On December 10, 2010, at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., there was a memorial service commemorating the life of Eugene (“Gene”) Hall Bird. National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony was invited to attend the memorial service and, if possible, contribute a eulogistic note for remembrance. At the time, however, Dr. Anthony was in Saudi Arabia to attend the 40th Annual GCC Ministerial and Heads of State Summit and, thus, unable to attend the commemoration. He contributed the following for Gene’s family and friends as a remembrance.
But for my being abroad, nothing would have pleased me more than to be with the family and friends of the late Gene Bird at the commemoration of his life and legacy today. Many loved Gene and he loved them in return. The emotional connections that ensued were meaningful to both. In many cases, they enabled each to become someone different and better than they were before.
Eugene (“Gene”) H. Bird. (Family Photo).
My memories of Gene are numerous and diverse. All are of warmth and companionship. These feelings accompanied Gene and those closest to him all his life. He was a man who raised the bar high. He often set and manifested standards of physical, political, and, above all, moral courage that few could match and none could surpass.
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