Benjamin Alan Eder died on Dec. 11, 2001, lost at sea along with three other men aboard the F/V Nesika, at age 21.
Eder was born in Coos Bay, Ore., on March 22, 1980, and lived in Port Orford, Ore. until 1986, after which he moved with his family to Newport, Ore. He graduated from Newport High School in 1998 as a salutatorian. For his freshman and sophomore years, he studied at Reed College in Portland. He traveled extensively, taking a leave of absence during the 2000-2001 school year to spend six months in South America. Upon his return, he enrolled as a junior at the University of Oregon in Eugene in September 2001, with a double major in biochemistry and international relations. Eder also has visited British Columbia, the Dominican Republic and Israel.
He is survived by his father, Bob; mother, Michele; brother, Dylan; grandparents, Edie Eder of Los Angeles, and Joe and Betty Longo of Worcester, N.Y.; uncles, Alan (Lorna) and Harvey of Los Angeles, and Marc (Linda) Longo of Milford, N.Y.; and many cousins.
To honor his memory, the Ben Eder Memorial Scholarship at Newport High School, 322 NE Eads, Newport, OR 97365 has been established.
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