11 November 2003

Bonn, Germany: The United Nations family paid their final respects to the late Sharon Capeling-Alakija (1944 -2003), UN Volunteers Executive Coordinator, at a memorial service in Bonn, Germany. The service was prepared by UN Volunteers staff and attended by dignitaries, colleagues, family and personal friends from all parts of the world.

During the ceremony Ms. Capeling-Alakija was eulogized as a “powerful woman” with “profound commitment”. Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), recalled that she was graceful in the company of world leaders, and humble with those working at the grassroots level. He said, “Today, we celebrate a woman of courage, a woman of vision, a strategic planner, a team-builder, a fighter, a fund-raiser, a manager and a leader. But what we most celebrate is the wonderful person Sharon was - one of a kind.”

Ursula Schaefer-Preuss, Director General of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation (BMZ) described her as an “inspiration and role model.” Takahiro Shinyo, Consul-General of the Consulate of Japan in Duesseldorf said “we will remember this great human being with the highest respect,” while Baerbel Dieckmann, Lady Mayor of the City of Bonn, added “the world will be poorer without Sharon”.

Ad de Raad, UNV Executive Coordinator a.i., described the service as a celebration of Sharon’s life. He echoed the sentiment of what hundreds of people have expressed in messages since her death, “It was a privilege to walk along the same path as Sharon Capeling-Alakija”.

Staff at the UN premises in Bonn later planted a Red Maple tree in her memory. The tree is a truly Canadian symbol of peace strength, and growth, which was Ms. Capeling-Alakija’s favourite.

The volunteer community around the world organized gatherings to commemorate Ms Capeling-Alakija’s life. Further commemorations will take place in Ottawa, Canada, and in New York, United States, in December.

Ms. Capeling-Alakija passed away peacefully on 04 November 2003, in Bonn, Germany, after a courageous and long battle with cancer. She was 59.