In Loving Memory Of Marten Nyar
Dec 8, 1947 – May 29, 2019
All Photos By: DJ Pierce
This past week, the Himalayan Institute community suffered a great loss. Marten Nyar was a beloved friend, father, husband, community leader, and master carpenter. He dedicated his life to the upliftment of others, and we feel so lucky to have known such a beautiful soul.
Marten –
From all of those whose lives you’ve touched: thank you, we love you, and we miss you.
Marten Nyar
Dec 8, 1947 – May 29, 2019
Marten Nyar was born in Tulsa, OK to Herbert and Melba Curry. He grew up on the Oregon Coast. After serving in Vietnam, he found a spiritual framework in the writings of Carlos Castenadas, which inspired him to look for a creative and challenging purpose for his life. He met his first wife Noel, and together they worked on farms in the Wallowa Valley and in Halfway, OR. In Halfway, he learned how to shoe horses and became a well-respected ferrier in the community. In the early 90’s he moved to Santa Fe, NM and learned the trade of fine furniture building at Dell Woodworks. There he met his second wife, Nema.
In 2000, he moved to Ridgecrest, CA and began volunteering for the Boys and Girls Club. He served as CEO at the first club in Ridgecrest, and at a second club in Montrose, CO in 2005. But he had always wanted to be in Africa, and that was where he finally found a calling that satisfied his quest for a purpose.
All Photos By: DJ Pierce
His opportunity came in 2007 when the Himalayan Institute started a humanitarian project in Cameroon, in the town of Kumbo. He often said, “I came here [to Cameroon] with the expectation that I’d never leave.” In 2008 he was the founding trainer of HIC’s School of Carpentry and Construction in Kumbo. This was the region’s first fine woodworking center designed to raise the standards of carpentry in the region. In an effort to break the cycle of poverty, he encouraged carpenters to charge adequate fees for quality work. In 2016, he was appointed Program Director for all of HIC’s programs, and was loved by his staff for his authoritative, compassionate leadership style. The entire Kumbo community called Marten “Dad” because he was always there as a father figure for anyone who needed guidance. He was also a proud father to the children of Manjo Mary, his third wife.
Marten was also known for his windy, wise and funny stories, and his love of nature and a good beer.
He is survived by his wife, Manjo Mary Fikake and her 5 children, Clarise, Noberta, Pethra, Rose and Curry; his ex-wife, Nema Nyar, and his nephew.
All Photos By: DJ Pierce
