Fletcher Features
In Memoriam: Benjamin Sklaver, A99, F03
On Friday, October 2nd, 2009, committed humanitarian activist and Fletcher alumnus, Capt. Benjamin Sklaver, A99, F03, lost his life while on patrol in Muscheh, Afghanistan. The New England native son will be sorely missed by friends, family, and the entire Fletcher community.
Image reprinted from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Courtesy of Jake A. Herrle
While serving his second tour of duty, 32-year old Sklaver, a captain in the U.S. Army’s 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, was on patrol when his unit was attacked near the Pakistan border. Official details of the circumstance surrounding Sklaver’s death have not yet been released by the Department of Defense.
Having grown up in Connecticut, the “Double Jumbo” (also a graduate of Tufts University Arts & Sciences), Sklaver came to Fletcher where he earned a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) degree. While at Fletcher, his interests drove him to focus on Security Studies and Humanitarian Studies, where he met Professor Richard Shultz, who described Sklaver as “the kind of student that makes you excited to enter the classroom.”
Sklaver enrolled in the ROTC, and on his first deployment served under the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa with the mission to mentor Ugandan military units. While in Uganda, as witness to the high rates of child mortality linked to dirty drinking water, he drew on the lessons learned at Fletcher to reach out to those affected by natural or man-made humanitarian emergencies.
While working at the Centers for Disease Control in 2007, Sklaver founded ClearWater Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to providing clean water to populations affected by natural or man-made humanitarian emergencies. The majority of their recent projects focused on the Uganda-Sudan border to create and protect water resources in partnership with local Ugandan engineers.
In Uganda, children often referred to Ben as “Moses Ben” for his work in bringing fresh, clean and sustainable water to thousands of people. ClearWater Initiative works to promote and fund both established and innovative clean water solutions.
Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, Neubauer Executive Director of the Hillel Foundation at Tufts University and close friend of the family, described Ben as “an extraordinary man. He had the gift of combining his vision and practical experience to make transformational changes in communities.”
Fletcher PhD graduate Andrea Dew, F03, F07, noted; “When he told me about his ClearWater NPO, I remember thinking, ‘of course you created an NPO to help someone else fix a problem.’ It seemed like it was so perfectly Ben—understated but absolutely dedicated and determined.” Whether at Fletcher, working with the CDC, during his time at FEMA and in the Armed Forces, or helping people through his ClearWater Intiative, Benjamin Sklaver was always, as Gerard Sheehan, Executive Associate Dean at Fletcher, said, “a truly noble fellow.”
Chamsai Menasveta, F00, F05, recalled, “to me, he personified in every sense the ‘leader with a global perspective’ that is the hallmark of Fletcher.”
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to ClearWater Initiative
The Fletcher Community extends its heartfelt condolences to Ben’s family and friends, including his fiancée Beth Segaloff, mother and father, Laura and Gary, brother, Samuel, and sister, Anna.
Friends and classmates at Fletcher will miss him dearly.
Please send your thoughts and remembrances of Ben to FletcherPR@tufts.edu and they will be added to this story.
Obaida El-Dandarawy, F03
Ben and I spent one junior year semester in Geneva (Spring '98), interning at NGOs or UN agencies — he was the only other Jumbo in the program and always carried an easy smile. Back then, we all set out to make something of ourselves and to do something for others. We all talked the line well, but Ben has also walked the line with conviction. Back then as now, he is a peer, a friend who inspires. He did it, he really did it.
Anthony Lin, A'99
Ben was the consummate friend, an individual who would drop everything to help one in need. This is exemplified by the energy and commitment he dedicated towards the formation and success of the ClearWater Initiative. If I am able to accomplish half of what Ben was able to do in his thirty-two short years of life, I will be a happy man. Although the news has yet to sink in, my heart and prayers are extended to his family, fiancée, and all those who knew Ben. His loss is a loss for the world at large.
Brett Freedman, F03
For most people doing something like starting ClearWater would not be an easy decision, but for Ben it was very simple. When he returned from Uganda there were no doubts in his mind. He always liked being a big part of bringing people together. He always made a genuine push to make sure people were doing better, helping people push themselves to their limits. Even doing so in Afghanistan, while he was being pushed to his limit. I don’t know many people like him.
David Abraham, F03
I knew him well and I have great memories of Ben. He was a model of the Fletcher student. Ben was very concerned about making a difference and having a positive impact. And he did! He blended humanitarian concerns with security concerns, much like the work he was doing with ClearWater and then the military. Ben was illustrative of the kind of students that we have here at Fletcher. As a teacher, students like Ben make you excited every time I enter the classroom. An absolutely great guy; kind and understated, despite his amazing abilities.
Professor Richard Shultz
To me, he personified in every sense the "leader with a global perspective" that is the hallmark of Fletcher.
Chamsai Menasveta, F00, F05
He was a truly noble fellow.
Gerard Sheehan, Executive Associate Dean
Ben was an extraordinary man. He had the gift of combining his vision and practical experience to make transformational changes in communities.
Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, Neubauer Executive Director of the Hillel Foundation at Tufts
Ben was an incredible human being; principled, dedicated, determined, a strong and loyal friend, and extremely funny. I remember it took us an entire afternoon to write a Fletcher follies skit that took 2 minutes to deliver because we were sitting out on the front porch of the yellow house laughing so much. When he told me about his ClearWater NPO I remember thinking; "of course you created an NPO to help someone else fix a problem." It seemed like it was so perfectly Ben--understated but absolutely dedicated and determined. My heart goes out to his family, his fiancée, and his huge network of friends. He was one of the truly good guys who had so much more good to do in this life. He will be very dearly missed.
Andrea Dew, F03, F07
Dearest Ben, You have my prayers and profound respect...you were, and remain, a good friend, a noble and steadfast person, with a kind soul and the purest of aspirations. Your sarcastic sense of humor made it a pleasure to simply just hang out, or discuss world affairs. I remember our days at Fletcher, and that brief trip of yours to Cairo, and our occasional email exchanges. You gave willingly from yourself to enrich others, doing so with a rare dignity and compassion. You will be missed in this world....but you will be welcomed with praises in the next...This world is but a transitory place, and in the end we are but the sum of our deeds and intentions...and so rest easy Ben, for while your age may have been young, your deeds and intentions are monumental. To your parents, family, fiancée and loved ones I offer my prayers and deepest sympathies. Till we meet again Ben.