I first heard of Edith Ballantyne when I was doing my doctoral research at the University of North Carolina. I was seeking to understand better just how civil society organizations could play a role in the shaping of international policy. This led me to my study of the NGOs and the first UN Special Session on Disarmament in 1978. I learned from those I interviewed in New York of this fearless woman in Geneva leading the voice of Geneva-based NGOs in negotiating the role that NGOs would be allowed to play at the Special Session on behalf of the NGO Committee for Disarmament in Geneva

Hence, when I arrived in Geneva in 1995 to take up my post as Representative for Disarmament and Peace at the Quaker UN Office, I felt rather anxious to meet this apparently intimidating person who had a reputation that had carried all the way to New York. And then I met Edith and what a joy it was then and continued for as long as I lived in Geneva. She completely disarmed me. I remember wonderful lunch-time gatherings of the NGO Committee for Disarmament at her home on Rue Sécheron during my early years in Geneva. Those early times led to my meeting and working with a whole series of WILPF disarmament interns along the way–including Sharon Riggle, Felicity Ruby, and Cate Buchanan–who all went on to do distinguished work after finishing their time at WILPF.

Always generous and warm-hearted, Edith held firm views on peace and justice issues. She was a mentor and an inspiration to me and I always loved seeing her and talking. I am so sad she has left us, as she was one of those rare people that one thought (and hoped) would somehow  go on forever.

Thank you, dear Edith, for all that you gave to so many and to our world. You will remain a strong presence in my memory and my heart.