Noted writer Trisnojuwono dies at the age of 71

JAKARTA (JP): Trisnojuwono, a noted writer and the oldest skydiver in Asia, died yesterday of a stroke at his house in Bandung, West Java. He would have turned 71 on Nov. 12.

Triso, as he was known to friends, fell ill earlier this year and was hospitalized for two weeks in July.

He is survived by four children and seven grandchildren.

Trisno had worked as a journalist for Pikiran Rakyat, a leading daily in the province, since 1961.

He founded Aves, an association of Indonesian divers. His son, Tristian Wirawan, also member of Aves, died in 1980 at the age of 24 after his parachute failed to open.

Trisno had logged more than 1,000 skydives since he started in 1950. He was a member of the SOS-USA (Skydivers Over Sixty in the United States).

During the independence years of 1945 - 1950, Trisno fought in the Armed Forces. He was member of the Mataram People's Army, the Student Corps, and the Siliwangi Army. In 1950, he was selected to take part in combat intelligence training in Bandung and surrounding areas.

He started writing in 1950 after befriending writers S.M. Ardan, Soekanto S.A., Ajip Rosjidi and playwright Syumandjaja, Antara reported.

He won a number of literary prizes, including one for his short story Tinggul published in his anthology Laki-laki dan Mesiu (Man and Gunpowder). One of his more recent works is Surat-surat Cinta (Love Letters), a novel which tells of a married man's affair with a student in Bandung. (swe)