Given at his funeral on August 13th 1982 by his brother in law Nakdimon S Doniach OBE
“It is not easy for me to speak of Amnon Vivien Pilichowski. He was a paragon of loyalty to his friends, a worshipper of beauty in poetry both French and English, a devotee of architecture and the possessor of a charm which never deserted him.
I should like to remind you that architecture was always the breath of life for Vivien. It was far more than mere building. It was an actual record of true history. It was essentially the vigorous and creative expression of man’s social achievement, of every aspect of human life.
His enthusiasm was always infections. He enriched the lives of all who knew him both by his charm and his obstinate and unswerving loyalty to people and to causes. Of him it may well be said “when he gave his word he stuck to it through thick and thin.” Not only was he a man of great physical courage but also he never flinched from expressing his moral convictions whatever the cost.
He was the friend of my youth – a friendship so well described by King David in his lament for Jonathan and Saul.
Oh Israel thy glory is departed
How are the mighty fallen!
I am deeply distressed for thee my brother
Thy love for me and mine for thee
Was wonderfully all-surpassing
‘The elements, must vanish; be it so! … to “… all waters as the shore.” ”
The love which Vivien had for his family and friends which so enriched their lives is echoed in the sonnet I first heard from him many years ago:
“I see what was and is and will abide;
Still glides the Stream, and shall forever glide;
The Form remains, the Function never dies;
While we, the brave, the mighty, and the wise
We Men who in the morn of Youth defied
The elements, must vanish; be it so!
Enough, if something from our hands have power
To live, and act, and serve the future hour;
And if, as towards the silent tomb we go,
Through love, through hope, and faith’s transcendent dower,
We feel that we are greater than we know.”
In his last days Vivien and Sandra accepted the return of “faith’s transcendent power” and when we feel sorely overcome by the pain of his passing it may help us to think of this and to remember that for him “all winds are quiet as the sun, all waters as the shore.” ”