An Ode for Angela Along the path of my life’s journey, I was blessed and touched to meet someone who has left footprints on my heart – forever. Angela Cropper. Angela was my boss, my mentor – and, in the latter years – turned out to be a sincere friend and the big dear sister I never had! I was struck and deeply influenced by Angela’s high level of professionalism. She was as principled and disciplined as she was meticulous and effective. She was consistent in character and definitive in deed. She aimed for the skies and applied the highest possible standards one could ever strive to reach She was exigent with herself and compassionate with others. She always gave and gave of her very best – even unto death. Throughout her illness in Nairobi, Angela came to work, weak, frail and walking with the support of a stick after a restless night and insisted on working as though nothing was the matter – she sought neither sympathy nor favour. She felt that it was her duty to finish what she had started - this, for me and many of us in the UNEP Executive Office where Angela served as Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, was very hard to comprehend. Angela had many misfortunes in her life. Then came the long and arduous battle with cancer. I was with her when the diagnosis was made. Angela carried the cross of pain, loss, loneliness and battling this terrible illness with such dignity and grace! She earned our admiration. She never showed bitterness or resentment. Angela confided in me, and sometimes placed in my confidence tasks I did not feel I was adequately skilled nor mandated to do, but that was Angela. She believed in building people and helping them reach their full potential. I will grieve for her for a long time to come. I will miss her as words could never describe. I will remember her with warm fondness and a kind prayer. And November 12, 2012 - a very sad day for me – will forever remain engrained in my mind and my heart as the day the world stood still for me.