• Photos of Leslie July 19 - 12:50 am [6]

• Obituary July 16 - 01:46 am [1]

Dear Fellows,

Many of us would like to share some thoughts about Leslie, and Merrill has set
up a Web Board for this purpose.

Please remember that one of the last things Leslie was anxious to communicate
to me was how proud she was of fellows and how fulfilling it was for her to
have the opportunity to help fellows. After receiving her diagnosis, the only
time that she became emotional when I spoke with her was not when thinking
about herself, but when thinking about all the strangers in Bosnia who went out
of their way to help her. She said that despite the bloodshed in Kosovo, the
experience really confirmed her faith in humanity. Let's do our best to make
the world a better place as she inspired us to do.

Take care,
Pam

My condolences! Leslie was a good teacher and charming person. I've learnt a lot from her.

Alex Sergounin

IPF Fellow 2003

Unfortunately we, the new fellows haven't had fortune to meet Leslie during last seminar in Budapest. Regretably, we won't have this opportunity for the next seminars too.

My deep condolences to family and friends of Leslie as well as IPF all former and current fellows.

Lively, supportive and passionate for work...thats how I remember Leslie. Its hard to face some realities in life, so is her untimely demise. She will always be in the thoughts and prayers of many of us all over the world, who owe a lot to her for being a valued teacher and a genuine inspiration.

May God bless her soul and comfort her family !

Mukhtar Aziz Kansi
IPF Felllow 2002-03

Peshawar - Pakistan

The feeling of sadness and great lost is so extremely overwhelming.

Leslie was an exceptional and extraordinary individual who impacted in positive way lives of many of us. Personally, for me she became not only enthusiastic, interested, critical and inspirational mentor but also a good Friend.

I will greatly miss Leslie and at the moment I even don't know how I am going to finish working on the IPF paper since it will always bring me Leslie's words and suggestions and memories of her.

Words can not describe the inner beauty, love, happiness and strength that Leslie so generously shared with us. Until the last moment she was thinking about people around her, she thought us to love the life, to achieve the dreams and change the world around us for a better place.

She was gone before we knew it still so young and full of plans and ideas. Although the days pass it is still difficult to believe that it is true. The mind refuses to believe that it can be true and the eyes can not stop crying in grief.

Dear Leslie, our thoughts are ever with you,

With love
And heartfull support to the family,

Tatjana Evas

We have with deep regret heard the tragic news of the death of Leslie.
She was a great friend and supporter of us.
We want to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to her family and friends on this tragic occasion.

Sevak Lalayan,
Paruyr Amirjanian,
Ashot Khurshudyan.
Armenia

The news of the passing away of Leslie caught us in the middle of
travel designing curricula for the first Public Policy Program in
Slovakia. A program where she played a key role in encouraging and
helping design throughout the process. Her spirit, energy and
dedication has always been a motivating force and the source of
inspiration and this sudden loss is a huge one. As we are going
through the seminar here in Macedonia we cannot not think of her
laughter and advice and spiriting presence. She is with us here. And
she will be with us when first students will be passing the Program in
Slovakia.

Also, Leslie was a great mentor when being in IPF, always ready to
help and a friend with whom we planned and laughed a lot. Her insight
and friendly approach changed my way of looking at public policy.

Katarina Staronova
Andrej Salner
Ludmila Malikova
Slovakia

Life is so beautiful and yet it has painful pinches in shape of our
loved ones being taken away. We are so shocked & griefed to hear about
Leslie's untimely demise.

She was a loving soul who have touched each heart she has ever met not
only as a mentor but as a friend and as a warm, loving human being. She
was so full of life with her sun shine smile which had an aura of its
own. I will miss her as a spirited soul reaching out to share its love,
knowledge and warmth.

May God bless her and she rest in peace and help her family and friends
to bear this tragedy.

Fauzia Yazdani Fellow 2003
Aazar Ayaz

Islamabad - Pakistan

My sorrow and condolences to dear family, colleagues and friends of Ms. Leslie Eliason.

Nonka Todorova
2004 Fellow
Sofia, Bulgaria

Leslie´s had a gift to make people interested in subjects they have never heard about. I learned a lot from listening to her examples from Scandinavia (which I believe was her favorite) in as much when she responded to my questions about policy making in the context of Roma policy. I received a lot encouragement from her and for that I will always remain grateful. I am convinced that she was an excellent teacher because she had a great personality and believed that we always have to follow good ideas, even though, at first, they might seem totally impossible to implement.

Eva Sobotka
International Policy Fellow 2001

It is shocking to learn about the sad demise of Ms. Leslie. Though I never met her but I heard very high opinion of my other colleagues about her. May God, the Almighty, rest her soul in eternal peace and bestow courage upon her family and friends to bear this irreparable loss.
Syed Anwar-ul-Hasan Bokhari
IPF 2004.

I am sure that everyone is in great grieve with the passing by of Leslie. I am deeply impress with her deep knowledge and warm personality in conducting training to IPF fellows.
May she rest in peace and may God give comfort to her family.


Asima Yanty Siahaan (IPF fellow 2002/3)
Indonesia

Leslie was such a happy, responsive, warm, humane and understanding person. Her tragic passing is a great loss for all of us and a very, very sad day for me and all those who were privileged to know Leslie personally.


Vlad Mykhnenko (2003/04 IPF Fellow)

Dear colleagues,

My condolences to you all! I am deeply shocked by this unfortunate
news. Leslie was a lovely lady who has touched each heart she has ever
met. I want to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to her
family and friends on this tragic occasion.
May she rest in peace.

Tebrone Gomelauri

Leslie was a wonderful, bright person who shared with us her broad knowledge, remarkable training skills and great sense of humour.
It was really good to have met her, to discuss professional matters, but also to have a chat and a good laugh during a coffe-break.
Along with the sadness and sympathy for her family I feel gratitude that I had a chance to come across her, a smiling person who did emanate good energy and respect for other people.
People will remember her well, and isn't it one of the most important things that one can achieve throughout the whole life?

Malgorzata Sternal, IPF Fellow 2003

I first met Leslie only last year, when she sat in on IPF training that I was conducting with IPF Fellows in Budapest. She had this dazzling combination of professionalism and good humour, and I thoroughly enjoyed having her contribute and comment as the week went on. Shortly after that, we both worked together on an OSI project in Bratislava, which gave me an even better opportunity to get to know her.

She had a marvellous gift of being able to communicate warmly with people, make them at ease, cooperate with them, but at the same time lead and teach them. I will miss her grace and her laughter which, to me, were her defining features.

Leslie A. Pal, IPF Trainer

I was in England when I heard the sad news about Leslie. It seems so hard to take in because she was so full of life. She had a great spirit and a laugh that I will always remember.
Goodbye Leslie.
Andrew Cartwright
CPS

I would like to express my deep sympathy in your loss. Condolences to Leslie's family, friends and colleagues.

Sincerely,

Svetozara
Bulgaria

I had not chance to become closely acquainted with Leslie - I only attended
her lectures as other fellows but I never forget her patience and kindness,
her deep knowledge and knack of teaching. Her death is a crying injustice -
she was so cheerful, active, optimist... Let keep her in our prayers.

Irina Zatushevski, fellow 2003

I was shocked when I heard the sad news. Leslie was such a charming
and helpful person, so warm with the fellows/students. Ready to learn
from them about their countries/issues and help them in formulating
their ideas in a constructive way. Condolences to her family and
friends.

Matus Minarik
IPF Fellow 2002/20003
Slovakia

Dear Friends,
Deeply shocked with the sad news I kindly ask you to send my condolences to
Leslie Eliason's family. We will remember her as a great instructor and a
brilliant scholar. Her family, her University and her country can always be
proud of her.

I am honoured that I was one of her students.

Radmilo Pesic
2003 International Policy Fellow
Professor of Economics
University of Belgrade, Serbia

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Leslie Eliason.

Arminio Rosic

I think it is very sad that such events occur so suddenly. They remind us of how fragile the life is around us. I attended several lectures delivered by
Leslie and enjoyed talking with her... She was an interesting interlocutor, a good professional, attentive to people around her. She was doing her job always with enthusiasm. These features come into my mind... My most sincere condolences to all the relatives. That is a very sad event, indeed.
Algirdas, Lithuania

My deep sorrow for Leslie... She was bright person and teacher.
We should find a way to keep her memory in IPF community.

Ivan Tchalakov

Indeed, it was extremely shocking to learn about the loss of Ms. Leslie
Eliason... Unfortunately, I did not have opportunity to work directly
with her but during the Budapest seminars she immediately astonished me
with her highly professional manner of conducting lectures, very
enthusiastic and lively nature and passion about what she is doing!!!

I wholeheartedly believe that she still had a lot to give to the
world around her and she could successfully continue with her mission to
share her knowledge and experience with those committed to the common
goals!

Please pass my deepest sympathies and condolescences to her family,
colleagues and friends!!

Leslie- your zealous, energetic and supportive attitude to people will
be always remembered! God keep your soul safe and warm...

Aida Ghazaryan
2003-2004 IPF Fellow
Armenia

Leslie was a wonderful teacher, a great mentor, and one of the friendliest and loveliest people I have ever met. Her enthusiasm for her own work, our projects, and the public policy world was breathtaking.

I got to know during the 2003 IPF seminars and social events -- discussing projects, talking about the benefits of yoga, swimming in Lake Balaton, and enjoying Hungarian food and wine -- and will treasure my memories of her forever.

No words. Shock! She was so sweet and kind! I was so sure she'd have bright, warm and peaceful future... unimaginable...
Family and friends-please, stay strong and proud-you had a wonderful person by your side!

Nino Gerkeuli
LGI Fellow 2003

It is very much shocking to hear that Leslie is no more. It is so depressing.

She is so lively and full of life.

Last time , I met her she has a desire to see an Indian marriage. She was a disciple of Yoga Guru K.S. Ayenger.She was waiting to meet him in India.

I miss her a lot at this moment. It is too tragic. I am so sorry.

Hara Prasad Padhy
IPF Fellow 2003

she will be remembered in Mongolia, for helping to set up the policy fellowship program there, and just for being a great person who was always ready to help, listen and share. and we are still to fulfill the plans that we had...

good bye Leslie

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Prof. Eliason... She was always there for her students and was sincere in the way she dealt with everyone who came to see her at MIIS. When I was going through a difficult time, I remember Leslie sharing her personal experiences and more by talking about her time in graduate school and her brother's military career. She was so proud of her brother's service in the military.

Her infectious laughs and wonderful spirit will be much missed by many and I will always remember how she loved life and was part of making this world a greater place that it can be. She is an inspiration and I am fortunate to have known her. Thank you, Leslie.....

Sabina Lee, IPS
Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, New York

Am so saddened by the death of Leslie. She was an inspirational professor whom was so encouraging and focusedon career development. My sincere condolences to the family and all those who knew her. We will realy miss your inspiational spirit, Leslie.

God bless your sole.... Thank you Leslie

This is incredibly sad news to me, as Leslie for me was one of the most
uplifting and positive experiences of the IPF program. Her energy,
enthusiasm, charm and wicked sense of humor were infectious. I only
discovered the tragic news today, as I am getting ready for the
celebrations of the EU entry of my country, a topic Leslie and I
discussed as late as a year ago. I will miss you and thank you!

Katarina Mathernova

"You know what! All those fears, they are all gone now."


It was Saturday, my friend and I just finished a big grocery shopping, and left for hospital to visit Leslie. Leslie for the past week taught me what it means to have a falsifiable hypothesis in my research design. I kind of learnt that during my M.A. studies at Duke, but no one has ever explained this to me as Leslie did. I finished saying this to my friend in order to better explain to her who is the person we are visiting in the hospital. I took a piece of paper from my pocket on which the room and floor of Leslie's room in the VIP section was written.

The third floor, the fifth room on the right. We walked into the hospital and the receptionist asked me where was I going. I told him. He smiled and said: "Ah, Amerikanka!" It meant "Aha, that American." I smiled back at him and we proceeded upstairs. I looked for her room only to be told by nurses that Leslie had a surgery early this morning and that she was resting in an intensive care room on the first floor. We walked downstairs and put on white slippers and coats before entering.

Leslie was smiling and breathing heavily. She said that doctors had to operate immediately and that it was good that she came on time. She did not stop thanking me for coming. I brought her a bunch of journals, and the Midnight's children book by Rushdie. She liked it and she was going to read it, she told me.

I did not know what to say. The last thing I expected was to find her in such a position, bound to the bed. I looked around the room and she was the only one ready to jump up and move on with her life. She looked like she needed no more care from anyone. "A cat's scratch", she said. "Who would have ever believed that a cat's scratch can bring you in here," she laughed. I had no idea that such a scratch could bring you to hospital, I thought for myself. I grew up with cats and could not quite comprehend it. But, the last thing I wanted was to ask her more about her health. Her face was pale, eyes shining but tired. She was exhausted from the surgery.

I looked at my friend and we both knew that it was time to leave. I asked her whether she needed something. She looked at us and said: "Yes, I need some toilet paper." My friend and I laughed. Leslie did not know why, but my friend said: "Hey, we can help you out with that!" Well, friend of mine ran out of toilet paper at home and that was the reason why we went to the store, to buy loads of toilet paper. She came back with a few rolls for Leslie. Leslie could not stop laughing and said: "This is such a great coincidence!"

I gave her a kiss on her right cheek and we left.

I came back next morning, it was Sunday. Leslie was much better. She played with young doctors. She picked a few words of Bosnian. We talked about everything, and suddenly she asked me why was I so pale. I looked at the other part of the room and just pointed to some lady that was in pain. I said that it was hard for me to look at that woman. My mother died when I was twelve and whenever I am in hospital I am reminded of my loss. Leslie just looked at me and started talking about something else.

Later during the day, I learnt that Leslie had a cancer. I was lost. Did not go to work. Stayed at home and stared at my mother's picture. My mother died from the same kind of cancer, in less than a month.

Four days passed before I gathered courage to buy a coke and wet towels and took them to Leslie. Leslie loved Coca-cola. She was in her VIP room this time. All smiling and happy. She said: "It is all over. I do have a little bit of pain in my leg, but the scar looks so pretty. The doctor did a good job. Soon, I will get out of here." She could not eat, but she had to. She forced herself to eat a salad that Elmir, a good friend of hers, brought her. I sat down and wrote a few phrases in Bosnian that she wanted to know such as "I am cold", "I need to go to the toilet", "Can you close the door", and the like. She said that it would be nice for me to teach her how to say "you are so cute", as she saw many handsome doctors. We both laughed.

I visited her almost every day after work. I would sit with her for half an hour or so. She would tell me what happened that day. Who came to visit her and how she is fed up with being bound to the bed. But luckily, her friends would call every day, and she was not bored.

One night she was so upset because the US embassy representatives came to visit her and said that she might need a medical evacuation. They scared her so much, but that was the day when she started suspecting that her illness is more serious than a cat's scratch. It was her doctor who called the embassy. She was furious at him: "I do not want some corridor talking", she said, "I want to know what is going on, because I am different. I can move on only when I know what is wrong with me. Then I can figure out what to do next." I tried to comfort her by saying that the people from the embassy probably overreacted. She felt better and calmer by the middle of the evening.

Every day as I watched her, I knew that she was going away slowly. I could not sleep for days. I was reliving my childhood. We became closer. I hugged her as she cried. Her friend Rachel came from Budapest, and she was with Leslie all the time.

Leslie said a story to Rachel and me. A friend of her called her that day and she reminded him of their fears. She was, most of all, afraid to end up with a serious illness in some strange countries, not knowing a word of the local language and not having a single friend. That was her fear, she said. Then she looked at me and Rachel and said: "You know what! All those fears, they are all gone now. Look at me; I am in Bosnia, surrounded with all these nice people who take such a good care of me, and I do not even have to speak Bosnian!"

I looked at Rachel. Did not say a word. I sat down. Leslie's phone rang. It was her father. She was again late to tell him "happy birthday". She said that she is always running late with sending presents to her father. But she remembers.

I left that night. I gave her a big hug. Kissed her and said goodbye. She was leaving for California next morning. Back to her family. Leslie was thrilled about it. Finally with her closest ones. Just before I left, she said one more story, or a thought of hers, that I will never forget.

In the meantime, I ended up in hospital. I was exhausted from insomnia, started vomiting, and doctors found out that I had erosions on my stomach, one would say ulcers. I stayed at home for a week. I thought of Leslie all the time. I even sent a small email to hospital, UCSF Medical Center, asking how was she doing. Did not get a response. During the week I was coming to terms with the loss, to terms with my past, to terms with a fear that was no irrational, a fear of losing someone again. I thought of my mother and of Leslie, and I know that they are somewhere together right now. They are in my hearts, that is for sure.

The thought she said just before I left is also in my heart. Once she leaves the hospital, and is healthy again, she was going to write a book. She had this idea in her mind for a long time, but this was like a trigger. She said that the book will be about those fears who were gone during her time in Bosnia. The thought was supposed to be an opening chapter or opening words, and it was going to sound something like this: "All journeys have starting and ending dates. Written on a plane ticket. But sometimes, another journey can start in the middle of the current one, and you never know where and when will it end."

After spending a whole week at home, curing my ulcers, I walked down the stairs to the downtown and found myself among the people. I looked around. Saw buildings, saw people holding hands, and running. I remembered Leslie's words: "All those fears, they are all gone now!" I took a deep breath and became just one more person in the crowd that night. I came to terms with the loss of my mother.

Only two days before my birthday, on the 12th, I received an email from which I learnt that Leslie passed away. I stared at my computer and those words written by Rachel: "This is just to let you know that Leslie passed away Monday morning. She will be sorely missed." I walked out of my office, sat down on the stairways and remembered that I actually was born on the 12th of April, but the 14th was written down in the books. Yes, most of journeys start and end on exact days, and on our journey we meet people who teach us many things. I learnt from Leslie how not to give up. She did not till the last second. I also had Leslie to show me that losing someone does not mean losing her forever, because people that we lose stay with us forever. And Leslie will be with me forever.

The untimely demise of Leslie Eliason is the most tragic news during the IPF program 2003-2004

I recall my close interaction with Leslie during the IPF Seminars in March and June 2003. Her easy accessibility and readiness to help, made it so easy for us to learn and understand. Her witty remarks and smiles were always a source of energizer in day long sessions. Her demise is an immense loss not only to her family and friends but also for the old and new IPF fellows.

As IPF fellows, we would appreciate if a lecture room/hall at CEU/CPS, is devoted to her name.

May God bless her soul and give patience to her family and friends to bear the loss.

Deep Condolences,
Sabina Qureshi
IPF Fellow 2003
Pakistan

I would like to express my deep condolences to the family and friends of Leslie Eliason. We lost a brilliant teacher and outstanding professional. She was responsive to all of us as fellows and was always willing to give her advice on our work. She was a wonderful and enthusiastic person.

You will stay in our hearts and memories forever.

Nurlan Djenchuraev, Kyrgyzstan

I haven't met prof. Leslie Eliason, but I heard many great comments about her work in the policy studies center and especially about her work in Bosnia. This must have been a very shocking news about the disease and especially about its quick development for her and her closest. I only hope that she could receive a very good care, that she needn't suffer and that she could find peace for herself and all her beloved ones.

I'm the same age as Leslie and I'm reflecting to that fact right now - how vitality can quickly turn to its opposite! I'm stopping all my activities for few moments and sending her good wishes with peace and love.

Urska Lunder,
IPF Fellow 2004
Slovenia

I saved on my computer the two page instructions she wrote for her students: "good research design". I put her webpage on my favourites."
I admired her even more when she told me, while driving in the bus towards the training site, that she is doing yoga. not only a proffessional, but the person inside her was there, opening in front of me. She said she had recently been able to do a difficult posture. I was interested, I am also doing yoga. I have learned from her that coming to terms with a new posture means coming to terms with something inside you.

So much life in her, and so much energy. I couldn't believe when I got the email from the IPF program. It seemed unfair, and not possible. And though, it happened. I saw the website then, but I couldn't post anything. Now I can, I guess, I came to terms with the fact that death happen to the most active and ebergetic persons. What matters most is what they leave behind. I am grateful to you, Leslie, I learned some new things from you. So good night and thanks, Leslie, I will always remember you.
C.

My condolences to Leslie Carol Eliason family, We will always remember you...

I spent most of my formative years being best friends with Leslie in Junior High and High School in Allentown, P.A. I think we even kissed boys together for the first time (in the street, no less... late at night walking home). I remember listening to Janis Ian's "At Seventeen" for hours with her, in her bedroom, musing about education and human behavior and our futures, and having her parents cook sublime chicken florentine for me for the first time... Bill was there, but Charlie must have been out of the house already. We were smart girls, cerebral, and both put something on the order of "Biomedical Engineering" down on the SAT forms which requested our proposed college majors. We lost touch in college, but I remember speaking to her when I lived in LA and she in northern California, shortly after the birth of my first child. We promised to keep in touch, but life intervened and only recently did I decide to find her again. How shockingly sad to read her obituary at 2:15 a.m., alone... I didn't believe it until I saw the pictures and had my worst fear confirmed that it wasn't someone else with the same name... my tears are copious both for my own selfish sadness in not having gotten close to her again, and sooner, and for a world that has lost such a special person. I knew it then, when she meant so much to my adolescent health, and I'm sorry that I lost track of it as an adult. My sincere condolences to her parents and brothers and extended family and friends, and of course to her students, and to the planet for losing one of the very best who graced it so selflessly. Her accomplishments were many, and they must be a real source of pride for those who were part of her more recent life.

I am in a bit of shock since I just learned of Leslie's passing. I was a student of Leslie's at the School of Public Policy at the University of Washington. I worked with Leslie quite a bit as she tried to put more of an international component into the school. Beyond making real progress in that effort, she was very personable and great with students. We also spent time handling the Hubert Humphrey Fellows at the school, a job that took quite a bit of juggling and some real diplomacy. But Leslie was good at that.

So Leslie's death is a personal loss and a loss for all the people she worked with: past, present, and future. Like so many others, I will not forget you Leslie.

I have just learned of this sad news. Leslie was one of my thesis advisors at UW in the mid-90s. I have since moved to San Francisco, and though I haven't talked with her since a few years after she came to Monterey, I was always comforted to think that Leslie was "just down south, not far away." Leslie had a profound impact on my intellectual development, and her belief in my abilities and my mind kept me going even when I doubted myself the most. I'm certain there are many other students across the world for whom she was a pillar of encouragement.

I feel a sense of loss, not only for myself and for those who knew Leslie, but for the many students and fellows that will now not have the good fortune of knowing her insightfulness, generosity, inspiration, and laughter. She was truly a brave person, willing to commit to things in this difficult world that few have the courage to take on, and she took them on with an open heart. She is missed.

I was trying to track Leslie down today to refer her to a colleague moving to Monterey. Such a shock instead to discover her recent passing. We worked together on the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship in the 1990s, when I directed the national office from Washington, DC and Leslie was the faculty coordinator at U. of Washington, where I visited several times during her tenure.

Such a bright, spirited and devoted mentor and colleague was Leslie. She connected so well with those who worked with her, and cared deeply for their success, happiness and well-being.

I still am hard pressed to take this news in. My deepest condolences to her family and those close to her who surely must feel this loss deeply.

Bill Dant
Institute of International Education
Washington, DC

Just learned today--this moment in fact--that Leslie Eliason had passed away in April. It was and is a shock. I was a IFP trainer for some years, and had worked with Leslie in the June 2003 training sessions. I had heard so many positive comments about her training in previous sessions that I was anxious to meet her. She quickly showed the combination of professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm that had clearly endeared her to previous IPFs. My condolences to her colleagues at OSI and in the network, to the many fellows who benefited from her guidance, and to her family and friends.

I knew Leslie at the University of Virginia in the late 70's. She was beautiful, full of fun, but also urbane, civilized and clearly headed for a wonderful life. The world is a little dimmer now without her.

I knew Leslie at the Uiversity of Virginia in 1980 and 1981. It is not surprising to see so many touching comments about her life. She touched many people. I remember best her laugh, sense of humor and activist spirit. I hope we meet again someday Leslie.

Working with, and studying under, Leslie at the University of Washington was always a pleasure because of her enthusiasm, intelligence and kindness. I had planned to attend a conference in Monterey recently and wanted to contact her and was saddened to learn of her passing. I had not spoken with her for several years, but would wonder from time to time about what she was doing, planning on contacting her whenever I was in California. We worked together organizing visiting groups from Hyogo prefecture in Japan, and she inspired me to learn more about Public Policy which I incorporated in my Ph.D. dissertation, and am embracing in my professional life. We also shared a deep love of Scandinavia. She will be much missed.