Reflections of a Journey: Simon “Bob” Boas’ Enduring Legacy Through Words

In a heartening tribute to the indomitable human spirit, the late writer and humanitarian Simon “Bob” Boas shares his reflections on life, death, and the human condition in the compelling title ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Dying’. Lauded for its candid honesty and wit, the book serves as an expansion of his widely-read columns, confronting his terminal throat cancer diagnosis with a courageous resolve.

Simon Boas, known affectionately as “Bob” during his student days at Oxford University, was celebrated for his vibrant personality. Described as “garrulous, generous, with a huge smile,” Boas left an indelible mark on those around him. Though he departed from his academic pursuits prematurely, his larger-than-life persona continued to resonate, as noted by peers who followed his journey through various global endeavors.

Boas’ career as an aid worker took him across numerous conflict zones and humanitarian settings, including Bosnia, Palestine, Nepal, and Sierra Leone. “I have dined with lords and billionaires, and broken bread with the poorest people on earth,” he reminisces in his writing, reflecting a life rich with varied experiences. Beyond this, he shared a profound love with his wife, Aurelie, which he described as a “tender and enduring beauty.”

His public reflections, initially published in the ‘Jersey Evening Post,’ resonated significantly, capturing the attention of readers worldwide. At 46, facing the stark reality of his situation, Boas approached his mortality with equanimity that many found inspiring. This perspective brought a unique energy to his writings and subsequently, his book, initially considered for the title ‘Muscadet and Morphine’—an homage to what sustained him during those challenging months.

The book commences with his three thought-provoking columns, penned in the fleeting time between his September 2023 cancer diagnosis and his passing in July 2024 at the age of 47. It then delves deeper into his philosophical musings, offering “fragments I have shored against my own ruin,” a homage to T.S. Eliot. The narrative intersperses poignant anecdotes with meditative insights on faith, camaraderie, and the finality of life.

A eulogy delivered by Bob’s university companion, James, culminates the moving textual journey, encapsulating the emotive blend of laughter and tears that characterizes the reader’s experience. As death remains an inevitability looming in every life, Boas’ reflections offer solace and companionship for those contemplating their own mortality.