Remarks of Ambassador Janet E. Garvey

24 March in Bamendjou, Cameroon

I would like to begin today by thanking the Fo’o and the people of Bamendjou for organizing this ceremony, a chance to celebrate the life of John Granville.  Although I did not know John personally, it is clear from those who have spoken before me today that he was an extraordinary individual who had a significant impact on those around him.  What comes through most clearly in listening to these voices was John’s deep and profound dedication to service and improving the lives of those around him.  James Ham has highlighted John’s service as a Peace Corps volunteer; I would like to speak to his continued dedication to the development of Africa first as a Fulbright scholar in Cameroon and then as a Foreign Service Officer elsewhere on the continent. 

After completing his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, John returned home, enriched by his experience in Bamendjou and even more committed to working for others.  He began a Master’s program in International Development, but Cameroon remained foremost in his thoughts and he sought opportunities to return.  In 2001, he applied to be a Fulbright scholar in Cameroon, writing in his application that “the future of successful development depends upon people understanding one another and their unique values, culture, and perceptions.”  John realized that before you can help someone, you must first know them.  As he had come to profoundly know Cameroon and the people of Bamendjou, he used this understanding to help develop new strategies for fighting HIV/AIDS based on an understanding of people and culture.  His service in this important field had an impact on countless Cameroonians both here in Bamendjou and in the Far North region.

In his Fulbright application, John also noted his desire to return to Africa to continue his development efforts following completion of his degree.  True to his word, after graduation John joined the United States Agency for International Development and returned to the continent, first to Kenya and then to Sudan.  In his job, John worked with remote communities in Southern Sudan to help bring democracy and self-governance to that part of the world.  At a eulogy for John in his home state of New York, the head of USAID noted her favorite photograph of John showed him in a smiling in a field and surrounded by happy villagers who had just received some of the 50,000 radios he helped distribute to people who had been isolated from the outside world after nearly 25 years of war.  Shortly before his death, John spent time in eastern Sudan, using his expertise – much of which was developed in Bamendjou – to help the local government bring health and educational services to its citizens.  In both of these instances, you see John out among the people, learning about them and seeking ways to make their lives better. 

As we all know, John’s life was taken far too early when, in the early hours of January 1st, he was gunned down by terrorists in an act of senseless violence and hatred.  Those who committed this heinous crime didn’t know John, or the students he taught, or the work he did to prevent HIV/AIDS, or the lives he changed.  And they didn’t care.   Their goal was to destroy, while John’s was always to build.  But what they are unable to tear down is the school he helped to construct here in Bamendjou.  What they can not undo is the good work he did while among us.  What they will never destroy is the memories of John cherished by those of you who knew him and which will always remain a part of his powerful legacy. 

When John Granville was killed so violently and tragically, it was not only his loved ones in the United States who mourned, or his friends and co-workers in Sudan, but also his family here in Cameroon, for John was truly one of you; accepted as a Bameleke  and made a son of Bamendjou.  I feel very honored to be among John’s Cameroonian family here today to celebrate his life and what he meant to this community.

Thank You.