment to be treated in an appropriate institution. Those who had the privilege of meeting Edouard Burnier, former Chair of Apologetics at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Lausanne, were impressed by his lively and flexible mind, but especially by the quality of his presence to others his interest was immediately focused on the personality and concerns of his interlocutor; one felt taken seriously with one's best interests these qualities of encouraging and inspiring attention he retained to the end. Friends, colleagues, and pastors who had been his students would come to his bedside in succession. To such an extent that his wife, our friend Madeleine, had the right to wonder if this procession would not end up affecting his health even more. But these exchanges were her life. The last time I was able to visit him, a few weeks ago, he blanked out in the middle of a line. Somewhat sadly, he pointed out to me that such bouts of weakness would one day put an end to any possibility of conversation. God did not allow this to happen. We, his friends, take leave of him with emotion and gratitude.
French
