Over 600 people swelled the
Church of St. Nikolaus to overflowing for the funeral service of Louis
Fassbind, formerly the Executive Vice President of the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort and the man popularly known as “Mr. Pattaya”.
The mourners, who came from Pattaya, Bangkok, Thailand Provinces and
overseas, represented but a small fraction of those who knew him, and whose
lives had been touched by him in one way or another.
They were welcomed by Khun Panga Vathanakul, on behalf of the Fassbind
family.
The church and its grounds were a mass of flowers with floral tributes from
near and afar. Included amongst them were those from the Ambassador for
Switzerland, the Fassbind family, Banglamung Home for the Aged, personal
friends such as Kim Caula, the Pattaya Mail, the Pattaya Sports Club,
Tourismo Thai, Diethelm, Berli Jucker, local Resorts and Country Clubs. For
Louis Fassbind’s final function, this could be no “small” production.
The Requiem Mass was held by Fr. Michael Picharn assisted by Frs. Brennan
and Giovanni and eulogies were given by close friends Walter Meyer, Rudi
Maerkle, and Fr. Raymond Brennan.
Amongst those present were Seri Wangpaichitr, the Governor of the Tourism
Authority of Thailand, General Saiyud Kerphol, lifelong friends Bruno
Forrer, K. Ning his secretary of 20 years, plus representatives from the
Thai Hotels Association, the Pattaya Business Tourism Association, Rotary
and countless other organizations.
His body was buried next to his old friend Gene Farley in the St. Nikolaus
cemetery. In accordance with Louis’ last wishes, the Navy Band was there to
entertain and everyone present had wine to drink to his memory. The guards
of honour for his final trip came from the Royal Cliff and a glass of his
favourite wine was placed on his casket and taken to the graveside as
nourishment for his crossing of the River Styx. In death, as in life, Louis
left us with “style”.
Editorial Post Script: Pattaya should not forget the man whose energies and
enthusiasm contributed so much to the development of Pattaya. His monument
needs to be more than ethereal memories, but should be such that his name
can become part of the daily life of Pattaya, this city that he loved so
dearly. One suggestion is to name a street or road after him. The Pattaya
Mail puts forward that the road running down to the Royal Cliff Beach Resort
from Pra Tum Nak hill could be named the Fassbind Memorial Drive. This would
be a fitting reward for the man whose vision “made” the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort complex what it is today.
