VICTORIA, B.C. - J. Alan Beesley, who had a distinguished career with the Canadian foreign service, died peacefully in his sleep in Victoria with his family at his side. He was 81.
He received many medals and honours including the Order of Canada in 1984 for his extensive work on the Law of the Sea and the Environment.
Beesley served as Canada's Ambassador to Austria, Canada's first Ambassador for Disarmament, 1980-1982, Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva and to the Disarmament Conference and GATT, 1983-1987 and assistant under-secretary and legal adviser to External Affairs from 1972-1973.
He also served as Ambassador for Marine Conservation and Special Environmental Adviser to Canada's Foreign Minister 1989-1991.
Beesley attended the Stockholm Conference on the Environment in 1972 and throughout his career was deeply committed to protecting the environment.
He is survived by his wife of six years Ruth Lechner Beesley. He is predeceased by his wife of thirty-seven years, Margaret Ruth Beesley (nee Stevens), who is the mother of his two children Terry Beesley Phipps and S. Alan Beesley.
