Hi Lucas

My name is Melanie and I had the pleasure of having your amazing Dad as a boss for a few years in London. I also live in Australia, and I think of your Dad often. Why? You don't forget a man like your dad easily, I am sure you know that.

He was funny, kind, smart, and would go to the ends of the earth to help you. He even helped me behind the scenes with some questions even when he was very sick. 

Here's a funny picture of your dad in his bike shorts. It's hard not to laugh at your boss prancing about the office in some funny sports gear, and we made sure to poke fun at his fitness efforts. 

I hope you are enjoying life in Australia and you are having a fun time being 10. My kids are 6 and 8!

Love from Melanie Birk . (That's not me in the pic, but I saved it because it is hilarious).

3 May 2020

Dear Kate,
I saw your message today on Ivan's memorial site. I don't really need to see it to often think fondly about Ivan and you and Lucas. But realising it's been five years is a reminder of how time goes by and also of the good days and the sad ones.

It's the mention of Lucas that prompts me to send you the attached document which I have not shared with anyone. It is the speech that I had written for Ivan's funeral, which I did not get to deliver. Matt had made a great, powerful and emotional speech, which spoke for all of us, ex Corbis colleagues and friends. So I kept mine in my pocket.But then, your words made me realize that Lucas being 10 might want to understand how powerful and esteemed his father was. And perhaps my speech can serve to that effect...

Kate, Dear family and friends of Ivan,

There’s a number of us here today in this room who crossed the Channel to honour Ivan.

I see Max and Thomas from Germany, Luca and Giovanni from Italy, Jeff from France, who absolutely wanted to join our British ex-colleagues to express our love for our old boss and friend at Corbis.

The words «Boss », « Colleagues » or «Business » don’t usually go hand-in-hand with the word « Love ». But how strange, how miraculous ! : the reason we are here today , and wouldn’t be anywhere else, is indeed because of our Love for Ivan, and not because he was a great boss. – Even though he was a fantastic boss, and trully a great leader.

I have often wondered what magic trick Ivan pulled to draw people around him and make us all root for him. He was ten years my Junior, started at Corbis as my peer and became my manager, and there was never any question in my mind that he would lead the way and I would run alongside him and enjoy it, like everybody else who had the pleasure of being part of his team.

And so I have been digging in my memories over the past heart-breaking week to understand this mystery.  How was it that Ivan brought up such tremendous following, joy, support and friendships from everyone who got to shake his solid hand and catch his mischievous smile.

Going through all kinds of enjoyable or difficult stories and moments shared with Ivan, one stood out, which led me to a theory that I am ready to accept as the real thing. Here it is :

One day, during an all company meeting, he was giving the kind of motivational speeches that he could deliver seemingly off the cuff, on the occasion of one of the numerous company strategic changes. I certainly don’t remember what this strategy shift was about – who cares now – but I clearly remember his body language and some of his words. Chin raised high above his very broad shoulders, his large chest stretching his shirt, feet apart on shiny pointy shoes, he said loud and clear : « I am CHUFFED about this new opportunity !».

Well, my English is pretty decent but I was so intrigued by the work « chuffed » and the emphasis that he put on it - as only he could - that I wrote it down and checked it out in my Oxford dictionary once back at home.

You locals know it, but my English dictionary read: Chuff is a puffing sound of or as if of a steam engine. In British slang : to be pleased or delighted (quote : « he was chuffed by his pay rise »)

The word was so new, funny, resounding and expressive, that it became in my mind forever associated with Ivan and his personality.

And so over the past week, I had an epiphany. You see, my two boys were born in England and spent their early years here, hence I know a little bit about British toys and elementary schools. 

And it dawned on me : Ivan was Thomas the Tank engine. 

If he was not Thomas the Tank himself, he was the Boy who had read his stories so intensely that he was forever contaminated by his indomitable, positive and playful spirit.

Ivan had kept forever the spirit of this little boy (turned very big), Chuffing along life. Life was his playground. He pulled everything and everyone along with a big smile on his face. All the cars, loads, merchandise and people he could meet, no questions asked. Ivan was a big grinning boy playing with words, characters, opportunities, circumstances, toys (watches, cars, shoes, gadgets – I think he overused or killed several of those), with infectious mischievousness. Without any malice. Just pure and true enjoyment of people and life.

And so, we just had the good fortune to be on his tracks ; we had the enchanting pleasure to meet the little Boy turned Big, tag on and play along.

 This is why today we can only remember the Love. With Ivan there was actually no boss, no business, no calculation, no suspicion. Just generosity, enthusiasm, genuineness, friendship, and fun. I have never met anyone who was so gregarious, so true to his friends, and so supportive of them. And so we loved him and we are here today to cry, and smile and laugh about him.

This was the luck we all shared. To find ourselves someday on Ivan’s chuffing path. 

Keep Chuffin where you are now Ivan. You will do so forever in our minds, certainly in mine.