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Maurice Strong
1929 - 2015
Maurice Strong
1929 - 2015
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1929
DIED
2015
Maurice Strong Obituary
According to The Associated Press and the United Nations, no further details were available on the cause of his Nov. 28 death.
Raised during the Great Depression, Strong developed an interest in oil and gas early in his career and made his way to the Alberta oil fields, where he rose to become president of Power Corporation of Canada, a position he held until 1966. Strong began his work with the United Nations in the early 1970s, when he served as the secretary-general of the Conference on the Human Environment and then became the first executive director of the U.N. Environment Program. In this role, Strong laid the roadmap for international environmental diplomacy, convening the first international group meetings on climate change. In 1992, Strong organized the Rio Earth Summit, which led to the launch of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. These watershed moments in climate diplomacy led to the landmark World Climate Summit scheduled for Monday in Paris.
Though he returned to the private sector several times throughout his career, such as his 1976 leadership role as chairman and CEO of Petro-Canada, Strong is most noted for his long-term involvement with environmental diplomacy.
"Mr. Strong was a global pioneer of sustainable development who left our country and our world a better place. His accomplishments will be remembered and honoured for years to come," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
49 Entries
April 21, 2016
Leticia Rubello
Mahendra Shah
December 4, 2015
I personally had the privilege to work closely with Maurice - African Famine OEOA 1984-86; Earth Summit 1991-92; CGIAR Review 1997-1998. Maurice's legacy for a better world is eternal. We can change course and get there but we need to move from agendas to actions. He truly was a man of action in all he undertook..... Sadly missed Mahendra Shah, Bali, 4th Dec 2015
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Catlyn Murray
November 30, 2015
You made a real difference in the world, for the betterment of all. Your light will shine bright for eternity Maurice. Blessings for you and blessings for your family at this difficult time.
The Carter Family
December 11, 2015
We owe Maurice Strong our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for caring and for sharing his environmental expertise with our nation, our world. His humane acts are in God memory; and one day soon, he will see the earth and its environment in perfect balance sustaining itself according to God's original purpose. It has been promised! Our loving condolences to his loved ones left behind!
Leticia Rubello
December 10, 2015
Fred
Receive my heartfelt condolesences
Leticia Rubello
December 10, 2015
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Don Hall
December 5, 2015
I grew up knowing Fred and well remember going to his Dad's new office in Mtl in his rusty station wagon, stopping along the way for him to get a suit fitted (in his boxer shorts).So I have early memories of a great man in the making! My condolences to Fred and the rest of the family.
Don Hall
Carol Pascoe
December 5, 2015
To the Strong Family, I send my condolences. My late mother, Anita Dubinsky, of Halifax, used to tell me of her interesting meeting with Maurice Strong. I am not quite sure how they met, but I believe it was in the human rights context. She was honoured to have met him.
December 4, 2015
My deepest sympathy to the Strong family, especially Hannae whom I have met and known at Toronto condo pool. (REV DR.) ROBERT STEFFER
Andrew Stephens
December 4, 2015
Ken, Maureen, MaryAnne, Fred and families, please accept my most profound condolences and sympathies for your loss.
December 4, 2015
May the God of all comfort be with you.
December 4, 2015
My prayers are with you and your family.
December 3, 2015
Learned with regret of the passing of my dear friend and colleague. I consider him a very distinguished leader and one whose contributions will continue to be cherished over time.
May his rest in peace.
Dr. Noel J. Brown
Bert and Colleen van Galder
December 3, 2015
To Mary Anne and the Strong family,
Sorry to hear about your father's passing. May your memories of him always bring smiles to faces in the years to come.
Take care,
John W Bienko
December 3, 2015
A gentleman, a remarkable leader and thinker about world issues, and a scholar in interesting and challenging times. Now an angel in heaven.
Brad Newman
December 3, 2015
We have always cherished every unselfish moment he spared for us. Just as much as a great world citizen he was matched as a great and appreciative uncle to me. He will be dearly missed. Brad and Cindy
Heather Hickey
December 3, 2015
Maureen and family, please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of your father.
Paul Mayo
December 1, 2015
Maurice was a great man. He helped me get started in life way back when. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated what he did for me and many others. My deepest sympathies to his family.
William F. Ryan sj.
December 1, 2015
I am a Canadian Jesuit priest and economist who knew Maurice Strong as a friend over many years. We met first when he was director of CIDA and I was a special advisor to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He encouraged and supported the Canadian Jesuits setting up high schools in Bhutan. Maurice had a lifelong friend in Barbara Ward, past editor of the The Economist, who also happened to be a professor of mine at Harvard.
Later, when Maurice was a member of SODEPAX (Society for Development and Peace), a novel joint venture of the Vatican and the World Council of Churches, and Barbara a member of the Vatican's Commission for Justice and Peace, we all met in 1968 at the Beirut Conference on World Cooperation and Development. This was really an early interfaith event at which Maurice and Barbara were very active and influential. Maurice's influence on Barbara on concern for the environment showed up in the Vatican's final statement of the 1971 World Synod on Justice in the World. She drafted the relevant paragraph on ecology, which is even more crucial today.
In 1970, Maurice was among those who strongly encouraged me to accept the unusual invitation to be the founding director of the Center of Concern in Washington DC. And when I returned to Canada in 1978 to head the Jesuits, we shared common platforms and private conversations regularly. In 2002, I was particularly honoured when he agreed to write the preface for a book about my own life and work, entitled Faith and Freedom.
So I am deeply saddened to hear of Maurice's death but also proud to have a person of his great stature as my friend.
Peter Stockdale
December 1, 2015
I met Maurice once for any length of time,
driving from the Ottawa airport to his son Kenny's thanks to Wayne Kines. I was doing my PhD on IDRC and interviewed him in the car. The thesis allowed me to trace out his extraordinary life. He risked his wealth and reputation leaving Power Corp and chose to do all he could to help the world and its people, indefatigably. A life well-spent and chosen. He inspired me in life, and impels me to followh his path in my own small way in death. Hats off to Maurice!
Rev. Mac Legerton
December 1, 2015
I give honor and gratitude to the life and contributions of Maurice Strong - and Hanne Strong. While Maurice is remembered by many for his work in and with the United Nations, I lift up the commitment and dedication of Hanne and Maurice to sense and contribute to the Spiritual Presence in Crestone, Colorado and throughout the Sangre de Cristo Range. Many persons in the U.S. recognize the natural, spiritual power of places like: Ojai, CA; Hopi Point at the Grand Canyon; Mt. Ranier, WA; Sedona, AZ; and Asheville, NC. Hanne and Maurice initiated the Manitou Foundation and not only supported the development of over 20 spiritual and environmental centers and organizations, but also implemented their vision of a model, eco-community and culture based on sustainable lifeways. It is one activity to idealize and speak of "going green". It is quite another to take on the complex challenges of practicing it by combining the deep understanding of eco-spirituality from the world's wisdom traditions and of ecology from the best of the science traditions. It is my hope and prayer that Crestone will become a comprehensive learning and practice community in which: undergraduate and graduate students will forego or add to a semester overseas by spending a semester at Crestone; and older adults seeking guidance and direction on how to live and practice responsible lifeways in the ecological age will go to learn and commune in Crestone. Doing such will not only be a tribute to Maurice's and Hanne's vision and commitment, but also a tribute to the four loves of Spirit, all living beings, the earth, and ourselves. Naurice, be well in your next journey in and through the Great Mystery.
Scott Chamberland
November 30, 2015
Rest in Peace
November 30, 2015
Offering condolences for your loss.
November 30, 2015
May you rest in peace. Your work at the Please accept my deepest synathies for your loss. His work at Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was inspiring and will always be close to me. Adieu Monsieur que le ciel vous souhaite le plus grande bienvenue.
Pierre Crête
Sue
November 30, 2015
With deepest sympathy on the loss of your loved one. May it comfort you to know that he will return to the days of his youthful vigor as promised at Job 33:25.
November 30, 2015
Thank you for caring so much about the world we live in. May your memory be for blessing.
November 30, 2015
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
S Scribner
November 30, 2015
Please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss. May the Father of tender mercies be with you all during this mournful time.
Florene Box
November 30, 2015
My prayers and condolences to the family of Maurice Strong. Psalms 90:10 Shows how he lived a long life of special mightiness from God. Keep his memories close in your hearts and minds and cherish them forever.
November 30, 2015
"May the Lord of peace himself give you peace constantly in every way.." (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
E.W, ILLINOIS
November 29, 2015
My thoughts and prayers go out to each one of you. I pray that you find comfort in the loving arms of our Grand Creator. He will give you strength beyond what is normal in order to endure this difficult trial.
**RD**
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Jerry
November 29, 2015
I am very sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort be with you during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort. My heartfelt condolences to the family during this time of sorrow. (1Corinthains 15:26) (Isaiah 61:1,2) Please find peace in knowing that He understands your grief and He cares. 1 Peter 5:6, 7
Ms Ruby
November 29, 2015
Psalms147:3 "He heals the broken hearted; He binds up their wounds."
With Sympathy.
J. Lewis
November 29, 2015
My sincere condolences to the family of Maurice Strong for their loss. Many, no doubt, are aware of his desire to protect the world's climate. Soon, though, God's purpose for the earth will be fulfilled: a cleansed earth where mankind will enjoy living in paradise forever. May it comfort and strengthen you to know that even those who have fallen asleep in death also have the opportunity to enjoy life in the future. (Rev. 11:18; John 11:11, 21-25)
November 29, 2015
May you find comfort in knowing that the true GOD feels empathy for those who suffer-as if their pain were is his heart .ISA 63;9
D. Tyler
November 29, 2015
It seems as if he worked tirelessly to make this earth a cleaner, environment friendly earth. May your family find comfort knowing that what Mr. Strong was trying to accomplish will be accomplished by God's Kingdom in the very near future. 2Peter3:13. My sincere condolences to the strong family.
Rima Aristocrat
November 29, 2015
Maurice Strong was a mentor and a good friend of mine. Our prayers and condolences to the family. The world will miss Maurice.
Adrian Barnette
November 29, 2015
We'll miss you !
Dwayne Bickham,Sr.
November 29, 2015
In God's care, rest in peace.
November 29, 2015
Carl H Hahn,
Chairman Emeritus, Volkswagen,
Wolfsburg
Germany
My admiration for Maurice goes back to the Rio Conference. He has been an inspiring great friend. He will not be forgotten in Germany.
God bless him!
Carl
Robert Vincin
November 29, 2015
My condolences to Maurice' Family,
The World meets in Paris to repair Earth, expanding on his vision!
Geoffrey Lipman
November 29, 2015
He was simply an extraordinary human being who dedicated himself to sustainable development. . He had an eye for the big picture and an interest in the smallest community initiative. Maurice had that unique skill of inspiration and an incredible willingness to listen and counsel but I remember him best joking with a small Chinese child in a humble café in Beijing where we would go for simple evening meals. Maurice loved joking and he really loved China and he loved the business of travel - which he felt could do so much more for sustainability
Most recently he has been the inspiration for SUN - the Strong Universal Network - to help communities move down a Green Growth path, using Travelism (Travel & Tourism) as a vector.
Our last meeting was a few weeks ago in Ottawa where we talked about about Climate Change. He knew then there would be a successful result from Paris which he considered simply a good first steptoo little, too latebut a good first step. His many friends will understand that vision and drive
Geoffrey Lipman
Carlo DiPilato
November 29, 2015
Maurice will be sorely missed. His leadership and determination has made a " World " of difference in international affairs. Maurice has indeed made the United Nations "Strong "
Fred Dubee
November 28, 2015
Maurice
friend and teacher
For all you shared, thanks and
Au revoir
fred
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