Prof Steve de Gruchy passed away. He went tubing with his family in the Mooi river. He fell off and disappeared moments later.
His body was found today.
This is sad, sad news. I knew him from the Theological Society of South Africa and as the editor of JTSA. Although a genius in his field, he always had time for conversation. His sense of humour was sharp and his presence inspiring.
We will miss you, Steve. Our love and prayers go to your family.
9 comments:
Dear Marion and family my heart goes out as you have lost a very special part of you - as God has called his son home.
"This world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven where we are reunited with our Father,family and friends"
God bless
Lynda (Dr Trish rooms)
I met Steve when he was the Pastor of our church in Gleemoor, Cape Town. He was inspirational. I am still heartbroken that the world has lost a genius.
Steve was my ex-best friends dad. He was always the most amazing person, and I still can't come to terms that he is dead! The funeral is today.
May god be with the David, Kate and Thea.
He was humble and shared his knowledge. As a distant theological student, I struggled with some aspects of Systematic Theology and Congregationalism. I sent him an email of questions. He didn't know me from a bar of soap yet willingly gave me all the answers. UCCSA and Theology fraternal has lost a giant ! May his soul rest in peace. Rev DJ Nxumalo
He was humble and shared his knowledge. As a distant theological student, I struggled with some aspects of theology, Congregationalism. I sent him an email of questions. He didn't know me from a bar of soap yet willingly gave me all the answers. UCCSA and Theology fraternal has lost a giant ! - Rev DJ Nxumalo
My heart goes all out to Steve's family and all who knew and loved him. I made time to attend his funeral thinking I will be able to have closure at the this unbelievable loss, but for some reason I still feel betrayed by Almighty, how can such a genius be removed from us. I am proud and happy also feel very much blessed to have worked with him, known him and most of all to refer to him as my mentor. I am who and what I am because he gave me chance, a rare opportunity while I was very fresh from the university, he realised potential in me and gave me a job at Moffat Mission in Kuruman. Today I am very much independent and I am regarded as the best in my field, it is all because of him. Every time when I am thinking about a leader. I still think about the seven principles of leadership he thought me and when I articulate on them I always hear word to word of what he described as a very good leader and all that I saw in him. It is not by fault that today in Kuruman the Gasegonyana municipality has both its mayor and council Speaker being the people who were mentored by Steve, who their first break in a working environment was at Moffat Mission under Steve. To Steve's family, I really thank God for your unselfishness because you shared him with us, with the world. I am sure there were times when it was difficult but still you never stopped in giving him a support to make a difference in our lives. He was a true community builder. May his soul rest in Peace.
God's love and grace will forever be with you.
Pelonomi Diemeng
I was a student under Prof. Steve supervision in 2008 as an international student of Theology and Development in UKZN.In all my life I haven't come across a man so inspiring. His humility is exceptional, God's love flows through him so naturally. but they reported that your soul has departed this world, this is a great warning to all the living including me. However, there is no doubt that you left a lasting legacy behind in Africa. We shall keep your dreams alive... Adieu to a great hero of faith. We will all miss you.
Steve Tai Oladosu
Priestvine Development Mission
It was a shock to hear of Steve's death. We were friends at UCT from 1981-1984 and worked on the Christian student newspaper "Comment", we lived together in a student house in 1983 and he lived with me for 3 months in my flat in 1985 in Pretoria. We had great times discussing everything, had wonderful evenings drinking at the Rose and Crown in Pretoria. I was always taken by how much he knew about a subject. He read so much and thought deeply. I'll miss him.
To Steve's family I ask that God may be with you now when you are hurting and walk with you despite your pain. I was a student of Steve in my second year (2005)in UKZN when he began to teach his thoughts on Theology and Development- how much God is touched by the conditions of his people. It is through him that today I continue to do a masters still carrying on the message that God sees the troubles of his people whatever they may be and has come down to do something about them. I thank him for his great inspiration.
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