Zum Tod von Ron Crocombe

21.06.2009: Text von Helen Greig, aus Islands Business online, 22. Juni 2009

Rarotonga, Cook Islands ---- Professor Ron Crocombe - the renowned Cook Islands scholar, Pacific expert and educationist has passed away in Auckland at the age of 79. Professor Crocombe is survived by his wife Marjorie, four children Tata, Ngaire, Kevin and Sam, and many grandchildren. He was reportedly on his way to the airport to return home to Rarotonga last Friday when he died, according to Cook Islands News. Crocombe had recently visited China and was returning from Tonga after being inducted as one of the six fellows of the ‘Atenisi University, to commemorate the 75th birthday of the founder of the college, Professor Futa Helu. Prime Minister Jim Marurai was saddened to learn of the passing of Papa Ron. "The PM called Papa Ron one of our national treasures - a rich resource of knowledge, experience, and wisdom - and a real guiding light for all Cook Islanders, not just those intent on pursing academic study. "He had a lot to offer and was generous in his views and advice. And as a result of his profound understanding of political issues and dynamics in and around the Pacific, he was widely regarded and respected throughout - everyone knew Papa Ron and as such, he was an important ambassador for our country. At times, Papa Ron had words of advice for the prime minister and those views were highly appreciated.” PM Marurai said Papa Ron will be missed but fondly remembered as a great achiever and contributor to the Cook Islands and its people. Born in New Zealand, Professor Crocombe has lived and worked in the Pacific islands for half a century. He served as director of Australia National University’s New Guinea Research Unit in the 1960s and most notably as Professor of Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific for 20 years beginning in the 1970s. As Emeritus Professor (since 1989), Crocombe was one of the longest-serving members of USP, the founding professor of Pacific Studies and one of the earliest senior lecturers there. Crocombe has not only been called the academic father figure of Pacific Studies but a phenomenon for his many contributions after retiring. He has written many authoritative books. One of his most recent is 50 years of study into 4000 years of Asia’s influence on the Pacific titled ‘Asia in the Pacific Islands: Replacing the West’. One of the high-profile contributions he made to the Cook Islands government is the report of the Commission of Political Review of 1998 ‘Reforming the Political System of the Cook Islands’ which he co-wrote with Iaveta Short and John Herrmann. He received his PhD from ANU in 1961 after completing his master’s courses in economic development and cultural psychology. Crocombe has worked for some of the most revered organisations and institutions in the world such as the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the United Nations Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the East-West Centre in Honululu. He is well respected for his extensive consultancy work for over 40 years on land tenure, local government, social and cultural policy, higher education and security issues undertaken for most Pacific Islands governments. His research in the Pacific from 1957 to the present day focused on land policy, rural sociology, ethno history, regional organisation, social, cultural and educational policy, politics and international relations. Crocombe was not only a lifelong researcher but devoted much of his time to helping around 2000 Pacific Islanders publish their own research.