David Malone Memories

7 February 1954  –  24 November 2025

David M. Malone

David M. Malone
Photo: United Nations University

A place to gather our memories of David

David M. Malone dedicated fifty years of his life to the world — as a Canadian diplomat, a scholar, a mentor, and a builder of institutions. From early postings in Cairo, Sudan and Libya to the UN Security Council, the International Peace Institute, IDRC, and ultimately as Rector of the United Nations University in Tokyo, he moved through the world with rare intellectual energy and a generosity of spirit that touched everyone he worked with.

This site exists for people to share their memories. Whether you worked alongside him in Canada or in one of many places around the world, or simply shared a memorable conversation, your story belongs here. Together, these memories will form a living tribute to an extraordinary Canadian.

Please share whatever you wish — a recollection, a photograph, a video, or a few quiet words. All contributions are welcome.

Contributions to this site are in the care of Gilles Breton and Lillian Thomsen.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026  ·  10 a.m.

A Tribute for David Malone

Un Hommage à David Malone

The Sacred Space  ·  Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa

David Malone was a skilled and thoughtful diplomat at the service of his country, an innovative leader at the United Nations, and a noted scholar of international affairs.

Each of these careers would have satisfied an ordinary person, but David was the opposite of ordinary. He reached the heights of all three professions in too short a life — and he had a great deal more to give. Had he been allowed to do so.

The fact that we are all here today is testimony to the fact that he was more than the sum of his accomplishments. He was also an extraordinarily loyal friend, a steadfast comrade, the source of wise counsel, a committed mentor, and given to frequent random acts of kindness. He was also a complex person, with many interests and many sides to his personality.

Memorials to David have taken place elsewhere already. This is the occasion for family and friends to share their recollections and in the process help us all to celebrate the extraordinary life of this exceptional man.

David Malone était un diplomate compétent et réfléchi au service de son pays, un leader novateur aux Nations Unies et un éminent spécialiste des relations internationales.

Chacune de ces carrières aurait comblé une personne ordinaire, mais David était tout sauf ordinaire. Il a atteint le sommet dans ces trois domaines et sa vie fut bien trop courte. Il avait encore tant à offrir. S'il en avait eu la possibilité.

Le fait que nous soyons tous réunis aujourd'hui témoigne qu'il était bien plus que la somme de ses accomplissements. Il était aussi un ami d'une loyauté extraordinaire, un camarade fidèle, une source de sages conseils, un mentor dévoué et enclin à de fréquents actes de bonté spontanés. C'était également une personne complexe, aux multiples intérêts et facettes.

Des hommages ont déjà été rendus à David ailleurs. C'est l'occasion pour sa famille et ses amis de partager leurs souvenirs et, ce faisant, de nous aider tous à célébrer la vie extraordinaire de cet homme exceptionnel.

Speakers / Haut-parleurs

Welcome / Bienvenue
George Haynal
Master of Ceremonies / Maître des cérémonies
Louise Frechette
Justine Malone
Ben Rowswell
Bob Bothwell
Jim Wright
Rohinton Medhora
Jim Mitchell
Bob Rae
Luncheon to follow at Chances R
540 Montreal Road  ·  (613) 499-1010
By reservation

With thanks to / Nos remerciements à

Nicolas McCarthy
Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa
Douglas George
Technical Services
AmbCanada  ·  Karin Reinecke
The Canadian Foreign Service Alumni Forum
Forum des anciens du service extérieur canadien
Angela Bogden, Lillian Thomsen, Gilles Breton
Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers
L'Association Professionnelle des Agents du Service Extérieur  ·  Dan Whelan
IDRC Alumni  ·  Bill Carman
UN University Centre  ·  Christina McElwaine
Organizers
George Haynal  ·  Elizabeth Heatherington

Share your memory

Write to Gilles Breton at the address below. You are welcome to include photos, videos, or simply a few words.