bout de papier, Vol. 26, No. 2 (2011) — Fall/Winter 2011 // Automne/Hiver 2011, p. 20
On June 18, 2011, Dick Gorham died and Canada lost a dedicated public servant and a passionate citizen. Tributes and memorials flowed in from kings, governors, premiers, businessmen, journalists, colleagues and friends. The canvas of Dick’s life and achievements was vast but these few comments will focus on his contributions to Canada as a member of our foreign service. The writer has immensely benefitted from (and shamelessly plagiarized) the recollections of Dick’s foreign service colleagues.
Richard Vessot Gorham, B.A. M.A, LLD, ONB, of Gorham’s Bluff, NB, began a life of world travel with a stint in the merchant marine at 18 that took him to the Mediterranean, Spain and Northern Europe. His foreign service career first took him to Japan, cementing a deep and lifelong love for that country, which included mastery of Japanese, one of seven languages in his repertoire. Over 30 years, Dick also served in India and Cambodia, as well as a second tour in Japan before his appointment as Canada’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. He also served as Roving Ambassador and Permanent Observer to the Organization of Latin American States.
Warmly gruff, honest, direct, and down to earth, Dick possessed the ability, foresight, and energy to bring together all those who could contribute to achieving the objective he had in hand at the moment. He was a vital person; a mentor and friend with so much passion for the career and concern for everyone he worked with. And his colleagues responded, many seeking to serve again with him in subsequent assignments.
As one colleague has eloquently put it, Dick « aura été pour moi une source vivifiante d’inspiration au début de ma carrière au ministère des Affaires étrangères. Son pragmatisme, son sens de l’action, son franc-parler et son énergie étaient exceptionnelles dans ce contexte! Il aura marqué fortement l’image que je me faisais de ce que devrait être un diplomate canadien compétent. Nous avons besoin d’un plus grand nombre d’hommes et de femmes de sa trempe.
In the same vein, Dick, the foreign service professional, was highly intelligent and incisively perceptive but also a great teacher and a demanding, but considerate boss. Two of Dick’s attributes, both as relevant today as at any other time, stand out for me.
First, his generosity of spirit in sharing his impressive knowledge and experience especially with his juniors and, concomitantly, his openness and ability to listen to everyone, whatever rank or station. He was considerate of others’ ideas and opinions while welcoming vigourous debate as new ideas emerged. Dick was as patient with the imperfections of the aspiring young as he was impatient with the self-aggrandizement of the haughty; he was not impressed by titles or ranks, but responded to effort inspired by good intentions. He always gave credit where credit was due, an example for many who grew in his shadow.
Second, was his philosophy of inclusiveness. Embassies, in Dick’s view, worked best and most effectively with everyone, Canadian or otherwise, on the team, part of the family. In many ways, Dick was a pioneer in holding this view and, while the “all one family” approach has now been formally adopted by other foreign services, regrettably it has yet to take firm hold in our own.
Finally, no commentary about Dick would be complete without mention of his sense of humour and the accompanying lust for life and adventure. Two anecdotes, one personal, one from a colleague of Dick’s when he served as SSEA Mitchell Sharp’s press officer.
Adventure. We once visited the Gorhams at their seaside getaway on Sajima Bay in Japan and Dick suggested that he and I go for a sail. We managed to rig the Gorham’s Yamaha version of the Laser and set sail, already a feat as neither Dick nor I were tiny. As we left their mooring (no life jackets of course), and headed to the open sea with nothing but the Pacific between us and San Francisco, Dick casually noted that he had never been out in the boat before but that he had watched the boys do it numerous times and it didn’t seem too difficult. All was well until it came time to “come about” and head back to land. Several hours and many dun-kings later, two bedraggled souls heaved themselves onto a beach many kilometres from our start point. My sailing, from that time forward, has been confined to water where I can see at least two shorelines.
Going the extra mile in high spirits. While in the Minister’s press office, it was clear to those around that Mr. Sharp had the highest regard and affection for Dick, and great confidence, indeed admiration, for his work with the press gallery. Returning from meetings in Europe, and while overflying New Brunswick, Mr. Sharp thought he would provide Dick with a surprise. He arranged with the pilot for a slight alteration of course to permit an important public announcement to all on board. The pilot instructed all to look out the left side of the aircraft as they were now passing over a very historic Canadian site, Gorham’s Bluff, directly below. As Mr. Sharp recounted this story (apparently with a rueful grin), no one, least of all Dick, reacted to the announcement. Dick, going the extra mile with his media charges, had a roaring party going in the back of the aircraft that defied competition.
Dick Gorham. Exemplar of the best in the foreign service, and, above all, a good and steadfast friend. Farewell.
Reid Morden is a retired Foreign Service officer with postings in Karachi, Geneva, UN Del New York (twice), and Tokyo. His last Public Service appointments were as Director of CSIS, DM of Foreign Affairs, and CEO of AECL. Also worked with Paul Volcker in the UN Iraq Oil-for-Food Inquiry and was an advisor to Justices O’Connor and Iacobucci in their Arar and Al Malki et al Inquiries.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 26, No. 2 (2011) — Fall/Winter 2011 // Automne/Hiver 2011, p. 20. Read the rest of this issue →
