Bernard Krisher: An Appreciation

On March 5 2019, the HOPE worldwide community lost a dedicated supporter and a true friend when Bernard Krisher died of heart failure in Tokyo, Japan at age 87. He is survived by his wife, Akiko, a son and a daughter and 2 grandchildren. The Cambodia Daily (March 18) and The New York Times (March 20) paid tribute. Since 1996, Bernie has been a personal friend of ours and others who have served the poor and needy worldwide, particularly in the nation of Cambodia. Our friendship was a privilege given by God himself. Our partnership has changed many lives. May Bernie’s life encourage you and yours.

With sincere appreciation, Bob and Pat Gempel

Bernie Krisher was born in Frankfurt, Germany to Polish Jews who were forced to flee the Holocaust under Adolf Hitler in 1937. The family’s odyssey took them throughout Western Europe until they settled in Queens, New York. Along the way, strangers offered help to his family and Bernie never forgot their kindness. He dedicated much of his life to helping strangers, something he considered the defining trait of a true humanitarian according to his daughter, Deborah Krisher-Steele.

He was an influential Newsweek journalist, living in Tokyo who became the publication’s Asia Bureau Chief. Bernie spent much of his career in Asia. He watched the Vietnam War and the rise of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot in Cambodia. When it ended and as an advocate for the free press, he became the founder and publisher of the Cambodia Daily in 1993. He wanted to do more to help the people of Cambodia recover. The war and the savage reign of the Khmer Rouge had slaughtered 25% of its citizens, particularly the college-educated. When the regime ended, it is said that only four doctors remained alive in the entire country. No functioning health care system existed.

Bernie decided a primary need of the Cambodian people was not only a free press, but health care. He approached both tasks with characteristic energy and tenacity. He had developed a relationship with Cambodia’s own King Sihanouk while the King was exiled in North Korea. King Sihanouk donated land to build a new Hospital in the mid 90’s. In the late 90’s he had called on friends around the world to help build a hospital in Phnom Penh. God arranged for Bernie to meet Frank Kim in 1995. Frank introduced Bernie to Bob and Pat Gempel in May of 1996. In six months the team to manage and open the Hospital was assembled and the Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE, a program of HOPE worldwide opened in December, 1996. It is a private medical center, funded entirely by donors. Medical and surgical services are provided to the poor at no cost. The queen was at the opening of the Hospital. The Royal Ballet performed. The anchor donor of funds was Mr. Toshu Fukami, a businessman and donor and friend of Bernie and the International Churches of Christ who also donated funds and people. The medical center was originally staffed by 24 expat medical professionals from around the world. Many Khmer staff were then trained by this team of two dozen western trained professionals. It took 8 years to graduate the first class of doctors, nurses and other technical staff. Bernie was the founder and Chairman of the Board of Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE. God had begun a miraculous recovery for the health care system in Cambodia.

Today, the state of the art hospital has a staff of 657 medical professionals, including 646 Cambodian nationals. As of December 2018, there are 2 hospitals and many clinics, and 2.4 million people have received medical consultations. Because of the recovery of the economy, some now pay for services The hospital has been serving the poor with free quality medical care for 21 years. A telemedicine program to reach people in the most remote villages of the country has been added. Thanks to Bernie’s tireless efforts, and the efforts of thousands of others, Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope continues to define health care for an entire nation.

Continuing in a quest to rebuild the country for the Cambodian people, Bernie later focused his efforts on education for the poor and marginalized. He established an education center for orphans and foster children throughout the country. Thanks to Bernie’s passion for education, 560 schools were started in rural areas.

Though he was not wealthy, Bernie’s idealism and humanitarian interests produced a life of extraordinary philanthropy. His boundless energy and passion to revitalize Cambodia’s education and medical fields enabled him to leverage support from powerful people all over the world. Bernie leaves behind a legacy of hope and healing for many that extends to future generations. He will be sorely missed.