Dwight Wilder FULFORD

FULFORD, Dwight Wilder
died 23 January 2009, after a short illness, borne with stoicism and humour.

Born in 1931, a graduate of Trinity College School (1949), the University of Toronto (Trinity, 1953), and Oxford University (Magdalen, 1955). He studied history and law and had extensive experience in debating, at which he excelled in international competition. It was during a debate at the University of Toronto that he met Barbara, his wife of 54 years.

Dwight enjoyed a distinguished career in the Canadian Department of External Affairs, including service in the Canadian embassies in Argentina, Cuba and Mexico, and as Canadian Ambassador to Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay (1977-82) and Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia (1982-1986). He maintained humane and ethical positions throughout his career, including while in Cuba in 1962 during the missile crisis and in Argentina during the internal repressions of the late 1970's and the Falklands conflict in 1982. It had been his life-long ambition to serve his country as an ambassador, and he carried out this role with skill and sensitivity.

He retired in 1989 to a life of reading and contemplation in Ottawa and his beloved homes in the Gatineau and Mexico. He continued to be deeply interested in politics and foreign affairs and combined these interests by serving many times as an election observer for emerging democracies in Africa and Latin America. During his retirement, he and Barbara travelled widely to see their children and many friends all over the world.

Dwight was an inquisitive and astonishingly well-read man of wide-ranging interests. He surrounded himself with books, and these occupied any time he did not spend with family and friends. All who knew him have been inspired by his humour, his kindness, his generosity, his integrity and his wisdom.

Dwight, a diplomat, a scholar, a father and a friend, is deeply mourned and missed by wife Barbara; children Wilder, Martha, Benjamin, Daniel, Adam and Sarah; grandchildren Eli, Jacob, Venus, Isabella, Wilder, and Theodore; sister Martha; and many colleagues, friends and relatives everywhere.

Following a private cremation his ashes will be interred in the family mausoleum in Brockville. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, February 1st between 2 - 5 p.m. at his home in Ottawa.

If anyone is moved to make a donation, we would ask that you consider donating blood to the Canadian Blood Services as it was thanks to the generosity of other donors the Dwight was able to enjoy his last months of life.