IN MEMORY OF A FALLEN FRIEND
It is now two weeks from the time when my friend Gene Mallove was murdered. I still can't fully believe he is gone. He was too vibrant and full of life to be taken from us so soon, at the height of his power and so close to achieving some significant victories in the campaign to bring new energy to the world. When I do realize he's gone, the pain of his loss is terribly real. I think of him often.
I first met Gene over the phone. I was researching the field of new energy with Dr. Brian O'Leary to prepare an overview article on new energy R&D developments. I was referred to Gene as one of the most knowledgeable people on the subject who could certainly help guide my inquiry. Our conversation was the first of what would be a long series of updates from Gene, which I treasure.
These are just a few of the outstanding qualities I enjoyed during our association. First, Gene was a man who was a dedicated scientist in the purest sense of that calling. Although a fiercely committed advocate for new energy, he was always committed first to truth. On several occasions, he would announce in his Infinite Energy editorials breakthroughs he believed had been reached and then publish in subsequent issues statements that he had been wrong, that the data now available did not support his original conclusions. That's a sign of intellectual honesty, and his on-going willingness to correct himself when necessary earned him my deep respect and trust.
Second, Gene was a fighter. He moved relentlessly against the often seemingly insurmountable barriers put up by closed minded establishment scientists to workers in the field. We frequently discussed the inability of many scientists to look at the data that challenged their cherished paradigms. We laughed together at some of the more extreme examples of their unscientific prejudices, such as the remark of one Nobel-prize winning scientist who claimed in a public meeting, "There is no evidence for cold fusion, and there never will be" (italics mine).
Despite great odds Gene persisted in writing and networking tirelessly to share knowledge and gather needed funds to move the new energy field forward. His influence on me in this regard was immense, for I doubt that I would have persisted as an advocate to this day without his inspiring example.
I remember Gene as a loving man. He loved and cherished his family above all else. He also loved his friends and colleagues. And no one could have done and sacrificed as much as he did without a great love for humankind.
I remember in particular his kindness toward me and my family. Knowing my limited financial means, on a number of occasions, he made it possible for me to attend major new energy meetings by asking the sponsors to waive registration fees or by bringing me in on a press pass. He arranged for my wife Kaycheri to present her dramatic reading called "Leah" at his synagogue, and not only graciously introduced her but made a video tape of her presentation. And I still remember how he and his lovely wife Joanne generously hosted us in their home.
There is so much more I could say. I want to conclude, however, by saying how much I appreciate Gene's immense joy in exploring the universe and sharing that joy with others. He was always looking at the largest implications of the new energy findings for physics, chemistry and a range of other sciences. He also explored the implications of breakthroughs for human societies and how they could be improved. I learned so much from Gene about the history of science and how paradigms are formed and changed. It is a continuing adventure, as I will go back to his writings again and again to expand my understanding of science and nature.
Gene was a great man, one of my heroes. We not see this light again on this plane, as he is off to new adventures. His example will inspire me and I trust many others to redouble our efforts to move the new energy field forward for the sake of human liberation.
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