In memory of

Ernest Dewitt Chipman

(1950 – 2001)

A Letter to Ernest

The time has come to remember, that one year ago, on the 8 October 2001, you started your journey to sail to shores so many miles away from our planet.

Your family, friends and colleagues have not forgotten you. You are present in our memories. Your life with us continues but, in a different way. Your colleagues have and still are, providing us with wonderful and invaluable support.

They have always been part of your daily life. You considered them as your extended family. They remain faithful to your memory. Many of them, day after day, stay present during your absence, just as you would have wanted them to be.

Ernest, you graduated in mathematics from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Canada in 1972. You left Canada that same year, in September, to begin your career in the Foreign Service and embark on your humanitarian journey.

It started with the Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO), a developmental agency providing training and technical support to third world countries. You were sent to Zambia as the Senior Mathematics Teacher to teach this discipline in a Governmental Secondary School located few kilometres away from the Mwense village where you resided until August
1974. You then moved to Southern Sudan, in Juba as Field Coordinator to direct and promote a distance adult learning program. You remained in this position until December 1997.

This period of your life was the starting point of your passion and devotion for humanitarianism, and your love for the African continent.

In 1978, you joined UNHCR where you remained for 20 years. With your colleagues, you did your best to serve its mandate through the many positions you occupied.

When you passed away from cancer in October 2001, you were on secondment with OCHA that you had joined in May 1998.

We all know that you still wanted time to give and to do so much more.

To honour your memory, to perpetuate your desire to help and to go back to your roots, your father has established The Ernest deWitt Chipman Memorial Scholarship for the University of New Brunswick with which you always remained in contact.

In July 2001, you sent a Fifty Swiss Frs. note to the Alumni Association of former students of this University. Your donation was accompanied by a message including these words “sending cash is not a very bright idea, but had I posted one of my Euro cheques, the international Bank charges would take half of the amount”. We recognise you in these words. They are typical of your character and personality; always faithful, always loyal.

The Ernest deWitt Chipman Memorial Scholarship will open the doors of the University of New Brunswick to those with financial need and with ability. It will be awarded annually, in perpetuity, for a student who is a graduate of a New Brunswick High School, studying for a Bachelor of Philosophy in Inter-disciplinary Leadership or Bachelor of Arts in International Development and Humanitarian Studies.

We have currently reached approximately CAD$16,000 in contributions and our target is CAD$ 25,000. This will enable a scholarship of approximately CAD$ 2,000 to be awarded to some worthy student every year, in perpetuity. Over the years, this will assist many worthy students.

Your colleagues and friends can contribute to this scholarship endowment fund with a one-time donation sent to the University of New Brunswick, Office of Donor Relations, Attention: Ernest Chipman Scholarship, PO Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5A3. Visa and MasterCard are accepted, as well as international bank drafts. For complete details go to: www.capcan.com/ernest.htm

A Wire Transfer to contribute to this fund may be sent using the following information noting attention to the ‘Ernest Chipman Scholarship’.

In Canadian Dollars

Directly from: Correspondent banks anywhere worldwide. Pay to: Bank of Montreal, Montreal, Swift Address BOFMCAM2 Account with institution: //CC000101234

Bank of Montreal, 505 Kings St, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Beneficiary: 01230000051, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

The past is the guardian of all memories. In the present, there is good work to do. Ernest, this scholarship is the perpetual and future tribute to you and your goal to contribute to a better world.

We miss you.

Bert Chipman (father) Peter and Patricia Chipman Suzanne Pétalas (Chipman)

And Your Family