(11th February 1953 – 19th February 2022)
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I first met Robert in Dar Masalit Darfur in 1985 when I was Head of Field Office El Geneina. We had been friends and colleagues ever since. He was one of the good UNHCR field Officers. He was a real UNHCR man with an ability to empathize with the field staff, our agency partners and support our requests through the maze of HQ. He had that cynical wit that was so refreshing yet welcoming for field operations. He understood the hardships faced by UNHCR in emergency operations that the various Headquarters divisions didn’t understand.
As the years progressed and we went to other field posts or Headquarters divisions ourselves, it was that El Geneina, Darfur spirit that kept us bound in friendship and solidarity.
Robert Ashe was one of a kind, the kind that us old timers respected and accepted as a UNHCR field officer’s field officer.
May you finally find some peace, old friend.
I was shocked and saddened to hear about Roberts death. I had been in contact with him a few years ago and we were able to recall our first times together on the Thai Cambodian border in 1981 where he trusted me with a role which was way beyond my ability, and yet he believed in me and supported me. He was a wonderful encourager with lots of humour in hard times. A good friend and mentor who I was privelaged to know and work with. My best wishes and condolences to all those in his family who will be missing him badly.
I did not work closely with Robert, but our paths crossed many times in UNHCR, both at HQs and in Indonesia. From these interactions I developed a deep respect for Robert’s intellect and his many achievements in the UNHCR world. I also had great admiration and affection for his wonderful spirit and often wry sense of humour which was a tonic for me and so many others.
Robert’s deep connection to Indonesia and Lombok was always evident and I, for one, found inspiration in his choice to turn the page on UNHCR and fully explore other dimensions of his life. Robert passed on much too soon, but I have no doubt that he lived fully and found great peace and contentment in his final years. As I reflect on your loss and the sadness that you and your family must feel, I am confident that you – like me and many others – are also celebrating a life well-lived. I am sure that Robert would want it no other way.
With sympathy and respect.
Robert’s sudden and premature death has come as a great shock and has filled me with deep sadness.
I have had the privilege to closely work with Robert during many of his years with UNHCR. Throughout our time together I thoroughly appreciated and respected him as a colleague who always performed professionally without fail to the highest standards; but perhaps even more significantly and very touching to realize, Robert assumed and carried out his responsibilities with total commitment and motivation to serve the needy, UNHCR’s mission. Robert always put his entire heart into it.
As you commemorate and celebrate Robert’s life, my thoughts will be with you, I shall treasure his memory.
I wish you, his family, all the strength to cope with the loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
I was shocked and very saddened to hear the news.
I knew Robert in pre-UNHCR days, in 1980, and later for many years with UNHCR. He was an outstandingly gifted person, a relentlessly innovative humanitarian and a warm and loyal friend. The times I will remember and cherish the most were on the Thai Cambodian border, when I was a volunteer with CARE, interviewing Khmer farmers who had made the arduous journey to Nong Chan camp with their wooden ox carts in the hope of carrying back some sacks of rice seed to plant in Battambang, Siem Reap and even further afield. It was of course Robert – wearing his ICRC badge and sporting a dark beard – who had devised this unique ‘land bridge’ scheme, and week after week it was he who forged all the partnerships, overcame all the obstacles, ran each distribution himself and made sure everything was done fairly. Countless thousands of Khmer families looked up to ‘Lôk Robéa’ – and so did we all.
My heartfelt condolences to Aam, Peter, Joel, Julia and all of the Ashe family.
I would like to send you and family my deepest condolences. Robert and I worked in close proximity in a number of assignments in UNHCR. He was a very special and precious colleague who represented integrity, courage, commitment and hardwork, pursuing the interests and well being of refugees in a relentless manner. He was a true inspiration for the rest of us. It is comforting to know that after his retirement, he was so happy with Aam in his paradise island of Lombok. I regret that I never made it to visit them even though I have been in Singapore, which is my home. He exuded happiness whenever we had email exchange. Robert left too soon but I hope the whole family find comfort in the the full and meaningful life he led.
We were very sad to hear of Robert’s death. We both worked for and with Robert in the refugee camps along the border in Thailand and have so many memories of our times together. In addition to all the qualities of character we associated with Robert, his humour was never far from the surface, whatever the situation. I never did get to ask the question at his press conference after his release by the Vietnamese about his experiences, but part of the answer lay in the t-shirt he wore stating – RICE IS RICE!
Our love, thoughts and prayers continue for his family, and all of you. We thank God for Robert’s life and that his memory and influences shall continue for generations to come. Rest in Peace Robert.
Robert is one of the great leaders in humanitarian world I have ever seen and have the privilege to work with. I worked under his leadership as Regional Representative from 2002 to 2009 in Indonesia and I am lucky that he was a super guru in Programme — while I was a new Programme person then. We don’t always have the opportunity to work on a day to day basis with someone who knew about your work and you can seek advice from regularly and I was super lucky to have that opportunity. We have worked in several emergencies during his leadership, in Timor, in Aceh following the Tsunami, and all of us were confident to do our work and even beyond our expertise, because of Robert’s continued support, guidance, and advice. Robert has always managed to solve every little, big problems, nonchalantly and calmly. With his vast and decades of experience he seemed to always being able to smile no matter how tired he must have been. That also gave us hope and courage to continue serving for the benefit of the refugees.
Aside from his professional qualities, he was also a good and caring friend. He always reminded us to never forget to enjoy life, enjoy the time with our family and friends, and of course, with a glass of Scotch in his hand from time to time. He was always the “cool” one among us. I will also miss his witty comment on Facebook, many of them were encouragement to keep the connection beyond UNHCR life with friends and former colleagues.
If there is one thing I can share here was when there was a big earthquake in Lombok 2018 where his and Ibu Aam’s house was badly impacted. We were communicating at that time and he shared his observation on the neighborhoods and started to conduct needs assessment (!) and shopped (drove the car to the market) and delivered assistance. When asked if he would agree if some of us would like to contribute, he agreed to it and — not only he did all the assessment, implementation and distribution himself, he also did the reporting and “reported” back to us on daily sitrep and financial report although it was a voluntary charity on personal basis from us his friends. You don’t always have your Representative reported back to you but that also showed how Robert never ceased to be a mentor for me and many others, in his calm, humble and witty way. That accountability is one of his qualities among many others. He continues to shine a light for others even after he retired and I am sure even after his passing.
Although it was extremely sad to learn, I pray that he rests in eternal peace, and hoping his family will be given strength in this difficult time.
Robert was amongst the best of the best at UNHCR, a natural leader who commanded respect and admiration. I personally enjoyed his company tremendously, and often sought his valuable advice. He was trustworthy and honest, a serious, competent, knowledgeable professional who always dealt his expertise and authority with a sharp sense of humour. That little twinkle in the eye helped through tough discussions, when difficult issues were addressed and hard decisions had to be made. Many colleagues still remember the feared programme and budget reviews where Robert always arrived impeccably prepared. He had an amazing power at not only doing things well, but fairly and with a smile. His experience was vast and varied; he shared it generously with all. He was passionate about life, about humanity, about justice — he was a true humanitarian, a genuine model.
After a highly successful professional career, Robert embraced an exciting new life in Lombok with Aam and their dogs. My wife Sarah and I were fortunate to visit them there. We admired how they led a simple, rural life, we were impressed by their multiple activities, plans and projects, and by their impact on the village. After his international leadership positions, Robert had become a respected elder of a local community in which he had integrated with gusto. Robert was one of those people whom one says about “there is a life after HCR”. And how impressive he was at having grown into that new life!
I mourn a cherished and respected friend, and offer deep, sincere condolences to Aam, to his beloved son Peter, to all his family and friends.
Sadly we never met Robert our cousin in person, but did have email exchanges around our families stories and history. He helped us gleen additional information to help on our side of the family quest, which was a so helpful and lovely to get first hand from him. His life seemed so diverse and full of interest and compassion for those he helped and know he will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Our sincerest condolences to the whole Ashe family on your loss of Robert from all your Blackler cousins.
The Blacklers
Robert was remarkable for being decent, witty and nice while at the same time having the precision of a scientist and mastery of every detail when it came to work. So he was a role model for me as a more junior staff in UNHCR. All my condolences to the family.
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Robert. He was such a great help to me in trying to find where my William Ash/Ashe (my brick wall) might fit onto the Ashe Family Tree. The Ashe Family tree has been an amazing resource for genealogy.
My condolences to the whole Ashe family!!
I am heartbroken to hear of Robert’s death and I send my deepest sympathy to Aam and the rest of his family.
I corresponded with him from Northern Ireland regarding ancestry. Any time I sent him a message he sent me a reply straight away. Although we never met, he felt like a good friend and I will miss him very much.
Jennifer
My most sincere condolences to the Ashe family, and to Robert’s family. He was an amazing person, so full of life and goodness. Back in the days in Prasart, I was excited to know him and Lois and the entire Ashe family. The only time I visited the UK was to visit the Ashes in Surrey. I have wonderful memories of you all.
I am sure that Robert’s soul is in a happier place now and he is free of pain. May he rest in peace.
I shall of course pray for his soul and for strength for the Ashe family
I knew Robert in 1979 when we both worked on the Cambodian side of the border with Thailand. I had been sent there by UNICEF while Robert was there as the most natural thing in the world. One of my responsibilities was to monitor the aid provided to the displaced. Robert’s ‘landbridge ‘ became a source of considérable information and so I was able to appreciate daily and in detail the transformation it played in the lives of so many Cambodians, just emerging from the horrors of the killing fields. It was a brilliant idea, simple and remarkable. It also needed great discipline to make it work. Robert’s character, quiet and unassuming perhaps, was also steely. On the few days he was not personally present we could all see the immediate slackness. We all needed him, relied on him, admired him. I am very sorry to hear of his early death.
To a dear friend much loved and thought of though we did not see you much after you left Leamington. We have very fond memories of happy times we shared at St Marys Leamington. We specially remember the time you spent with us for nearly year while you were working at Moreton Morrell College and studying at Cirencester Agricultural College. Rani recalls that you borrowed Sue Harris’s Saab to pick her up from Heathrow when she first arrived in England in 1972.
You managed to do much more than I could ever have accomplished – worked for the UN (its Refugee Agency UNHCR) !
Our condolences to all the Ashe family
Rest in Peace dear friend
My deepest condolences to you all in this difficult time. Robert travelled to Zambia many years ago and my brother Mulilo drove us all to Livingstone to see the Victoria Falls. From my childhood meetings with him in South Croydon and Busbridge Lane he was always warm, loving, intelligent and funny. A wonderful man!! Very sad.
I was very saddened to learn of Robert’s death. We never met, but when I started to investigate my own family history and particularly about my great-grandmother, Magdalene Ashe, I learnt about the remarkable genealogical work that he and his forbears had done, and found it very helpful indeed. I could not have written my family history, http://www.kingfamilyhistory.co.uk. without it. Robert and I corresponded at that time and again after the 2018 earthquakes–I was relieved to learn that for Robert the damage was to property rather than people. It has been about 45 years since I made my only visit to Indonesia, and I often fantasised about visiting Lombok, but it is a very long way from Dublin!
I met Robert in Geneva back in the early 90’s of last century. He was the head of PCBS and I was just starting as Desk Officer in the Europe Bureau. We had to submit our project proposals and afterwards, go and sit with him to defend them. Since that very moment I was aware of his sharp intelligence and his capacity to critically analyse our arguments. I also learned that in spite of his power, he was a humble person always willing to hear what we had to say. Our lives continued and I was lucky enough to work under his guidance and leadership in Indonesia. Those days he continued showing the kind of exceptional person he was. He was a great teacher, a fabulous boss and above all a very close human being, easy to approach and affable. His sudden departure leaves a huge vacuum in our lives. My condolences to his wife and his family.
My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved
family and may his soul rest in peace.
Amen
I am deeply saddened by the news of Robert’s sudden passing and wish to convey my heartfelt and most sincere condolences to the Ashe family.
I first met Robert at the Thai-Cambodia border in 1980 when I was the ICRC’s Deputy Head of Delegation. His tireless efforts to run the ultimately very successful ‘landbridge’ in Nong Chan led us to ask him to become an official member of the ICRC team which was then a rather unusual move by ICRC standards.
We re-established contact in 2004 when I met Robert at the UNHCR office in Jakarta while conducting a West Timor programme review for Oxfam (UK). Then, in 2006, Robert asked me to come to Jakarta to edit their final West Timor report for the European Commission. From then on, we stayed in touch and I actually visited him twice at his beautiful retirement home in Lombok.
I shall never forget his kindness, charm and wit. RIP dear Robert!
Paul Mettler
(retired in Malaysia)
Robert you will be greatly missed, for your warmth, your great sense of humour but also what you have given to the human race. Many bright stars in the Welsh sky tonight, you must be one of them. Be at peace.Sending much love to all your Beloved.Jane
Such a wonderful uncle and lovely man.
Many happy memories of two recent holidays in Lombok when we were living out in China. He was always so generous, interesting and funny, regaling us with his stories about his incredible life – always with a glass or two of whiskey in his hand!
We will miss him, but also happy to know he had such a wonderful, happy and full life in beautiful Lombok. Thoughts with Aam, Peter and the whole family. Xxx
My condolences to Aam and family.
What an outstanding man . He lived life to the full and made so much difference to this world. He had the gifts of a pioneer and great vision to achieve the impossible. He was full of laughter and joy too.
I send love to all who grieve for him and I am thankful that I knew him.
Mary Beal( nee Clarke)
To Robert Ashe , a dear friend and leader, a solemn farewell from a refugee worker from Indonesia …
“Long may they float upon this flood serene; theirs be these holms untrodden, still, and green, where leafy shades fence off the blustering gale, and breathes in peace the lily of the vale! ” (W. Wordsworth)