Karl Richli died

At the age of 85, after a short period of disease, Karl Richli has died peacefully in his home in Bern. Karl had become a vegetarian after a food poisoning from meat about 63 years ago, when the famous Dr. Bircher Benner advised him to give up meat eating altogether. Karl and his wife to be Elisabeth hat met and fallen in love , when he was 17 and she 15. Elisabeth, having been a vegetarian from birth, was very glad, when he followed the advice of Dr. Bircher and became a vegetarian. Karl never went back on his decision and enjoyed good health throughout the years. The vegetarian idea became his ideal and being a man of idealism and compassion his greatest desire was that humans and animals be treated justly. When the vegetarian home for elderly people in Stapfenmatt needed a president, Karl took over and dedicated 10 not always happy years to this great work. It was during the last year that he could find a promising solution for the vegetarian home when the community took over the home. Now he was looking forward to enjoying some time free of trouble with his family. The EVU has lost one of its best supporters with Karl Richli. When it was known, that the EVU itself would be organising the 7th EVU Congress in Widnau, as no Swiss member society was willing to do so, he did not stop thinking of how he could help and give advice. He made it possible for the organisers to receive a considerable sum donated by the SAPV, which was a great help. Although health would not have allowed it, he wanted with all his heart to take part in the Widnau Congress together with his wife. Karl had seen many EVU and IVU events and he was proud that finally the Swiss congress had become reality. All those who have been in contact with Karl Richli will agree with me that vegetarianism has lost an ever-committed advocate and that all of us will miss a very noble and kind friend. All our deepest sympathy goes to Karl's wife Elisabeth and his family. (Elisabeth Richli Sustenweg 48 CH-3014 Bern) Sigrid De Leo, EVU Secretary