Colonel Conrad A. Namiesniowski, OMM, CD (ret'd), passed away on August 21, 2022, in his 93rd year. He was born in Poland in 1929, the only son of a Polish naval officer who fought on the side of the allies during WWII. Conrad and his family came to Canada in 1949 and settled in Duncan, BC. Conrad and his family, while proud of their heritage, embraced Canada as their new home and became Canadian citizens.

Recognizing the value of higher education, Conrad enrolled at UBC and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in zoology and English, in 1953. To pay for school, Conrad joined the Canadian Armed Forces and served Canada as a proud military officer for more than 38 years. Early in his military career, he met the love of his life and together they had three children.

Recognizing that he had more to give after retiring from the military, Conrad joined the federal Public Service and gave Canada another 10 years, during which he solidified his position as a recognized expert on Russia, Eastern Europe, and arms control, both within Canada and many colleges abroad. He offered exceptional advice to many, much of which remains relevant today in the context of the current situation in the Ukraine. As an avid reader, Conrad’s pursuit of continuous learning remained a priority up to his dying day, and he was truly grateful for the education he received at UBC, an institution he contributed to annually for more than 65 years.