Photo: Satria Abdi Lestari
Delia von Rueti, second from left, with her three daughters and husband Patrick, far right.
The Gentlewoman Farmer
Long-Time Guest Delia von Rueti Shares Her Diverse Passions When you first meet Delia, who is the quintessence of exotic beauty and grace, you understand why it was love at first sight for Patrick von Rueti, a pony-tailed Zürcher. BY JANUARIA PIROMALLO
Delia and Patrick were living in New York; she, a student at NYU, he, working on Wall Street. They met at a student party and became fast friends. Unfortunately Delia was already engaged–in traditional Indonesian style, 2500 wedding invitations had already been sent! But their fate was sealed. Just nine days before the "date", Delia discovered that the future groom had been unfaithful. Amidst her tears and prayers, the marriage was cancelled. Patrick persuaded her to leave anyhow for Indonesia, and to give the party for the poor instead of wasting enough food for 2500 guests! Patrick and Delia were married in La Jolla, California, shortly afterward. With the arrival of three daughters in five years (Sarah, now 20, Kayla 18, and Karina 15), she transformed her home office into a nursery, filled with bottles and Pampers. “In New York we rode the last good wave of the ‘90’s," recalls Delia, who left behind a job at JP Morgan and is now very proud to be a farmer. In 2000, the family moved to Bali, where she and Patrick devoted themselves to raising their children and relaxing on the beach.
In 2010, they started a sustainable palm oil plantation. While palm oil gets a bad rap in the press, Delia and Patrick’s farm is showcase for the success of sustainable farming and agricultural development, often making use of public-private partnerships. Delia is often referred to by the international media as a voice of hope for escaping poverty. The plantation, which maintains 197 licenses, has proven to be the right solution for the local farming community to generate sustainable income, preserve natural heritage, and contribute to Indonesian society as a whole. For her work with sustainable farming, Delia is regularly invited to speak worldwide and share her success story. On 25 February 2016, she will give a speech at the Claridge Hotel in London, to 750 of the wealthiest private companies, sharing her story and encouraging others to do the same. Her message includes the key points of sending children to school with their family’s own money, rather than relying on the donations of humanitarian organisations. Her main focus is women’s empowerment and education for all. She believes both pillars are fundamental for economic development, worldwide but especially in Indonesia. As if her business weren’t enough, Delia also finds the time to design and create exclusive contemporary jewellery. Her brand has catered to some of first ladies of the world, as well as Hollywood celebrities like Lady Gaga and Michelle Yeoh. Her
name is even engraved in the Watchmaking and Jewellery Hall of Fame in Basel, next to the internationally known brands of Cartier, Tiffany, and Bulgari. Delia remains modest, but shares credit with her devoted husband: “When the BBC interviewed me, asking, suspiciously, “Who are you? "I had the same answer as I do today–I am just a woman in love.” With her children now grown and educated here in Switzerland at Le Rosey and Beausoleil, Delia and Patrick live as free spirits between Bali, London, Zurich, and Gstaad. She does consider the Saanenland her "family home", and loves to cook: chicken in coconut milk, spring rolls, spicy soups, and spaghetti alla carbonara. "Could it be a sign of a midlife crisis when a woman spends too much time cooking?" she smiles. If Delia is in the midst of a midlife crisis, it certainly doesn't bother Patrick. After 23 years of marriage, they still look each other deeply in the eyes, referring to the other as amor and sayang (lndonesian for love). In all this time, they have, incredibly, spent just a few nights apart. If this is what a crisis looks like–a woman who manages to juggle a happy marriage, three children, running a plantation, designing her own jewellery, and speaking to the public on eliminating poverty and improving lives–then here’s to hoping we all have one.
LIFESTYLE // GSTAADLIFE // ISSUE 1 // JANUARY 29, 2016
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