Alan Alipoon, our colleague and friend, is finally at rest. His heart, which first signaled that it was having serious problems twenty-one years ago, was finally allowed to stop beating on Sabbath eve, March 14. at 4:27 pm. He and his family had decided that this would be best. Their decision concluded his three weeks of intensive care at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Alan served Loma Linda University Health for more than 50 years. Such institutions are cathedrals. It is easy to marvel at their steeples without remembering that they soar into the heavens only because they rest on strong foundations. This is what Alan was. Dedicated. Quiet. Strong. Reliable. Without people like Alan all institutions crumble.
Alan and his wife, Laura, also an LLUH Professor, were early and lasting leaders in the Roy Branson Legacy Sabbath School until the Covid-19 Pandemic. She was one of our teachers and one of the leaders in our Steering Committee. Alan was one of our videographers and our only video editor. Of the hundreds of videos of our sessions that are on YouTube it is easy to tell which ones he edited. They are the beautiful ones!
As many of you know, in times like this I always recall two stories about Jesus. Luke 13 portrays Him conducting a seminar on theodicy with His most advanced students. He presses them to say what they actually think about God and human suffering in light of natural evil (earthquakes that cause towers to fall) and moral evil (soldiers slaughtering worshippers). But John 11 portrays Him doing no such thing. Instead, He weeps with those who are weeping. There is a time and place for everything.
I invite you to let the Alipoons know that in some measure their sorrow is yours as well. You may mail your thoughts to:
Professor Laura Alipoon
School of Allied Health Professions
Loma Linda University,
Loma Linda, CA 92350
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." We grieve, but not "as others which have no hope."