Dear ESSAY, 

This is a letter written by one of the intergroup representatives to our regional assembly on the occasion of the death of our delegate, Antonio S., in January 2026.

Tribute to our dear friend Antonio

Aristotle taught that honor does not belong to the individual, but to those who observe him. It is an external marker, the public recognition of a virtuous life. Today, the honor we attribute to Antonio is an accurate reflection of the man he chose to be.

As a dedicated servant of SA and a pillar of the cause of the Latin American Regional Assembly (ARLA), Antonio not only sought his recovery but also worked hard to ensure that ARLA expanded and welcomed everyone. He understood that recovery is only real when shared.

It must be said, with the honesty that the rooms teach us, this honor we celebrate today is a direct result of his journey in sobriety. Had Antonio decided not to face his addiction, we would not be reaping the legacy of a man of integrity, respected by his peers and surely loved by his family. Recovery was the soil that allowed his virtue to flourish.

Antonio leaves us with the mission to continue what he started. We honor his passing by keeping alive the message he so fiercely protected from SA through ARLA.

Rest in peace, dear friend. Your journey was victorious.