Brilliant diplomat David Malone helped Canada win a seat on the UN Security Council

One of the giants of Canada’s Foreign Service, David M. Malone had an illustrious 50-year career as a diplomat, academic and international civil servant, with leadership positions in Ottawa, New York, Delhi and Tokyo. He was also a prolific author of books and essay collections, focusing on international security, the United Nations, development and Indian foreign policy. In his last posting, as rector of the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo, he held the rank of UN under-secretary general.

Mr. Malone was diagnosed with prostate cancer more than a year ago and, more recently, with Alzheimer’s disease. His niece Justine Malone, a lawyer in Canada’s Department of Justice and executor of his estate, says he was able to demonstrate that he still had the requisite level of lucidity to make the free choice of medical aid in dying and could determine when he would take the procedure. He was not in physical pain but chose an early date, Nov. 24.