To quote our former DOP Director, Fouad Kronfol "Just learned from a friend of the passing of our colleague Simone Malak with whom we maintained a close friendship when she worked with me in DOP. Simone took care of all GS staff issues and was one of the most effective members of the Division".
I met Simone thanks to my wife Nadia. When we first came to NY she contacted friends from her Egypt days and soon we had a small group of ladies including, Susy Assaf, secretary to WHO Rep. at UNICEF, Josey Sargologlo, at the UN Library, Arlette Leoncavallo at the UN NGO office and Simone at UNICEF. These became the core of our social contacts while we lived in NYC.I got to know Simone better professionally during my Africa Section days as she was working with RD Bertram Collins in WCARO Abidjan. This was a posting that she enjoyed very much as she made an impact with many African colleagues throughout the region. Our relation and friendship grew when Executive Director Jim Grant appointed me to DOP. Simone was already in the division and I depended upon her for all matters related to General Service staffing. Through her I got to know and appreciate the large number of personnel of lower grades and their importance in maintaining the workings of the organization. Management often did not give sufficient care to these staffers who carried out many of the tasks that helped make UNICEF the UN's most effective and efficient agency.
ReplyDeleteAfter retirement we kept in touch with Simone through our frequent visits to NY and she visited Montreal at least once. Simone was also a keen and regular participant in WAWIG and XUNICEF Reunions, which gave us other occasions to continue our friendship. Our last get-together was in Fort Meyers, Florida, at the home of Oscar and Susie Fernandez .
for a lively lunch. After that our contacts were less frequent but regular until we learned that she was ill and had moved to Naples in a home.
Simone was a one of a kind person who did not go unnoticed by those who met her. She was bright, a hard worker, very concerned by her responsibilities, both professional and family related. She also had an acute sense of humour and a
very special and singular laughter which resonated all around her. She became a close co-worker and part of my team that ran DOP during my tenure of four years.
We have wonderful memories of Simone and will always keep her in our thoughts. Nadia and I express our sincere sympathies to her family. May She Rest in Eternal Peace.
RIP Dear Simone. So many good souvenirs. Professionally I always valued and benefited from your advice and experience in our different incarnations. When Jim Grant decided to involve African artists and intellectuals to the UNICEF cause under Djibril Diallo’s able leadership, I was able to count on you in Abidjan and Dakar. You secured the full support of Bertram Collins in addition to facilitate our various exchanges. When you returned to NY after your WCARO assignment, we cooperated well. As Fouad also said, your sense of humour made you special. I will never forget your story about your first day in UNICEF with Dick Heyward. Mr. Heyward asked you to take note about a EXDIR that you transcribed as “EX DEAR” wondering about the culture of the new organisation you embarked in. Sincere sympathy to your beloved ones et merci pour tout Chère Simone.
ReplyDeleteUmberto CANCELLIERI