A Letter to Philip - Jens Stadum

As a lawyer in Skagen, Denmark, I have had the pleasure to work for and with JPS for many years. At his funeral in Skagen I had prepared a short letter, which I had written to him. But there where so many people, and at Ruth's Hotel we where in so many rooms, that it was impossible for me to read the letter for the many guests.

My letter to JPS is as follows:

Dear Philip,

So we meet again in Gl. Skagen (the older part of Skagen), although this time not at your office in Vagthuset (the watch house), where we’ve met on a number of occasions during your visits in Skagen, but this time we meet just a stone’s throw away. In fact, this is also our last meeting, which is not easy at all.

Everybody in Skagen knows about your enormous importance and influence on the develop-ment here in Skagen, and the commercial opportunities brought to this small town farthest out in Denmark solely because of you. You’ve developed business activities, as only you could do and by virtue of your financial resources.

This is, however, not the major thing for me right now. Most important are my gratitude and my affection for having been allowed to work for you and getting to know you so well. The way you used to consider your prospects for the future instead of acting on a short view has had a great influence on the way I now try to think and act, so you’ve indeed been a most inspiring and forward-minded mentor to me. Surely, I shall miss our informal meetings and phone calls, but if I’ve anything to say, I’ll do my best to ensure that the business activities are continued in the way you’ve taught us.

Everything will indeed be much more difficult when you’re not around anymore. When I joined the boards in some of you companies here in Skagen, I asked you what you expected of me and what overall guidelines you wished me to follow. You told me that so far I did not need to think very much for myself, as long as I did what you asked me to do. And I’ve kept on doing so for many years now, and I’ll continue to act as I think you would expect me to.

If there is one thing I feel particularly sad about, it is that you were always so damned busy. You had never arrived before you had to leave again, and you always had thousands of things on your mind and a tough daily program. Although we’ve had many pleasant moments to-gether, we should have met more frequently and enjoyed our time together even more. We never succeeded in having coffee in the finished house in Hulsig and never got around to the Copenhagen Jazz House or the opera event in Knud’s and Marin’s apartment. Our business visions may very well be directed towards the future, but our social contacts with each other should never be postponed.

Thank you for many years of friendship, says a humble lawyer from Skagen, where you placed such a great part of your heart.

You, and what you gave me, will always be clear as a bell within me, and I shall never forget but always remember with the greatest gratitude.

With love from Jens