About 12 years ago I sold my California property and moved to Argentina to retire. Eduardo, who I hardly knew, gave me a going away present of a book of Jorge Luis Borges short stories translated into English. In the complexities of moving (and I admit my lack of social graces) I didn’t really connect Eduardo with the Borges book, even though he wrote a dedication on the inside cover.

With time, I started reading the book, and was immediately drawn in. The stories could be about bar fights, life on the pampas, scary monsters, or most of the time, about infinity. Borges is a complex writer, but I found it to be the perfect challenge. I ended up reading most of the short stories more than once, and for a long period of time a picture of Jorge Luis Borges was on my computer welcome screen.

How Eduardo sized me up in order to know I would be so impressed with this writer I will never know. Borges is not for everyone. Eventually I sent a thank you email to Eduardo for this well thought out and more than generous gift. But I still was not sure of who Eduardo was. I never really got to know him.

Then, about 3 months ago, I was sitting at a milonga explaining to Bennette my embarrassment of not acknowledging this special gift from this mysterious Eduardo, when she said, “well he is sitting behind you”.  So after all of these years I finally told him in person just how special he treated me. I am generally a fortunate person, and in this moment fortune was especially looking out for me, allowing me to finally make complete the connection with Eduardo.


LUIS HAS THE FAVORITE SONGS FROM MANY TANGUEIROS. A LIBRARY JUST FROM OSCAR, BUT EDUARDO HAD ONLY ONE SONG REQUESTED.

“El CIELO EN TUS OJOS” 
THE SKY IN YOUR EYES. 
HE SAID “THIS SONG IS FOR MY WIFE”

Love needs no translation.
Love found it’s way between Spanish and english.
Mary this is from Eduardo to you.

THE SKY IN YOUR EYES
Disorientation ...
Broken faith,
In the calvary of my life I found you,
And in my tremendous loneliness
Your love was like a sun
That illuminated my eternal darkness ...
I lived again ...
I dreamed again ...
For you my cup of bitterness was sweetened,
And before the passionate spell
From your crystal soul,
My hell in an Eden was transformed.

The sky in your eyes
I saw, my beloved,
And since that day
In your love I trusted.
The sky in your eyes
He told me about joys ...
He told me about tenderness ...
It gave me courage ...
The sky in your eyes
Remade my faith ...
I am happy today...
For you, woman,
Miracle lover who chased away my suffering,
In you I bless kindness..........

Hi, I’m MaiKai Makena.  Eduardo was a loving husband to my mom, Mary.  He was a father-in-law to my wife, Kassy, and an abuelo to my son, Mason.

Eduardo came into my life when I wasn’t looking for a father figure. I was actually not that ecstatic about learning that my Mom went to Chile and brought back a soon-to-be husband. I think I resisted learning about him for a long time. Slowly, Eduardo grew on me and I came to understand how incredible of a man he was. 

I give him credit for me keeping my house AND my marriage intact. He would come over and, literally, fix anything in our house. As I would run off to try and sell another house, Eduardo would come over and work with Kassy to help bring to fruition every idea she could dream up.  They spent countless hours together doing projects and talking, and drinking Sapporo. 

Eduardo also championed the love of family.  He appreciated those close to him and would always go above and beyond for those he loved. Our son, Mason, was raised with Eduardo and they quickly became fast friends. Mason called him Abuelo, and they had a really special bond. Eduardo was fun and unpredictable and unique. Mason’s heart was captured by his Abuelo very quickly.  Eduardo knew just how to always bring out the best in Mason.

Looking back now, my Mom has always been attracted to unique and authentic people.  My dad and Eduardo were both that same way - real, honest and true, and completely themselves in their own skin. Eduardo shared these qualities with me, and all of us. I am grateful for all the love and energy he put into our family and my mom. I will keep all the memories and positive feelings in my heart forever. 


My favorite memory of Eduardo is seeing the sheer joy, enthusiasm, and love that radiated from his face whenever he was dancing with you, his Mary. The two of you had a way of lighting up the space wherever you were. On the occasions that I had the pleasure of dancing with Eduardo, he would often hum along to the music which was such fun and endearing. Eduardo was a very intelligent, kind and gentle man with a big heart and spirit. He will be greatly missed by all of us and especially by you and his family. Phil and I are sending you all the warmest of healing thoughts and wishes that during your dark and sad hours, the light of his memory and spirit will carry you through to rekindle new times of happiness and joy once again.


"The Father of a Dreamer"

The father of a dreamer makes mistakes but never ignores them; he teaches you to recognize your flaws and embrace them when it is appropriate.
The father of a dreamer is spontaneous, wearing sandals with white socks. With him, you learn to be authentic, not go against your essence.
The father of a dreamer is transparent limiting the mistakes but lives his emotions fully, and you recognize the virtue of expressing yourself without restrictions.
The father of a dreamer shows you the world while keeping his feet solidly on the ground; you learn to love your origins and appreciate the infinite horizon.
The father of a dreamer uses the language in all its colorful  varities, dances with slang, sings with the dictionary, so you understand the real and profound meaning of the culture.
The father of a dreamer, shakes your wings from routine, removes the lead of censorship from your shoes, and blows on you to fly high- very high.
The father of a dreamer never says goodbye, because he knows that you will continue to dream and in your dreams he will plan with you through out eternity.
A Dreamer Son

“El Padre de un Soñador”

El padre de un soñador comete errores pero nunca los desconoce, te enseña a reconocer tus falencias y abrazarlas cuando es oportuno.
El padre de un soñador es espontáneo, usa sandalias con calcetas blancas, con él aprendes a ser auténtico, no descuidar tu esencia.
El padre de un soñador, es transparente limita en el desacierto pero vive sus emociones en plenitud, reconoces así la virtud de expresarte sin restricciones.
El padre de un soñador te muestra el mundo sin despegar los pies de su tierra, aprendes a amar tus orígenes y apreciar el horizonte infinito.
El padre de un soñador usa el lenguaje en todas sus aristas, baila el coa, canta el diccionario, entiendes el real y profundo significado de la cultura.
El padre de un soñador, sacude tus alas de la rutina, le quita el plomo de la censura a tus zapatos, y sopla para q vueles alto, muy alto.
El padre de un soñador jamás se despide, porque sabe que seguirás soñando y en tus sueños planeará contigo hasta el infinito.
Un soñador e hijo de Eduardo Benjamin Hernández de la Puente

OBITUARY

Eduardo Benjamin De La Puente

March 31, 1951 – July 9, 2018

Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary

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