Page 34 - A Life Well-Lived Is a Beautiful Memory

going through a challenging phase, and his encouraging words and genuine concern were a great
source of comfort. He had a unique way of making everyone around him feel valued and heard.

Apart from academic collaborations, we also shared many experiences in activities that
weren’t academically oriented. Bhanupong never ate in the faculty lounge. Every day, he, I, and
the ‘Young Turks’ group, including Thanisr, Prakarn, and Sakon, would head out for lunch. We’d

rotate between our favorite spots near Tha Phra Chan, Bang Lamphu, and Tha Phra Athit. Our
regular haunts were the Poonsin restaurant and a steak place where a plate was just 25 baht, right
in front of Bhanupong’s house in Bang Lamphu. Bhanupong and I had many night adventures.
Many people might find it hard to picture him enjoying karaoke in the old days before screens,
using songbooks and flashlights to read the lyrics. Back in our youthful days, Bhanupong and

I once hit the discotheque together, dancing with our students until 2 AM. An amusing story
I always remember is that I was the first person to teach him how to drive. His first car was
a second-hand one from a dealership. He wasn’t very skilled at driving then and asked me to

teach him. Admittedly, it was my first time teaching someone to drive, and it was such a nerve-
wracking experience that I ended up closing my eyes! But he thought I had fallen asleep, so he
would jokingly tell people that I slept through his driving lessons.
Another story his wife wanted me to share involves the women in his life. With his good
looks and kind heart, it wouldn’t be surprising if some female students had a special affection

for him. When I asked Bhanupong about this, he didn’t deny it but compared it to patients falling
for their doctors. However, he was firm in his professional ethics and never let anyone sway him
because his heart belonged to Divina. Especially when her health started declining, he changed

his routine from evening to daytime gatherings with us, so he could return home early to care for
his wife.
There’s a story that not many people know, except those close to him, which I think truly
illustrates that if there were an award for ‘Outstanding Husband,’ it should undoubtedly go to
Bhanupong. When Divina suffered a stroke, Bhanupong worked every night in the bathroom to

avoid disturbing her while still being close to her. He started attending the Catholic church with
her to give her comfort. When she returned to work at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT),
Bhanupong would drive her to Rangsit every morning and then go back to work at Tha Phra

Chan. In the evening, he would faithfully pick her up, a routine he followed every day.
During the COVID period, out of deep concern for his beloved wife, he wouldn’t let her
visit public places. He took on the responsibility of doing the grocery shopping and would return
home to cook for her. When he learned of his own illness, his first thought wasn’t of himself.
Instead, he found it unfair for Divina, worrying about how she would manage life alone without

him. His selflessness and devotion to his wife were truly heartwarming.
I would like to conclude my writing by sharing a story about Bhanupong’s illness. Around
August 2022, he had symptoms of bloody stools and underwent a colonoscopy at Siriraj Hospital.

34 A Life Well-Lived Is a Beautiful Memory