UNAIR NEWS – “UNAIR is at great loss as one of its best scholar, pioneer of education passed away,” said Vice Rector I of Universitas Airlangga Djoko Santoso, dr., Sp.PD-KGH., PhD., FINASIM., representing the Rector at the funeral ceremony in honoring the late Prof. Dr. Drs. Laurentius Dyson Penjalong, MA., at the Faculty of Social and Political Science Faculty (FISIP), Saturday, July 1.

Prof. Djoko said so because Universitas Airlangga as one of the centers of science development that put forward moral and honesty, has lost one of its activists, supporters of moral values ​​and honesty is Prof. L. Dyson on Wednesday, June 28 2017.

Final ceremony and memorial service of Prof. Dyson is full of emotion. Hundreds of academicians crowded the front yard of “Orange” campus  of FISIP UNAIR , where Prof. Dyson for 37 years had served there. There are a lot of alumni of FISIP and representatives of several universities in Surabaya. Among the Professors, deans, and lecturers of UNAIR, there was Prof. Dr. Habil Josef Glinka, SVD, Polish-born man who pioneered FISIP Anthropology Department of UNAIR in 1984.

Held during Eid Holiday, those who attended used the moment to give forgiveness  or halal-bihalal. There was warmth and kinship, and emotion.

Prof. Djoko Santoso also said that as a pioneer of education who has devoted himself for 37 years at UNAIR, Prof. Dyson was a hardworking person. Therefore, he is sure whatever has been ordered and taught by Prof. Dyson to his students and juniors, will surely be fulfilled and implemented.

“We believe, there will be thousands who will continue the spirit of Prof. Dyson to uphold education, morals, and honesty, so that his contribution will support Indonesia’s progress in the protection of Allah SWT, “said Prof. Djoko Santoso, Professor of the Faculty of Medicine UNAIR.

In the end of his speech, Vice Rector I said that UNAIR has been really very grateful for Prof. Laurentius Dyson’s dedication and contribution in creating contributive scholars.

“Hopefully with his exceptional deeds and contributions, Prof. Dyson is always in eternal peace,” continued Djoko.

As a colleague, Dr. Pinky Saptandari, Head of the Department of Anthropology FISIP UNAIR, said that the Professor of FISIP UNAIR born in Samarinda on November 3, 1954, always gave motivation to his juniors to study, study and study.

“This spirit was last shown when we were both going to Makassar in preparation for the opening of the S-2 Unhas program, Prof. Dyson always inspires us all, ” said Pinky Saptandari, who is also an Expert Staff of the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection.

Prof. Dr. IB Wirawan, Drs., SU., as a friend of the deceased when he started his career at UNAIR in 1977-1978, explained Prof. Dyson’s struggles. He was very impressed when there were postgraduate students who will be exposed but they were defended by Prof. Dyson was defended to be given another chance to graduate. Because for the deceased, education is a “learning process“ so it could not be solved that way.

“During his active time, Prof. Dyson is a forgiving, dynamic, easy going, humorous, as well as fun, ” said Prof. IB. Wirawan.

Laurentius Yoan Dyson, the first daughter of the deceased, on behalf of her family expressed his gratitude to all those who have helped from the treatment to his father’s memorial and funeral at Keputih Sukolilo TPU, Surabaya.

She justified that her father is the type of person who liked to work hard, a fighter who cared for anyone; especially the closest people were always be motivated to continue school, school and school.

“It is done because Papa is very proud to be a teacher, and if you have a will or wish, try to achieve it. Because of this trait, if there is a mistake to friends in FISIP, we ask for your forgiveness, ” said Yoan, who was inspired to study again to master program after being graduated from FISIP UNAIR.

Prof. Dr. Drs. Laurentius Dyson Penjalong, MA., was born in Samarinda on November 3, 1954, and died in Surabaya on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. The deceased has left a wife, Betsy Remanitha, and two children Laurentius Yoan Dyson and Nikolas Dion Dyson.

The deceased completed his undergraduate and master degrees at University of Indonesia, while his doctoral degree was completed at Universitas Airlangga in the field of Psychological Anthropology. The deceased had been FISIP UNAIR lecturer since 1980, then inaugurated as Professor in 2005 in the field of Psychological Anthropology with scientific oration entitled “Being Indonesian in the Spirit of Regional Autonomy in the Midstream of Globalization”. Goodbye Prof. Laurentius Dyson Penjalong. (*)

Author: Bambang Bes.