Prominent Expatriates Pass Away In Thailand

[webfact]

Prominent expatriates pass away

Jim Pollard

The Nation

People in Thailand are mourning the death of two well-known foreigners who passed away in recent days

Rosemary Whitcraft, a prominent long-time American resident in Bangkok, died peacefully on Christmas Day at Bumrungrad International Hospital surrounded by her family. She was 86.

And Brian Hubbard, convenor of the Informal Northern Thai Group (INTG), died at McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai, on December 20. Hubbard, a British national, suffered heart failure, according to an obituary by his colleagues.

Whitcraft was noted for her commitment to public service and remarkable networking talents and did much to promote international understanding through educational projects.

Her work as a consultant for American Field Service intercultural programmes raised funds for countless scholarships that enabled Thai high school students and teachers to travel overseas and further their education, journalist Dominic Faulder said.

"Among the many student beneficiaries of AFS who went on to distinguished careers is former Thai foreign minister Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the current secretary-general of Asean," he said.

Whitcraft also worked with Indiana University, Prasarnmit College, Battelle Memorial Institute - the Thailand Information Centre, the UNHCR and Saatchi & Saatchi. She was an active supporter of the Soroptimists, the American Women's Club of Thailand, the National Museum Volunteers, The Siam Society, Neilson Hay's Library and the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.

In 1987, Whitcraft served as an associate editor on the first edition of an FCCT book, 'The King of Thailand in World Focus', which has been expanded with three subsequent editions and gone to a total printing of 36,000 copies, Faulder said.

"Her enthusiasm, ideas and hard work were a big boost to all of us," recalled the project's editor-in-chief Denis Gray of The Associated Press. "She never asked for recognition for this work, or for the many other contributions she made to Thai society, especially the countless students she helped toward a better life."

One of Whitcraft's personal triumphs on the FCCT book was securing a copy of HM King Bhumibol's original Commonwealth of Massachusetts' birth certificate recording his birth in Cambridge, USA, on 5 December 1927. The document registering the arrival of "Baby Songkla" has been reproduced many times over the past quarter of a century.

Her work on the book led to two much cherished audiences with HM King Bhumibol, and in recent months another with HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Born in Akron, Ohio, in February 1925, Rosemary came to Thailand in 1958 when she married Mark Whitcraft, a US businessman who became a founding member of the US Chamber of Commerce. Rosemary and Mark had two sons, Tom and Kevin, whose wives are Anna and Malee. Three teenage grandsons are Nicholas, Don and Dylan.

Her funeral will be held at 10am on Friday January 6 at the Holy Redeemer Church on Soi Ruam Rudee.

Brian Hubbard, 64 when he died, was a psychologist and principal chairperson and master of ceremonies for the INTG lecture group for the past 10 years. He was also an active member of Chiang Mai's Gate Theatre Group and, up till his retirement four years ago, an English language adviser for the President's office at Chiang Mai University.

A funeral ceremony for Hubbard will take place on Thursday (Dec 29) at 1pm at San Ku Lek Cremation Ground in Chiang Mai.

-- The Nation 2011-12-27

[Bakseedaa]

Plenty more to fill those places.. RIP....

[surangw]

I was almost afraid to read this for fear they would say Bernard Trink passed away.

[samran]

Good to see Jim Pollard still knocking about too. Great bloke...