In Memoriam: Jay Wormus
Following the sad news of Jay Wormus unexpected and untimely passing, we immediately thought it would be an easy task to talk about someone so many people loved and admired, a man so respected by his former colleagues and peers, a man who seemed to be living his post-UN years in full enjoyment of his retirement, enjoying his family, his music, and his volunteer work.
Jay touched so many lives not only through his passion for music, but his equally passionate commitment to assisting staff in defending their cases in the formal and informal administration of justice system. In our view, his gift to all those he touched, was his ability to be present and appreciative of the moment he was in, and reminding those around him, whether friends or colleagues going through a difficult time, to do the same.
For those who did not know Jay Wormus, he was, first, a husband, a father, and a grand-parent. He was also a former UN staff member who began his career with the United Nations in 1978 and retired in 2007, holding his last position as Chief, Human Resources, ITC. At the same time, he was a musician, with his own band, a flautist with the UNOG music club and an active member of the UN Orchestra, and a guitarist and singer who performed at countless UN and non-UN functions and events. His last performance on UN grounds was on the stage of the UN staff party, a mere two days before his passing away.
To know how much Jay was dedicated to his family, one need look no further than his Facebook page. There, he proudly displayed the photos of his daughter’s wedding, his family vacations, and most of all, photos of him doting over the birth of his and his wife Sylvie’s latest grandchild, born only two months ago. In private conversations, his eyes lit up, and his usual smile grew wider still when he spoke of his children’s family and their professional achievements. He often recounted this blessing.
Jay’s commitment to defending staff rights in the formal and informal system dates back to the former system of administration of justice, where he championed staff rights and handled countless cases as one of the coordinators of the Panel of Counsel, which has since been replaced by the Office of Staff Legal Assistance.
After finishing his assignment as a temporary Ombudsman, Jay was eager to continue his work on behalf of staff. He took on cases on a volunteer basis, giving much-needed human resources support to Osla, and privately, on some cases as an HR specialist.
His humanity and compassion for helping for the sake of helping truly set him apart from anyone else. His way of seeing things, analyzing organizational issues and seeing the two sides of any conflict, always favoring the result-oriented approach and informal resolution over the confrontational approach, his level of honesty and integrity; his rare stubborn moment when he would advise for respect and compliance with the UN rules, even when he took personal exception to them; his compassion and kindness toward those who came in contact with him made him so special.We learned so much from Jay, but most of all, he taught us no matter how bad things appear to be, to stop, live and enjoy the moment.
There is no doubt he will be missed. Yet, to honor him, let us keep his perspective of putting work-related conflict in perspective, living every moment to the fullest and doing what we can to assist with our time and love. This is how we can keep his legacy alive.
Posted by 
