MARIA DWEGGAH,
LA RETRAITE ET PUIS ALORS ?

C. DAVID, ONU

Difficile à croire que dans ton bureau encombré de dossiers, toi la représentante du personnel de l’OMS, tu ne répondras plus à ces demandes de collègues qui te prenaient ton temps et tes week-ends. Difficile de penser que tu ne participeras plus au travail de rédaction du magazine, que tu ne déclencheras pas un fou rire généralisé en improvisant un sketch inénarrable au cours d’une réunion ou d’un repas.

Nous avons reçu une lettre d’amitié et de fraternité, alors, pourquoi ne pas la publier comme un article ? C’est finalement une belle façon de partager ce que tu représentes pour nous et de te dire que nous comptons encore sur toi Maria “Most Unforgettable” from UN Special.

MARGIE KULAK LUCIDO
I am so pleased Maria accepted the invitation to spend the Christmas holiday season with us this year! Like most vacations and good times, they come to a close all too soon. We did accomplish most of the plans we made, including visiting mutual friends and some family for both of us, in upstate New York. A regional dinner of polenta and vino was on the agenda at a reunion in our small hometown of Solvay. We also were able to find time to fit in some unplanned events. We hooked up with two friends that we attended college with and what a memorable afternoon in NYC it was! We made homemade eggplant parmagiana together for Christmas eve dinner and celebrated with my daughter and her family. I was sad to say ciao to my buddy of almost 50 years as she boarded for her flight home to Geneva, even though we will be traveling together soon again in 2010. Similarly, Maria’s tenure at WHO is coming to a close. Although we did not work together, I know a good amount about Maria’s time with WHO, the staff organization, and her dedication to the jobs she has taken on over the years while employed there. Although it is difficult to be objective when it comes to friends, I know Maria as well as anyone probably can. I feel that on behalf of those (non-peer group) that have been a support in her endeavors at WHO, it is appropriate to publicly pay tribute to an amazing, unforgettable, strong, and caring individual. As a note: Maria was voted “Most Unforgettable” from our Senior High School Class, 1967.

I do NOT believe that Maria could even grasp how much she has accomplished in her days at WHO or in her own life thus far! I remember when Maria told me about her plans to organize the first Solidarity Fair at WHO. It sounded daunting and did prove to be quite an undertaking. It was successful by any standards, but today, as you may know, is now an important and enormous event for the Organization. Besides all of the people Maria has mentored, helped find their way and/or place at WHO, Maria has been driven with an unmatched passion to assure that equality and justice prevail in the work environment.

From the little mountain village in northern Italy (Maria’s birthplace) to the small central New York State village we grew up in, to her Peace Corps stints in Africa, to living as a single mother in the barrio of San Francisco (surviving a major earthquake while there, by the way), to fulfilling a dream of returning to Europe to live and work... Maria has always put others first, lived by the “you can’t take it with you” mantra, given every ounce of energy to a cause she believes in, does not give up, uses the incredible mind God gave her to the best of her ability and has taught me and a multitude of others so, so much. I (we) are very proud of Maria Maestri Dweggah.

Our hope is that those who have come to know Maria, those she has assisted, and anyone who has crossed her path or worked with/for her has recognized the same goodness that we love and admire about Maria. We hope you have learned from your relationship with Maria, no matter what it may be or was, that she has always had your wellbeing in mind, and lives and works with truth and integrity. Wherever life takes Maria now, she will embrace each day in that same vein. We wish her good health and much joy in the next adventure. If I MUST give her some advice on something she should STOP doing... it would have to be to NOT talk or ask questions while watching a movie.

Something she MUST NOT STOP: Keep on singing my friend... your voice must be heard! (Maria sang a solo in our Foreign Student Show, High School, Senior year). You probably have heard her singing something by now! If you haven’t... you are not listening.

With love, admiration, and congratulations, Maria, dear friend! Your sister-friend forever, Margie. With sentiments attached from Joe, Julie Anne, Clint, Cameron & Mia & countless others... literally from around the world!