Dear Duran family. Ruben was my major adviser from 1976 to 1979 at WSU where I received my PhD in Plant Pathology. I will always be very grateful to Ruben for helping me obtain an excellent education and by teaching me excellence in science. But beyond that he and Rita were friends and they welcomed my new bride Jeannette from Costa Rica to Pullman. We were treated well by the Durans and it made our stay in Pullman a memorable and successful stay. We have enormous respect for Ruben and Rita and shall always remember them. They were really good people. Our deepest sympathy to the Duran family. With utmost respect, Berlin and Jeannette Nelson Jr. Fargo, ND