A Life Well Lived

RIP Roy Nasr.

My last entry was about the importance of having, and articulating a life purpose statement.  I don’t know if Roy had articulated it or written it down, but he certainly lived a life on purpose.

Roy Nasr died tragically one week ago today, doing one of the things he loved – cycling. Rather than focus on the circumstances of his death, I’d like to focus on how Roy lived a purposeful life.

I was privileged to have met Roy on many occasions – watching him race in the same triathlons as my husband Mark, socializing with him and his beautiful family at cycling events, and gratefully receiving his generously given career advice and help.

Roy Nasr was the COO of Abela & Co Catering.  He was one of the most active triathletes in the region - he was past Arab Triathlon champion and finished third at the 2011 World Triathlon Championships in Beijing; he won the 2012 race of Batroun Triathlon; and he was co-founder of TriDubai.

There has been an international outpouring of love, admiration, and grief over his death.  The Gulf News has published articles every day about Roy, and here are some of the quotes from family, friends, colleagues, and associates:

“Wherever and whenever he participated in triathlons or ironman competitions, he represented and raised the name of Lebanon…May he rest in peace, Roy was an unbelievably rare and indescribable character of his kind… he was such a humble, gentle, sporty and joyful person. He was a very close friend, cousin and an inspiring athlete to myself and others,” Najib, a top Lebanese triathlete himself.

His close friend Ian Le Pelley, with whom he co-founded TriDubai, was lost for words as he confirmed the sad news to Gulf News. “Sad, very sad. I am lost for words,” Le Pelley said.

How Roy’s children could speak so eloquently at his funeral is both admirable and heartbreaking. His daughter Tala said, “I’m so grateful to everyone for all the support you’ve given us. It warms my heart to know how many people my dad has touched.”  His son,  Elie said that his dad’s shoes may be too large to fill but he said he will get inspiration from him.  “It was knowing where he stood and having the ability to guide everybody else.”

  

Not only was Roy loved and admired in life, he has left a legacy.  

The organisers of the Batroun Triathlon 2013 have changed its name to ‘Roy Nasr’ Batroun Triathlon.

And his wife’s eulogy at the funeral articulated Roy’s most important legacy, “He left me with his two greatest achievements — our beautiful daughter, Tala, who was his pride and joy, and our son, Elie, who’s working very hard to shoulder the immense responsibility [left behind] by his father,” Tina.  “God bless all of you. And God bless my love, my hero, my world.”

Let’s all learn from Roy the importance of living a life on purpose.  

RIP Roy Nasr.