Anybody who talked to Peter Prüfert for a few minutes would have immediately guessed he was a well-travelled man. And they’d have been correct. Peter had been everywhere. The first time I met him he told me where I could find the best chocolate cake in Manila…my home city.
That was summer of 1984, when I came to Berlin to participate in an IIJ economics writing course. Back then, the city was divided and surrounded: east of the then-derelict Reichstag, the Wall blocked the way to an even more derelict, depressing place. On my first bus tour of East Berlin, the guide told us, in heavily accented English, “this city has one million unhappitants.” I believed her.
When I next visited Berlin it was 1999. The Wall had been dismantled, Checkpoint Charlie was a fading memory, Potsdamer Platz a colossal hive of frantic construction. The city no longer felt claustrophobic, it had totally changed.
Peter had not. He was still irrepressible, wryly humorous, simpatico.
Knowing how he hated tributes, I know he’d wince at those words and call them “nonsense.” But somebody has to say them. I speak for just about anyone who’s participated in an IIJ event when I say that to us, Peter Pruefert was the institute. Alumni might no longer recall the IIJ’s addresses; they might even (heaven forbid) have forgotten how to get to KaDeWe. None will forget “the director”, as he was called by some. He’s also been referred to as “Pruefert.” To everyone else, he was simply “Peter.”
Course participants who arrived in Berlin bewildered, shy or confused, their travel arrangements, accommodations, sleeping schedules, religious beliefs and diets occasionally screwed up or challenged, could count on Peter to set things right. They could feel the director was on their side – approachable, fatherly, helpful and broadminded. When the IIJ was still in Budapesterstrasse, he was ready with an imperturbable explanation the moment goggle-eyed participants discovered the neighbouring building was actually a sauna whose clients liked to sun bathe in the nude.
And Peter could be firm, crucial in dealing with a group as rambunctious as journalists. The one time he wasn’t along to handle the traditional excursion (a major back operation was just about the only thing that could stop him), the participants almost hijacked the bus to Austria.
On the issues editors and reporters wrestle with – skills, ethics, practices – Peter could be relied on to be on the right side. Talking about the fiscalizing role of the media, he once emphatically told me, “the press is the ENEMY of government.” As far as I know he never practiced journalism himself, but with his grasp of issues ranging from economics to the environment, and with his astounding ability to recall names, Peter would have made a good senior reporter or editor.
A generation and a half of journalists from around the world picked up skills and values from the IIJ’s courses..If the journalists couldn’t go to Berlin, Peter brought the courses to their countries, travelling indefatigably to places I’ve never heard of, much less been to. In the late 1990s, when a cash-strapped Berlin government foolishly shut down the IIJ, a horde of alumni from around the world rose in wrath and so deluged the city government with letters that the IIJ was shortly reopened.
Having worked both sides, first as a participant and then as a lecturer msyelf, I can reassure the alumni that Peter was every bit as warm, hilariously funny and informal with the “old boys”, as he called the lecturers. How a man could manage to be so distinguished and charmingly gregarious at the same time I can’t say. It was as inexplicable as his devotion to Macs (don’t worry Peter, I won’t tell anyone about how you liked playing that flight simulator).
I feel that when he retired four years ago he should have gotten some sort of roving position. He would have made an excellent ambassador for Germany. Come to think of it, he was that all those years he was with the IIJ. I regret we his friends never pressured him enough to write down any of the dozen books on journalism and travel he had inside him.
When Peter visited the Philippines in 2001, he managed for the first time in decades of traveling to lose his passport to a thief. So we all know what this means: somewhere out there, someone is trying to pass himself off as Peter Pruefert. Good luck to him. It’s an impossible act to follow.
Peter Prüfert passed away on September 25, 2010.
By Alan Robles, IIJ alumnus and lecturer
19 responses so far ↓
1 Dev Chatterjee // Oct 14, 2010 at 4:28 pm
The news of Peter’s demise came as a shock to me. I remember his smiling face as he welcomed 15 of us in Berlin in September 2005. His advice to all of us at the economic writing course was precise and so practical.
I took out my album after 5 years this week to check the pictures of the summer of 2005 in Berlin and realised that if I have to name one person who changed my life and numerous others across the world, then it would be Peter. He was simply a great human being.
Dev Chatterjee
The Economic Times,
Mumbai, India.
2 Peter Saunders // Oct 14, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I worked with Peter and the IIJ for more than 30 years: he was a wonderful friend, a fine boss and a great travelling companion on our visits to many, many countries. His contribution to newspaper journalism in developing countries was unsurpassed and his wisdom and advice to young journalists provided an inspiration to so many. But for me, above all, it was so much fun.
3 Lucy Kirauni // Oct 15, 2010 at 8:33 am
Peter’s face on this page is just as I remember him. The warm smile, piercing eyes and contagious sense of humour. There was always this aura about him that said ‘talk to me’. It was amazing how he related with participants from diverse cultural backgrounds with ease. The last conversation I had with him was early 2007 and it was about religion -the church of scientology had just opened a branch in Berlin.
4 Henry Lutaaay // Oct 16, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I am so saddened by the news of Peter’s Passing. But such is life, here today, gone tomorrow – always without notice to those who love you deeply. Peter was simply the most selfless caring and generous person I ever came across. I remember on my first course at IIJ – which was the year he left the institute Peter gave us pens and pencils he had been using – of course in addition to the great love he had towards developing journalism in Africa.
Four years later in 2009, my second encounter with Peter in Berlin ended up with me and a group of colleagues from Philippines including you Alan being at the receiving end of Peter’s generosity and kindness as he hosted us for dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant. My memory of Peter is one of the greatest Human being there ever was. I was Lucky to have met him. Perhaps I will be second time lucky to meet him again – in the after us. I am sorry for all those who knew Peter.
Henry Lutaaya
IIJ Alumnus 2006, 2009
5 Ishmael Kindama Dumbuya // Oct 16, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ENCOUNT WITH PETER BUT FROM THE RESPONSES I HAVE READ ABOUT HIM, HE WAS INDEED A NICE AND SOMEBODY THAT SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN MISSED ON EARTH.
BUT WHATEVER HAS BEEN, IT IS THE WILL AND CALL OF GOD ALMIGHTY. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE
ISHMAEL KINDAMA DUMBUYA
IIJ ALUMNUS 2009…
6 Frederick Noronha (G57) // Oct 21, 2010 at 12:45 am
Only just noticed this when it came out via our IIJ-Alumni-India network, and read the nice tribute below. Peter was a gentleman, and the first thing that struck me was his flawless (British) English accent! I’ll remember him for many things, above all for his quiet and cool, understated and always polite manner, and his German ability to plan everything with clockwork precision.
In 1990 (G57), when we were in Berlin, I remember that Frau Pruefert was also working at the IIJ, and they had a young daughter (who must have been eight or ten then). I send my condolences to them.
It’s too young for a nice man to go! As life expectancies grow in most parts of the world, perhaps retiring at 58 or 60 is simply too early! (As someone told me the other day, “I’ll keep well as long as I’m busy.”) Also, as they say, journalists and donkeys never retire. Peter was more than a journalist, and I’m sure he must be doing what he did best, mentoring quietly and by example! FN (G57, freelance in Goa, India and Managing Trustee of Goa,1556 books)
PS: Forgot to add… I’ll always remember Peter for going beyond the rule and allowing me to borrow upto ten books at a time(!) from IIJ’s lovely 6000-book strong library (then, in 1990 at BudapesterstraBe) . Of course, he understood I was just trying to soak in as much… and that shaped me for a lifetime.
7 N P Rajendran, Kerala // Oct 22, 2010 at 11:01 am
It was way back in 1990. The great wall had only just fallen and it was chaos every where in Berlin. I was there for the first workshop on Environmental journalism. Landing in Berlin airport alone, nervous and ‘mark’less I had to beg kindness of a shopkeeper to make a free call to Peter Pruefert.” You wait there for some time” was the command over phone. I started waiting. Within an hour this man came stretching his hand to hold mine with a loud ‘Hello Mr Rajendran’ as if he had known me for decades.
He was with us for the next 45 days- friend, guide and philosopher. Always helpful, giving pieces of advice whenever asked for and caring for all. It was during that time that unified Germany had its first general election. Their percentage and proportional system was a bit confusing and difficult to understand. When I asked Pruefert for help he conducted a special class to explain it all and I could report the election for my paper Mathrubhumi.
Returning to Kerala I remained in touch and twice International Institute for Journalism cooperated to hold workshops for journalists in Kerala at my request, one was in Kochi. Pruefert himself came to Kochi. I remember we strolling the Kochi beaches along with the guest lecturer from Financial times, I forgot his name. Then next time time he sent Mr Peter Saunders to Calicut for another workshop. And when the world climate summit was held in Delhi we had another get together but that was the last we saw.
Once in Kochi I asked him how many countries he had gone altogether, he said he had lost count. An hour with him over cups of beer was like reading several books, so informative and amusing also. I had always asked him why he was not writing any thing- he just smiled and shrugged. I once heard him describing a night he spent in the boat house in Alappuzha. That was a thrilling description- the still lake, full moon in the sky, nice food and beer on the table, birds chirpping in the trees. It was poetic. I but had never been to Alappuzha at that time though it was just 200 kilometers form my home !.
I had written a travelogue in malayalam- In the Germany without the wall- in it Peter came in every now and then….
He had contributed a lot in my career. And when we all met as IIJ alumni in Delhi just recently, I had referred to his big influence in all of our life and career…
This is really sad……
8 madhusudan srinivas // Oct 25, 2010 at 7:38 am
dear peter and the iij family,
the tributes i have read.. esp Alan Robles (phillipines) , freddie noronha and np rajendran (my coursemate at iij) have said everything i would have wanted to say.
this is a life that hasn’t just passed on, peter lives still, in all of us… through iij and through those shared classes and trips and parties..
madhusudan srinivas, 1991 oct-dec. environment journalism.
9 Shah Mahmood Haroon // Oct 26, 2010 at 7:36 am
I knew peter prufert not for a long time just in business and economic reporting 2003 and ?Training of the trainer 2005 shall always remember him. He was the kindest hearted ?friend that I ever knew. In fact, I shall always be thankful to God for the loving friend ?that he blessed me with. I shall never again see a happier person than Peter. I feel that ?your loss is a loss to all the people who knew him.
?
He was not just a great friend but was also a person who taught me to be happy and ?joyful. He always stood by me in all the difficult times and made sure that I never gave ?up.
?
May God bless his soul and complete all his wishes.
?
Shah Mahmood Haroon
Capacity building Trainer /coach ?
Afghanistan
10 Segun Adeoye // Nov 12, 2010 at 12:38 pm
This is a very sad news for me. I only met Peter once during my training at the IIJ’s multimedia and online journalism this past summer. I had only one stint with Peter, and I must confess his image stuck. His voice was what first registered in my brain. What a great voice! I said to myself. He took us participants a photo with Alan, in class, just after Alan was through with his own aspect of the course and was about travelling. I remember his deep voice: “Say cheeseeeeeeee…” Life is no doubt a stage, all men and women merely players. Thanks Alan for this wonderfully written piece on Peter. May his gentle soul continue to rest in peace.
- Segun Adeoye, IIJ Alumnus.
11 Timothy // Dec 11, 2010 at 3:36 pm
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12 Ibrahim Guindo // Dec 16, 2010 at 2:22 pm
“Tout passe et repasse dans un espace libre de temps. Les ombres de la terre sont fugaces, la lumière CELESTE brille à jamais”, a dit Schiller. En apprenant le décès de Peter Pruefert, une immense tristesse m’envahit. Moi qui l’ai connu à l’IIJ de Berlin en 1998, tout comme 11 autres journalistes africains. Mes condoléances les plus attristées à sa Famille, à toute l’équipe de l’IIJ. Dors en paix “africain”. Ibrahim Guindo, chargé de Mission à la Communication MDSSPA, Mali
13 Andriamahaitsimiavona // Dec 22, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Let me pay tribute to Peter Pruefert. I’m Val Andriamahaitsimiavona, French journalist from Madagascar who had completed the course in 1998 in Berlin (IIJ), I can not remember if it was 65th or 63rd promotion. In all, I was with Henry Fotso, Ibrahim Guindo, Marie Laure Digbeu, Rosette Badila, etc.. Then in 1999 or in 2000, we were together in The Hague for a summit on climate change.
He was truly a man who liked journalists from developing countries. These tips came out with all his heart. He hoped that as we, the old stagiaires of IJI become professional journalists, far from the corruption and negative pressures. He was in Madagascar in 2002, when my country was facing a political crisis. He was there to advise young journalists face Malagasy out their job in times of political crisis. In short, Peter, we will miss you, very much.
Val Andriamahaitsimiavona
Madagascar
valsolom@gmail.com
14 Van Anh Nguyen // Feb 11, 2011 at 4:42 pm
It’s a big shock for me when I heard such a sad news. It was the first time I had a chance to travel abroad to Germany in March 2005 for a Sub-Editing and Layout course. A little bit nervous and embarrassed. But Peter was there, he was much like our daddy. He especially took care of the Vietnamese participants. He said that he adopted his daughter from Asia (South Korea, I think), that is why he paid great care to us.
I still remember when we went on study tour. He was afraid that we could not eat Western food, so he got one day to take all of us to a Vietnamese restaurant, where he let us choose whatever Vietnamese food we like.
I was so lucky that my birthday coincided the time we were in Berlin. And again, it was Peter Prufert, who was the first one to say Happy Birthday to me and gave me a big birthday cake. I still have that emotinal video clip up to now.
May God bless your soul, Peter. You are in our heart forever!
Nguyen Thi Van Anh
Labour Newspaper, Hanoi, Vietnam
IIJ alumnus 2005, 2008
15 Reward Mushayabasa // Sep 5, 2011 at 11:08 am
It’s so true. We all knew him as Peter. His love and passion for journalism was infectious. I came to know him when I attended a Train the Trainer workshop in April 1999. I have never attended such a well resourced and organised workshop like this before. Peter was well organised and had excellent networking skills. I owe my successful career progression as a trainer to Peter. It was little wonder that a few years after this course, I got promoted as the head of division, mass communication, harare polytechnic, zimbabwe. I will always cherish my time at the IIJ course in Tiegel, Berlin. Peter you will always live in our hearts. MHDSRIEP..
16 Kwabena Adjei // Sep 26, 2011 at 2:05 am
Coincidentally, it is exactly one year that I am finding out about Mr. Prufert’s passing. He was a fine gentleman who was very passionate about sharing knowledge and a fun guy as well. I remember him surprising our class by dressing up as Santa Claus in Berlin in 1997… May he Rest in Peace
17 Sudha Shrestha from Nepal // Nov 2, 2011 at 6:42 am
When I heard the sudden demise of Peter Prufert through my German friend, I got shocked and could not believe it for many days. He is such a unforgettable personality both as a professional and as a person. I still remember how he made us ( participants from different countries including myself) feel at home in foreign environment whereever we are with him. He is always there, ready to help with resolving our problems. I found many qualities in him- a guide, a father, a friend, a person with strong commitment and a fun-loving guy.
Indeed, his demise is irreparable to those who feel attached to him.
I pray for eternal peace to his soul and pay my heart-felt tributes to his grief-stricken family.
bye peter, May you rest in peace.
18 Limbani Maxwell Teputepu // Dec 23, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Peter Prüfert for me was a Father, Mentor and advisor. Up to know I dont believe that he passed away. I loved his jokes..He taught me how to be a very good teacher journalist. Missing you much.
19 Sumya Choi // Feb 3, 2012 at 10:12 am
He will always be remembered. His lovely smile, and when he enters classroom in the morning, he says “Hello friends, romans and countrymen”. May he rest in peace.
Sumya
Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia
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