 Col Conrad A. Namięśniowski OMM, CD
(Ret'd)
JULY 2, 1929 - AUGUST 21, 2022
It is with a very
heavy heart that we announce that Col. Conrad A.
Namięśniowski, having just celebrated his 93rd
birthday, finally gave up the fight and slipped away
at the Perley Health Care Facility on August 21, 2022.
He will be dearly missed by his immediate family, Col.
Conrad R. Namiesniowski (Ret'd) (Janice), Kristina
Namiesniowski (Don), their children Liam, Connor and
Michaela, Andrew Namiesniowski (Giselle) their
children Adam and Alex; and, the many people that he
encountered, worked with and influenced over the
course of his life.
Conrad was born in Warsaw, Poland in July 1929, the
only son of Karolina and Capt(N) Konrad Franciszek
Namięśniowski (https://uboat.net/allies/commanders/4695.html).
His father was a member of the Polish Combatants
Association in Canada, Branch No. 8 in Ottawa since
1953, and in 1970s he was a President of the Canadian
Polish Congress, Ottawa Chapter.
In 1939, his father left for England to join the
allied war effort. Conrad survived being shot at by a
Nazi aircraft and ended up in a camp for enemies of
the Reich. His father returned to Poland and helped
his family escape to Marseilles, France through
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and
Greece. Conrad and his mother lived in France until
Italy entered the war. Enroute to get another ship
after his own was sunk in Narvik, Norway, his father
moved his family to England. Conrad survived another
near death experience when an unexploded bomb landed
near him on the street. Conrad succeeded academically
and as a Rugby player, and received his own taste of
military life as an Army Cadet. Conrad and his mother
moved to Wales at one point where he became a member
of the home guard as a runner, riding a bike and
delivering messages.
During the war, Conrad's father made a number of good
friends in the Canadian Navy one of whom sponsored
Conrad's family to come to Canada, since polish
migrants were no longer welcome in Great Britain.
Conrad's family arrived in Canada in February 1949 as
Naturalized British subjects and settled on Vancouver
Island. Despite being a war hero, Conrad's father had
difficulty finding work and started, along with his
son, at a lumber mill, doing odd jobs and sweeping
floors. Although proud of their heritage, Conrad and
his family embraced Canada as their new home and
eventually became citizens.
To pay his way through school, Conrad enlisted in the
Canadian Armed forces in September 1952 and completed
a degree at the University of British Columbia. While
at school, his parents moved to Ottawa. While
attempting to visit them in December 1953, the flight
he was on encountered problems, returned to Vancouver
and crashed on landing. Conrad evaded death yet again.
Upon Graduation and completing his Artillery training,
he became part of another family, the Canadian Army
with the Artillery Regiment. Understanding the
concepts of service before self, professionalism,
courage, honour, and setting the example as a leader
and a follower, he excelled. Posted to Shilo,
Manitoba, he met and married the love of his life,
Marjorie Joan Giffin, an Army Nurse, in 1956.
Like his father, Conrad's chosen vocation led to many
absences from home including being sent to Roger's
Pass in BC. He led the team that worked with the
National Parks Commission and Public Works to develop
the approach still used every winter in Canada to
control avalanches and keep the roads and rail lines
open. If you travel through Roger's Pass and stop at
the scenic outlooks that are also used as firing
points for the Artillery you are benefiting from his
legacy.
Conrad followed a traditional career for an Artillery
Officer with a series of leadership and command
positions including one of his most favourite roles
leading the Apprenticeship program. His strength of
character made him a great role model and many of his
protégés maintained contact for decades. After various
training courses, staff and command opportunities,
including a year unaccompanied in Cyprus, he was
selected as a Canadian Military Representative to NATO
headquarters in Brussels Belgium. This is where he
transitioned to international negotiations.
In the early 1980's, Conrad spent a year in Madrid,
Spain and another three in Stockholm, Sweden as the
Canadian Military advisor for the "Conference on
Confidence and Security Building Measures and
Disarmament in Europe". He was chair of the NATO
Military Advisors Group and was one of the principal
allied negotiators on compliance and verification
measures with the Former Soviet Union. Conrad was
awarded the "Order of Military Merit" by the Governor
General of Canada for exceptional service.
Regrettably, what was negotiated began to fall apart
and many safeguards designed to prevent what is going
on in Ukraine today were not enforced.
After hanging up his uniform in 1986, Conrad joined
the Federal Public Service in what was then External
Affairs, where he continued his international work
until he transferred to the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service. His life experiences gave him a
unique ability to offer exceptional advice on Russia
and former Soviet Bloc Countries, which remains
relevant today.
Conrad believed that it was an honour and a privilege
to serve one's country, which he did for 48 years. He
brought credit to Canada and was highly regarded by
many in Canada and overseas. He will be greatly missed
but not forgotten.
Conrad received exceptional care from the Perley Heath
Care Facility. We are extremely grateful for their
compassion and professionalism. In lieu of flowers,
donations in Conrad's name, to some of his favourite
charities can be made to: Perley Rideau Veterans'
Health Centre Foundation, the Shepard's of Good Hope
or a charity of your choice.
Conrad was interred at Beechwood Cemetery alongside
his wife Joan on Wednesaday, August 31, 2022.
Public Visitation in the Beechwood Hall of Colours was
11h00-12h45 and a Funeral Service 13h00-14h00.
A private graveside service for immediate family
followed.
Your tributes can be sent to: www.beechwoodottawa.ca
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Czwartek, 1 września
2022
Stanisław Rafał Kielar
Stanisław
Kielar
