Cenarrusa Board Declaration on Pete's Death

The Board of Directors of the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture wish to express our sympathy and thanks to Freda and the Cenarrusa family for having shared our leader, Pete, with us for so many years. His foresight, wisdom, leadership through humility and sharp sense of humor guided us through every project and program: the creation of the Boise State University Basque Studies Program, the continued support to the only full-immersion Basque-language primary school outside of the Basque territories Boiseko Ikastola, annual barbecue fundraisers, grants and awards to organizations in Idaho and eastern Oregon promoting the Basque culture, genealogy research and workshops, promotion of Basque culinary arts, symposiums on Basque language, history and politics, and avid support for all endeavors to teach and maintain the Basque language, Euskara.

Our Board meetings always involved local Basque cuisine, and if Pete got his way, there was red bean soup, hot bread and wine served. His energy and knowledge of a wide array of issues impressed us, and it was often difficult to stay on track because we wanted to learn from his experience and perspective. Pete focused on the objectives of our projects and the number of people they would serve, and he usually responded to just about any proposal we received as, “Wonderful! I think we should do that.”

Pete, our Renaissance man, was an intellectual, writer, politician, scientist, naturalist, historian, pilot, and perfected many, many other roles as well. The most significant were as husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Through his example we learned to listen first, accept that there is always more to the story and we never have all the facts, and to act with humility and goodness wherever possible.

One of Pete’s favorite pieces of literature is often attributed to John Wesley, the Founder of the Methodist religion. It suits Pete so accurately that we want to remind ourselves and our readers that if we can ever be a bit more like Pete and this sermon, we will honor his memory profoundly.

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Eskerrik asko Pete, for your patience with us, for your guidance, and for your unconditional love.

GOIAN BEGO.

Roy Lewis Eiguren, President
Miren Azaola Eiguren
Miren Rementeria Artiach
Patty A. Miller
Jill Aldape
Gloria Totoricagüena
Mike Cenarrusa
Stan Zatika