Letters OBGYN.net received regarding Ricardo Marques:
My Dear Roberta
After the murder of Ricardo, there are plenty of things going on. The sorrow and despair have given place to the spirit and vitality of Ricardo's ideals, which is and hopefully always be alive. It is unbelievable that I still now get to know so many new things from Ricardo in the voice of his friends and family! I am telling you all this because I consider extraordinary the effort and the solidarity you, Roberta, and the OBGYN.net family developed to bring the tragic murder of Ricardo, as well as his ideals, to the mouth of the world. The Internet and ObGyn.net are not a cold-far-away world. We, the flesh and blood behind it, are connected for the good and the bad. I deeply thank everyone, for their words of encouragement, humanity and comfort.
I was unfortunately away from the Internet and from Ricardo when he was murdered, and it was awfully impossible to me to attend his funeral. The official entities were very helpful in bringing Ricardo's body so quickly to Portugal. As soon as I could arrange, on my way back to Finland, I flew to Portugal to be near Ricardo once more. I picked-up Fatima (Ricardo's girlfriend) from O'Porto, and felt extremely good to cry with her together. We drove to Guimaraes and the flowers of ObGyn.net on top of a enormous amount of other flowers tells that Ricardo is not forgotten. The silence in the hill of Guimaraes where Ricardo's graveyard is set was very serene and comforting. There it was, the body of Ricardo, shot three times in the back when he was giving his knowledge to the benefit of others. But the spirit, the very strength of Ricardo's life was already much higher than his body. At this time would feel so good to be sure that God exists and so eternal life, as I know Ricardo would have a place there.
I visited also Ricardo's mother Conceiçao and father Edmundo. They are extraordinary persons, coping with the agony of Ricardo's loss and with the terrific pain of dealing with all the legal procedures. They are immensely grateful for the words flowing from ObGyn.net! I have adapted from Portuguese the words they wanted to sent to all of those who had words of comfort and they follow this message.
Roberta, life continues for us, and the spirit of Ricardo and others like him should remain. Because we were probably sleeping, or doing routine things when Ricardo was murdered, we have the responsibility to change our lives and wake up to the real important things in life. Here and now.
Friends and family, as well as the committee of the MSF are gathering efforts to build a maternity in Ricardo's name in Mozambique. There are other local activities that are planed, and I hope I can keep you informed on them all.
I plan to build an "In memorium" to be placed in Ricardo's homepage, that I hope it will be kept (OBGYN.net will host this page permanently). Please be in touch, now I'll be in Finland. Ricardo will not write us but he will be here for inspiring us. Thank you, Roberta, and everyone very much for being with us, and God bless you all.
Candido Tomás
ObGyn.net representative of Finland
Oulu, Finland
A MESSAGE FROM RICARDO'S PARENTS
Dear Friends,
Drawn in the profound pain felt by the death of our dearest Ricardo, it is greatly comforting to feel the solidarity and the tears of sorrow from numerous known and unknown friends that have been with us during this, Ricardo's last journey. This was only one amongst so many others that Ricardo has consummated around the world, with the only purpose to fulfill his destiny: to live his life for the others. His life was devoted to loving and doing good things for mankind.
Ricardo knew that, "It is urgent to love".
We, Ricardo's parents, want to deeply thank all of you who join in our pain and manifested words of compassion, comfort and solidarity.
Translated by:
Candido Tomás
Eternal friend of Ricardo
ObGyn.net representative of Finland
Dr. Ricardo Marques, our OBGYN.net Representative in Portugal was killed in Somalia on Saturday June 21, 1997 while on a humanitarian mission in that country. His funeral was held Monday in Guimaraes in the church "Igreja de Campo da Feira" at 16:00 local time.
Details of his murder are incomplete at this time. The only information we have came in the following message to me:
Dear Roberta:
Sorry to be writing in such sad circumstances, but I think the following message didn't reach the list. If you feel it's appropriate, please forward it to the list. Ricardo was very enthusiastic about Obgyn.Net and a dear friend.
Thank you
Dear fellow listers:
I feel I must inform you of this most sad and tragic event.Ricardo Marques, 36 yr old OB-GYN from Porto, Portugal and the Portuguese representative of OBGYN.NET, was killed today in Baidoa, Somalia. He was there in an humanitarian mission for Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontiere). His mission was to create the OB-GYN department in the local Hospital, which he fully accomplished. Ricardo was due back next monday. News are scarce, but it seems he was shot while in the hospital, where he worked. The other MSF doctors have relocated to Nairobi, Kenya.
We did Med School together and he was always an idealistic. Had already done missions with AMI, and worked in Africa many times before. He has now served his last one.
Ana C. Cunha, M.D
Maternidade Julio Dinis
Porto - Portugal
Here is some more recent information from Ana Cunha:
Details are still scarce, it seems he was shot three times in the chest by an unidentified member of the armed militia, after being summoned to the outside of the hospital. The other MSF doctors fled to Kenya.
I'll print and forward the messages posted to the list to his mother. I suppose comfort is never enough to a mother. The Tribute Page is wonderful! My husband Joaquim says Ricardo would love it! He really enjoyed his friends.
Ricardo was also a poet (he once wrote the lyrics for one of my husband's songs) and had a musical folk group which although not very active, had a CD published. He was indeed very active, always with some project in hands.
There is some further information from Somalia: it seems the man who murdered Ricardo was captured by one of the warring factions. This organization(??) claims it abhors the tragic happening and assures the MSF that they are safe in Somalia.
Ana
Dear Ms Speyer,
Thank you for your message. We are all deeply saddened by the tragic death of our colleague Ricardo in Somalia. The information available at this stage is not much different then what you already have. As you know, the rest of the team has left Baidoa in the hours following the death of Ricardo, thus making any investigations difficult and complicated. Ricardo was assassinated by one or two gunmen as he was leaving one of the buildings after his rounds. The local authorities have issued a statement firmly condemning the assassination and have indicated that a suspect may have been arrested. Medecins Sans Frontieres will do all that is in its power to shed some light on the circumstances and reasons behind this tragedy.
Again, thank you for your message which I have taken the liberty to forward, through our Paris office to his family. I am sure they will be touched by the tribute you have dedicated to Ricardo.
Warmest Regards,
Anne-Louise,
Human Resources Officer
Doctors Without Borders
Medecins Sans Frontiere
Anne-Louise_JACQUEMIN@newyork.msf.org
I would like to share an email I received from Ricardo in October of 1996 as it demonstrates his enthusiasm and love for the profession, and his genuine modesty.
EMAIL FROM RICARDO MARQUES TO ROBERTA SPEYER
Dear Roberta:
Thank you for your email. Please forgive me these few days I took to answer it. Candido Tomas (your representative in Finland and an old friend of mine) was the one who told me about OBGYN.net. I'm very excited about this, because I think Internet has an enormous potential for us and I have no doubts that it will be in the near future the most useful tool for medical knowledge. I belong already to GYNDOCS, from which I got some useful ideas. Internet is still very little used by Portuguese Gyn/Obs, and generally speaking, Portuguese doctors aren't truly aware of the significance of this global revolution and they are still reluctant to just learn the very little they need to join it. But, bit by bit, this will have to change...I specialized last February and I'm now working in Obstetrics, in the field of infectious diseases. My present appointment is in S. António Hospital, a Central Hospital in Oporto, the second town of Portugal, where the famous Oporto wine is produced.
I visited the Brazilian homepage that I found impressive and very useful. Although we share a common language and a bit of history, I'm afraid our links are not very strong in what concerns science and medicine. Anyway, a few things can be interesting for Portuguese gyn/obs. We have a few different associations dealing with Obstetrics and Gynecology: the Colégio da Especialidade de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, directly dependent on the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos); the Sociedade Portuguesa de Ginecologia, that mostly represents people from the field of Oncology and finally, the Sociedade Portuguesa de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, that gathers most of the Obstetricians and a few Gynecologists (lots of specialists, in Portugal, only have formation in one field: they are just gynecologists or just obstetricians.
Thank you for the very nice services you are providing. I'll profit this opportunity to arrange my own homepage.
My CV will follow as an attachment to this email. I hope this time you'll be able to get it. As I've told you, please count on my contribution, even tough my English is poor and my knowledge in informatics is limited (by the way, I'm one of the very few mac'user doctors in Portugal).
Greetings from Portugal.
Ricardo Marques
Obstetra/Ginecologista
Hospital Geral de Santo António
PORTO-PORTUGAL
One of the things that always made me smile about Ricardo was how conscientious he was. As he traveled often on missions to Africa and elsewhere he was often away from Portugal. He would always take the time in his busy travel preparations to write to me personally with the dates of his departure and return. He would urge me to contact Dr. Ana Cunha if OBGYN.net required anything in his absence. It made me smile because I always thought when I would get one of his messages, "He must be the kind of son who always calls home when he will be late." :-) I will miss those messages dearly in the future.
Roberta Speyer, President and CEO
Elecomm Corporation,
Founders of OBGYN.net
Roberta.Speyer@obgyn.net
The following messages of condolence have been sent to us by OBGYN.netters.
Dear Fellow,
Just today, while browsing the net I came to a page pf tribute to Ricardo Marques.
I was not a a friend of him, not even a close acquaintance these last almost 18 years. We have met and talked many times in our common St. John's Medical School of Oporto, as we were making our medical studies, Ricardo being two years behind me. I was Vice President of our Medical Students Association and Ricardo was a dedicated and generous collaborator of the Cultural Department, worried with the education and openness of our minds, social problems and our duty to those who suffered in body and soul... .
We lost contact and took our own way... I became a Family Physician, he a Ob/Gyn...
Ten years later I got a phone call: a doctor of Hospital St. António in Porto was just calling because he had found a wallet in a public phone cabin, with documents and a key. It was just the wallet my daughter had lost a few hours before, with our house key in it. It was good to hear from Ricardo after so many years...
Thank you for your tribute to Ricardo.
That he and his life remain an example to all of us.
Jorge Silva
To the family and friends of Ricardo Marques:
The character of Ricardo remains as a shining light to those with passion for life. He possessed a will to assume risks to fulfill his vision of making a difference in life. He lived beyond the confines of his own ego, which imprisons the ordinary. This freedom carried a sense of duty that demonstrated the highest level of achievement that can be sought in human endeavor. His dedicated spirit showers upon those who have been touched by his goodness and leadership.Ricardo's involvement in the effort of the OBGYN.net community to bring the energy of caring people from around the world together in one crucible is reflective of his belief that each person has value and can make a difference. In the case of Ricardo, that difference was enormous. We grieve with you. We rejoice that he was among us.
Zach Newton
Z. B. Newton, III, M.D.
Atlanta/Gyn
Advisory Board, OBGYN.net
It is so sad, what had happened in Somalia! It is very hard to believe to be true. We met Ricardo and his girlfriend Fatima last time in the end of April in a congress in Coimbra, where we spent few days together. I lost a good friend and my husband lost one of his best friends. Candido got a letter from Ricardo just the same day he was murdered. I just want You to know that Ricardo's body was today moved to Oporto and his funeral is already tomorrow(23.6.1997) in Guimaraes in the church "Igreja de Campo da Feira"at the local time 16.00. Candido is in a congress in Edinburg in Scotland at the moment.
Greetings from Eija Tomás (Candidos wife)
Candido Tomás, MD, PhD
Dep of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Oulu, IVF Unit
90220 Oulu
FINLAND
What a tragedy !!!!!
Pat Sonnenstuhl, CNM,ARNP,RH/CH
South Sound Women's Center: 2 CNMs and 3 OB/GYNs
Olympia, WA
June 22, 1997
8:47 am
Please send my deepest sympathy to the family of Ricardo.
Thank you.
Robert Modugno MD
Roswell Ga
To Ricardo's family:
Our hearts go to you on this sad occasion. We as physicians must care for those who need help. This is what Ricardo was doing. He was helping to create a better life fro those less fortunate than us. Hopefully his work will not be in vain and that we can start a Fund in His Name to help continue the work. God Bless and Condolences.
Myer
Myer S. Bornstein, M.D.,F.A.C.O.G.
Chairman Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Morton Hospital and Medical Center
Taunton, MA 02780
To the family of Dr. Ricardo Marques,
I am so sorry for your loss. This is not only a tragedy for your family but for all humanity ....... the family that Ricardo served.Visionaries and humanitarians are difficult to find in this world and this world has lost one of its finest. Although I did not know him personally, I know he must have been remarkable.
His loss diminshes us all.
In your time of grief and sorrow, know that he will be missed by all who feel that idealism and humanity are qualities to be strived for.
May you know no further sorrow.
Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. FACOG, FACS
OBGYN.net U.S. Representative, New York
Great Neck, New York
Such a tragedy !
Killing somebody in humanitarian mission ! It's so sad. Could it be envisaged to create some kind of distinction( we don't have Legion d'Honneur, but...) to dedicate to him ?
Assure his family and his friends he will be in my prayers.
Joel Kompanietz, MD OBGYN.net Representative, France
This is really a very sad news. I think that being a doctor you always try to help, but the wonderful commitment to help all those people that are abandoned by all the world (Governments, WHO, etc.) makes somebody more than that, makes him special, makes him a "DOCTOR!!" Give my regards to his family
Alicia
Dra. Alicia M. Lapidus
Buenos Aires
Argentina
The tragic loss of Ricardo seems even more so when I realize he truly gave of himself in the pursuit of his profession. I can never imagine a reason for killing, let alone a healer and humanitarian. We all have suffered a loss.
Don Shuwarger, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
A Rural America Ob/Gyn Physician
E-mail:
What an awful tragedy.
Please pass my sincerest condolences on to Dr. Marques' family and friends. He died helping others, and I hope his loved ones may find some comfort in that. It sounds as if Ricardo Marques was a truly remarkable human being.
Kelly
Kelly Shanahan, MD
S. Lake Tahoe, CA
This is really very very sad news... The more sad, because he did an idealistic job, really trying to help people that live in poor circumstances. I looked up his photograph: he looked a very nice, sensitive man to me. I understand he had not yet a family, but I feel very sorry for his girlfriend Fatima and his other friends and colleagues. Can't you make a graphic obituary for him?
Hans
Hans van der Slikke, OB/GYN
Editor in Chief NVOG-net
http://www.nvog.nl
Terribly sorry to hear of this untimely death of a noble colleague. While we all feel the tragdely of this senseless killing the real sufferers are the untold lives that will not have the advantage of his wisdom, dilligence and human kindness.
Irv Reiner, M. D.
Houston, Texas
Roberta Speyer,
It is most upsetting to hear of Ricardo Marques death. One can not die a nobler death than in the aid of your fellow man. He will be sorely missed in this organization. Please convey my deepest sympathies to his family.Sincerely,
Frank Thibault, M.D.
Desde Panama, nos unimos al dolor que embarga a los familiares de Ricardo y a la familia obgyn.net.
Marta Mendez (MD)
Teodoro Mendez(MD)
Agustin Olmos (MD)
Dear Roberta
Please add my name to the list of those offering sympathy to the girlfriend and family of our murdered colleague. It is a terrible tragedy.Brian
Mr.Brian Hackman,
Butts House,
Church Road,
Glatton,
Cambridgeshire, PE17 5RR.
U.K.
Tel.(+)1487830645
Fax.(+)1487832949
Ricardo Marques, medico, 36 anos, ginecologista e obstetra, resolveu ir a um pais distante, Somalia, para construir um Centro de Ginecologia e Obstetricia junto com os medicos sem fronteiras.
Ricardo Marques, medico, foi morto. As maos que curavam foram silenciadas pelas maos que matam...
Dr. Sergio dos Passos Ramos
Sao Jose dos Campos - SP - Brasil
I didn't know Ricardo before, but being also portuguese, born almost at the same day, having finished medical school at the same year, having had some ideas of going to Africa (however without having the courage to do it) and being also ob.-gyn., I feel particularly shocked with this new. To his family I want to transmit my profound and sincere respect admiration, and revolt for what happened. I hope that his death would not be in vain and I'm sure that the work he was doing will be aknowledged by the ones that will be helped in the future because of him.
Jose Ferreira
Ob.-Gyn. Department, Garcia de Orta Hospital, Portugal
Temporarily, Genetics Fellow, Montefiore Medical Center (AECOM), New York
I feel horrible about this. What can one say but it seems like the good ones go young. Especially when you consider that action he was performing, an actual 'good deed', interupted by a baseless action like this, which will prevent the help he could give to those less fortunate. Guess hospitals are battle grounds in this new world.
How does one get involved with Doctors without Borders? A contribution to their cause may be appropriate, too.
All my sympathy to his loved ones.
Rick
Richard Chudacoff, MD
Houston, Texas
OBGYN.net Advisory Board Member
Como compañero de profesion de Ricardo, quiero expresar mi condolencia, mi sentimiento de desolacion y de impotencia ante tan injusto desenlace a su familia en Portugal.
No conoci a Ricardo personalmente, pero hemos compartido la ilusión de un proyecto, la OBGYN.net, he leido las palabras de su compañera Ana y basta eso y conocer las tragicas circunstancias de su muerte para comprender que se trataba de una gran persona, un medico altruista y desinteresado que ha llegado a dar la vida por aquello en lo que creia. Es verdaderamente lamentable que las mala fortuna golpee duramente a aquellos que menos lo merecen.
Quisiera animarles a seguir creyendo en aquello por lo que el dio la vida y agradecer a Ana su compañera de Hospital el habernos informado de tan triste suceso.
Francisco L. Romero; MD, SEGO member. OB-Gyn Department.
Hospital General de Catalunya.
Spanish International Representative in OBGYN.net
BARCELONA (Spain)
Dear Roberta,
It is a very sad event. I did not know him personally, but his name was always associated enthusiastic activity in the OBGYN net. At least he died doing a noble humanitarian work.
I send my deep sympathy from EgyptDR Farouk Fikry, OBGYN representative in Egypt
A terrible tragedy. It is sad that sometimes service to humanity extracts an ultimate price.
Michael S. Wolkomir, MD
St. Michael Hospital Family Practice Residency
Medical College of Wisconsin
2400 W. Villard Ave.
Milwaukee, Wi 53209
Meus pesares aos familiares de nosso amigo Ricardo. Que nosso PAI MAIOR possa confortá-los em momento tão difícil.
Fabio Roberto O Silva
Casa de Saúde Santa Marcelina
Depto. de Patologia Obstétrica
Caros colegas, Tenho sido um participante anonimo desta lista, apenas observando as diversas discussoes e conclusoes, até mesmo porque nada tenho em comum com o tema titulo,sou neurocirurgiao, minha esposa e G/O. Mas acho indispensavel expressar meus sentimentos de repudio a atitudes tao selvagens como esta que tirou a vida de um colega, que acima de qualquer coisa e um ser humano dotado de razao e juizo, o que nos afasta tanto dos animais. quero dixar aqui registrado que repudio esta e qualquer outro tipo de vilencia que atente contra a liberdade de viver d qualquer ser humano, somos livres de nascencia, livres para julgar, amar, viver, Que nos tenha a todos e a ele - Ricardo- em especial neste momento.
Minhas sinceras condolencias a Familia.
Marco AB Lima, M.D.
Neurosugeon.
Rio - Brasil.
Ricardo's death is so tragic. Not only because of the family and friends he has left behind to grieve, but to all those who would have been helped by him over the years through his humanitarian efforts. What a terrible loss. He and his family and friends are in my prayers.
Mary Shoup Member of the OBGYN.net Women's Health Forum
To the family and friends of Ricardo:
I can't believe what has happened, I feel so sad. It was joy to get to know Ricardo when he was visiting our clinic in Oulu. I remember Ricardo as strong, optimistic and sensitive person.
My warmest and deepest sympathies to Ricardo's family, girlfriend and friends.
Anneli Pouta, MD
Dep of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Oulu
90220 Oulu
FINLAND
We had the opportunity of working with Ricardo here in Mozambique at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology late 1996 . He induced us to join OB Gyn net and was very enthusiastic about it. During that short time he got the respect and friendship of all of us. It is very sad what hapens to him. He knew our reality very well and perhaps this have been a motivation to join an humanitarian service in Somalia. His death made us more poor.
Antonio Bugalho
Head Dept Ob/Gyn Maputo Central Hospital
Querido Colegas:
Fiquei muito triste ao saber da notícia da morte de um colega médico e principalmente por saber que foi em condições tão adversas. Envio minhas condolências a família e deixo minha solidariedade aos demais colegas da lista.Dra Ivone Przepiorka
Ginecologia & Obstetrícia
Manaus- Amazonas
What a tragedy!!! It is unbelievable that these terrorists, who certainly proclaim that they are fighting for the wellbeing in their country, can enter in an hospital and kill a man who is giving so much for the humanity.
But I admire this idealistic way of life. Ricardo Marques`s life will surely be a reference for the Ob/Gyn profession.
Dr Paul-Andre Latulippe
Victoriaville, Quebec
To Ricardo's family, Fatima and friends
This cruel, tragic and unfair news made all of us miserable and helpless. I met Ricardo a couple of times during his visits to Finland and spent some unforgettable moments listening to his songs and guitar. He had a big smile and a very positive attitude towards life. While many of us choose to spend our lives in our secure living rooms, Ricardo nobly prefered to help others living in hostile environments. I express my sincerest condolences on your beloved Ricardo's death.
Aydin Tekay, MD PhD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Oulu
FIN-90220 Oulu, Finland
Oi Ana,
Obrigado por transmitir nossas mensagens aos familiares do Ricardo. Capturei a foto dele da homepage e durante nosso congresso (Congresso do Brasil Central, acontece nesta semana), na mesa de parto prematuro (o Ricardo ajudou a preparar) que participarei, vou projetar a foto do ricardo.Atenciosamente,
Mario Approbato, Titular Depto G.O. FM/UFG-Goiania, Br.
A todos os familiares de Ricardo Marques tao tragicamente assassinado na Somalia, minhas mais sentidas condolencias, extensivo a todos aqueles que partilharam de sua amizade, e que tiveram a oportunidade de com ele contactar mesmo a distancia via internet.
Este meio de comunicacao fez com que eu tivesse a oportunidade de conhece-lo e dele ter um excelente conceito como médico e como pessoa
Jacy Bruns
Dr. Jacy Bruns
Hospital Santa Catarina
Professor da disciplina de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia da Fundação Universidade Regional de Blumenau
Blumenau - Santa Catarina - BRAZIL
¡Cuán trágica es la muerte del Dr. Marques!
Siento mucho por toda la humanidad por haber perdido a un gran hombre, quien en aras de servir a los necesitados haya sacrificado su propia vida.
Esta triste noticia nos enluta a toda la comunidad de obgyn.net, y eventualmente, a toda la comunidad médica del mundo entero, y nos recuerda nuevamente que, más allá de la enfermedad física que usualmente conocemos y sabemos manejar, existe esa temible epidemia social de terror, odio y violencia que aún está muy lejos de ser erradicada.
Me pregunto, ¿qué se debe hacer para que sucesos como éstos no se repitan? ¿Qué podemos hacer nosotros? Vaya, cuánta impotencia! No sé, pero de repente somos tan insignificantes...
Externo mis más sinceras condolencias a la familia del doctor en estos momentos tan difíciles y espero que su convicción en Dios y en el honor y orgullo que representó el Dr. Marques, puedan aminorar el enorme sufrimiento que les embarga por su partida.
Sing-Hung Chang
Residente de Ginecología
HSJD, Costa Rica
I'm not in anyway related to the honorable profession that the members of your list practice in their everyday life. I'm just an American living in Portugal, who came across a newsgroup post on the tragic event mentioned above. But I can't avoid expressing my feelings of repulsion for the continuous slaying of people with an enourmous sense of altruism who give their best to appease the misery of others.
To the family of Dr. Ricardo Marques I hereby send my deepest condolences and to the peers of Dr. Ricardo Marques, my slolidarity, so they can keep doing the great job they have been doing for mankind.
God Bless you all.
Tito de Morais
What shocking news and what a shame that such a young idealistic and self sacrificing human being should loose his life in the aid of others. Many of us think of giving up our own time to help others, but I can say personally that not all of us follow through (at least as much as we would like).
Ricardo should be admired and remembered as one of the few human beings that went out of his way to help others. This is a loss for the whole world.
I have read the letters posted since this tragedy and am very touched at how may lives Ricardo has touched and the way in which people remember him. He must have been a very nice man. I know he will be missed by many.
The good I get from Ricardo's untimely departure is that no matter who you are, where you are or how long you have to do it, helping and caring for people can have a great impact on many. I will think of Ricardo's sacrifice every time I start to put my own selfishness before that of caring for others. Hopefully this will make me a better person and Ricardo's death will not be in vain.
I would like to wish my sincere condolences to Ricardo's family, girlfriend and friends.
I am an American man about the same age as Ricardo. I did not know him personally, but I did have the pleasure to witness his enthusiasm and dedication to his profession through his voluntary efforts toward OBGYN.net.
I don't know what more to say. This is a very sad event. I just hope in some way good can come out of it.
Kevin Leathers
Sales & Marketing Dir.
OBGYN.net: A Service of Elecomm Internet Applications
Para los familiares del Doctor Ricardo Marquez, para sus colegas en general y para los de OBGYN.net, nuestro mas sentido pésame.
Yoisy Montes Gladys Olmos Xenia Toribio Cesar Zorita
Estudiantes de Medicina, Universidad de Panamá.
Agustin Olmos
Oi Ana Cristina
Estive ausente por esses dias, por pane no meu micro. Retornei hoje, vido por esse convvio salutar e deparei-me com esse trgico episdio que ceifou a vida do nosso colega, exemplo de humanista que em to pouco tempo soube com tanta sensibilidade semear a solidariedade usando como arma principal a arte de Esculpio amparado na mais dignificante virtude do ser humano que o dar de si desinteressadamente.
Que essa perda irreparvel reflita em mais um sacrifico pela paz e seja mais uma razo para que lutemos mais e mais pela harmonia entre os homens. Quem interropeu o trajeto do Ricardo, com certeza, no sabe o que fez. Assim como no sabiam os que julgaram Cristo. desprovido do menor sentimento de respeito a Deus. Pobre homem!
Por favor, transmita aos familiares do Ricardo, os nossos pezares mais sinceros e especialmente sua me, diga que ela deu ao mundo um filho "digno", "exemplar",atento s obrigaes a que se dignam os homens de bem e na sua curta passagem aqui na terra, soube como poucos unir medicina e sacerdoco dando um contributo louvvel humanidade.
Pessoas assim, vivem eternamente no corao de quem teve a felicidade da sua convivncia.
Fraternalmente
Antonio Coelho
toco-ginecologista
Garanhuns-PE
Brasil
Certamente nosso PAI MAIOR zela por aquele que nos deixou tão cedo e de maneira tão brutal. Aos familiares meus sinceros sentimentos e um abraço silencioso pela perda; e a certeza de que ele está em paz. À todos do grupo um forte e solidário abraço, e um momento de reflexão, orando por todos nós.
Dr. Octavio A. Assumpção
Av: 13 de Maio, 511 sala 804
14.870-000 - Jaboticabal - SP - Brazil
Office - +55-16-322-1055
FAX - +55-16-322-1397
Ricardo Marques, OBGYN.net Representative, Portugal