Can someone please help me with drafting a Linkedin message?

I wanted to message my previous Director [50M] (he left back in October). Since then, we haven't had any contact.

I'm [30F] five levels below him. We used to speak only on the office app, and 90% of the time I was the one who initiated the message, mentorship & all. We shared a good bond. In fact, once he mentioned about mentorship with me.

He's currently jobless, and I was thinking of messaging him on Linkedin just to say hello. There's no agenda, and l don't want anything out of the conversation. I just want to keep our connection alive, but I also don't want to come across as forcing myself on him or being cringe.

He supported and protected me when we worked together. He ALWAYS, always helped me so we had a genuine bond.