UN Colleagues and Friends Tribute – Celebration of Life of Vijaya (Catherine) Claxton — 9 Dec 1947 – 23 Dec 2009

Filed under Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

SELECTED TRIBUTES TO VIJAYA

Excerpts from the generous outpouring received since Vijaya’s passing.

from United Nations Colleagues and Friends

(NOTE See also:

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I am very saddened to hear of Vijaya’s passing away. I recall her warmth of spirit and intense
humanity. Her strong swimming capabilities and her boundless cheerfulness. Please convey
my heartfelt condolences to her family and close friends. She was a good soul.
VIJAY NAMBIAR Under-Secretary-General and Chef de Cabinet of the United Nations


I would like to express my sadness regarding the passing away of Catherine Vijaya Claxton. I
had enormous regard for her and appreciated deeply her contribution and disposition to help
in achieving the reform of the UN’s internal system of justice. She worked tirelessly together
with the Department of Management team in achieving this goal. Her passionate dedication
to the Panel of Counsel was key in the establishment of the Office of Staff Legal Assistance to
support staff. Her beautiful eyes mirrored her heart. My fond memories and high regards to
her family for their wonderful daughter and sister – who was a friend to us all.
ALICIA BARCENA UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director,
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Vijaya (aka Catherine) Claxton struggled for twenty years in the position of Coordinator of
the Panel of Counsel and was a key advocate for reforming the system. Despite her efforts
and victories, she ended up in a basement office, which produced more good work for staff
than many could dream of. And she did this with almost hand-out resources. Vijaya was nevertheless
able to build a credible platform to assist staff. Vijaya was successful because she
worked endlessly, was excellent with people, and she cared. She was a credible voice with staff
and management. While not formally trained as a lawyer, Vijaya was more knowledgeable
about the rules, jurisprudence and how the system worked (or didn’t) than anyone I know.
For those of us who knew Vijaya, her loss is great and seemingly unfair. Vijaya had retired
from a long UN career only last summer, and she was looking forward to working again as a
mediator. She would have been a forthright, knowledgeable and results-oriented mediator.
Unfortunately her disease was too far progressed. I understand from the colleagues who visited
her in the hospice that she fought hard to survive, as was her character.
What Vijaya created as a legal aid office for UN staff and, more importantly, what we now
have in the Office of Staff Legal Assistance (OSLA) as a global office, is her legacy to the United
Nations. OSLA must continue to do our best to make the internal system of UN administrative
justice, of which OSLA is an integral part, the best it can be. We must do it for ourselves,
for the staff — our clients, and for the memory of Vijaya.
BRIAN GORLICK Chief, Office of Staff Legal Assistance, Office of Administration of Justice

I met Vijaya in 1986 or so, when she worked with Cedric Thornberry in the Panel of Counsel
(POC) and I worked with the Joint Appeals Board/Joint Disciplinary Committee, as Assistant
Secretary. Cedric was a D-1, but after he went on to greener pastures, Vijaya practically
single-handedly carried on the work of the office. Over the years, she really put the POC on
the map, under often very difficult circumstances and without adequate resources. She just
managed — always cheerful and willing to go the extra mile. Without her input and efforts,
the Office of Staff Legal Assistance would not exist today.
MARITZA STRUYVENBERG Principal Registrar, Office of the Administration of Justice

I remember Vijaya, or Catherine as I knew her for most of my UN career, with fondness and
admiration. In the past two years I had the privilege of working closely with Vijaya, on the reform of
the UN’s internal justice system. Many people were involved in this effort. But she was the one
with the true passion. She had seen a lot of injustice and unfair treatment of staff, and worked
tirelessly on their behalf. She left no stone unturned, no path unexplored, to ensure that individual
staff members had help in defending themselves or trying to find solutions to intractable
situations. But she knew that even with the best intentions of volunteers across the
UN, this was not enough. The system itself had to change.

She played a key role in championing a professionalized administration of justice system,
with legal assistance and mediation provided to staff. Whether in an internal coordination
meeting of the justice reform team, or in informal meetings of the Fifth Committee, she gave
one hundred per cent. She was persuasive, and I believe won over many simply as a result of
the transparency of her convictions. I can still remember how her whole face shone when the
General Assembly approved the new system, in 2008.
Vijaya touched a lot of staff all over the world. She honestly cared for people’s wellbeing,
and for justice and fairness, and she was never fearful to stand up to those more powerful.
Many staff owe a lot to Vijaya, whether directly or indirectly.
In some ways, I owe her my UN career: she was the person who first interviewed me when
I applied for a job at the UN 30 years ago.
MLENA DISSIN Deputy Director, Administration and Management Outreach Division, DPI



I am sorry to say that I only came to know Vijaya in the last years of her life. I had the privilege
of collaborating with her on one of her greatest legacies — the reform of the UN’s internal
justice system. There is no one here, and probably no one in the entire UN system who
encountered Vijaya, that didn’t feel her deep and abiding passion for justice.
Of all of the remarkable things about this very remarkable woman was the fact that Vijaya
believed and lived the core values that all UN staff members are supposed to share. She believed
in the mission of this place and knew instinctively that the UN couldn’t succeed in its
varied global missions without providing justice to its staff and operating by rule-of-law principles
within its own walls.
But as much as I came to know Vijaya through an issue that she felt great passion for, and
could say much more about her dedication, determination and fortitude, I think what remains
with me most is the warmth that she exuded and the deep sense of optimism with
which she approached all her endeavours. Given her role advocating for staff, it would have
been easy for her to become tired, jaded, or cynical. But to the contrary, Vijaya was, above all
things, a builder and a solution finder. She was also genuine, open and honest — traits that
made her a good friend as well as an outstanding colleague.
I miss her good counsel and great spirit, but feel privileged to have been able to know her
and count her as a friend.
KRISTINA CAREY Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Office of Administration of Justice

Vijaya’s death is a tragic loss not only for her family, friends and colleagues, but also for all
United Nations staff members around the world. She has dedicated many years of her service
with the United Nations to defend the rights of staff members in her capacity as Coordinator
of the Panel of Counsel. I had the pleasure and the privilege to work with her as part
of the redesign of the system of administration of justice at the UN. She played an invaluable
role in this exercise, always defending zealously the rights of staff members. The last time I visited
Vijaya in her office, she kindly gave me copies of her beautiful artwork including a selfportrait
of herself swimming across the English Channel. Vijaya will continue to be an
inspiration for all of us and will be sorely missed.
OUSMANE KANE Chief, Management Evaluation Unit Office of the USG for Management

I started my career in Geneva and heard of the “Claxton” woman as part of my work all the
way across the Atlantic. I only met her, however, when assigned to New York. This was still
early in my career, and I was not sure what to expect. She walked into our first scheduled
meeting in charge! In charge of her surroundings, her situation, her life. She exuded purpose
— a meaningful reason for all that she did, personally and professionally.
Some people were intimidated by this strength — though it was always a delight and often
amusing. She was quick to take on the hard fight and not infrequently made me secretly smile
at her clever ways of getting to the best solution even if it meant that I conceded defeat.
She always won the respect and admiration of us all. I will remember her as the person
who single-handedly carved out the important function she served at the UN and against
many, many challenges. I probably was one of her challenges, and she overcame me with skill,
wisdom and a lot of just plain decency, which is not always easy to find in this world. It is impossible
not to appreciate Vijaya, her work and her contribution to the lives of so many. I
know she will always live in my memory and I feel better for it.
MICHAEL DUDLEY Acting Director, Investigations Division, UN/OIOS


Vijaya’s fount of wisdom streamed through every river in her life and bore many along with
her. She was an inspiration to so many of us, showing us how there could be a way forward,
how people could be treated with justice and with dignity. Vijaya’s wit, ready smile and
gurgling laugh were great pleasures for us all, and the fact that they were accompanied by a
resolve of steel brought strength and comfort when most needed. She was a champion in our
midst and we will miss her sorely.
JAMES A. LEE Consultant Ombudsman, Office of the United Nations Ombudsman

All who met and interacted with Vijaya were deeply impacted by her sincerity, warmth, inclusiveness,
vibrancy, and most of all, by her profound sense of justice. I had the privilege of
working closely with Vijaya over the past three years and she was not only a friend and colleague,
but also a true inspiration to me. In addition to being a joy to sit and dine with socially,
she was also serious about professional improvements in the informal system.
Vijaya was fully committed to the cause of justice and celebrated every milestone of
progress towards the eventual reform of the justice system of the United Nations. She maintained
a relentless pace to ensure that no staff member’s quest for justice and fair treatment
fell through the cracks, spared no effort to discuss, meet, or look at the issues from diverse perspectives.
She never thought that one more meeting to resolve an issue was too much, even
after she had spent an entire night working with Committees to advocate for resources and
a functional and effective justice system.
For Vijaya no issue was too trivial and each case was worth a thorough review of its merits.
Once she could establish that there was injustice, she was resolute in trying to ensure that
justice was done. She has left an indelible mark and standard in the informal system. It is indeed
cruel irony that just as the promise of a more functional and effective justice system for
the United Nations loomed on the horizon, and a greater opportunity for Vijaya to play a
vital role was emerging, she was suddenly taken from us. She is already sorely missed. I certainly
will miss you, Vijaya, my colleague and friend.
VERONICA LUARD Joint Ombudsperson (UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/UNOPS)

Vijaya was so full of life, energy, compassion and determination; it is incomprehensible that
she is no longer among us. I came to know Vijaya over the years as a colleague and friend and
admired her humanism and readiness to always stand for what is fair and right. Her dreams
took her across the Channel and into the study halls of Cornell and Columbia. She was always
considering the next challenge. I shall miss her dearly.
SIMONA PETROVA Principal Officer, Executive Office of the Secretary-General

As one who worked closely with Vijaya in the Panel of Counsel for over fifteen years, the most
striking quality I observed was her determination to take action toward what she considered
right and good, without regard for its effect on her own wellbeing. When facing the challenges
of her UN work, Vijaya never asked the question, “Is it possible?” but only, “Is it the right
thing to do?” When the answer was affirmative, action immediately followed.
SURASHRI PARADIS Legal Assistant, Office of Staff Legal Assistance

Vijaya’s commitment to justice and doing what was right — even when it was the rockier
path — endures in the many people she inspired at the Organization in which she believed.
Protecting the rights of others with tenacity and heart was just one of her many gifts, as was
her ability to fill a room with laughter.
JOANNA PAUL Legal Officer, United Nations Dispute Tribunal;
and Legal Officer, former Panel of Counsel

As a volunteer member of the Panel of Counsel, I worked with Vijaya from 1996 to 2009.
Words cannot convey the extraordinary job she did as the Coordinator of the Panel. For most
of this period, she worked with a single assistant and a variety of volunteers like myself, trying
to ensure that staff could get the support they needed to navigate the treacherous seas
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known as the UN system of justice. She was battling against all the odds, with a hopelessly understaffed
office, and having to tread a fine line between serving staff members who needed
help and maintaining an effective working relationship with her employer. Needless to say, this
was a situation fraught with potential for misunderstandings and bad feelings. That she succeeded
as Coordinator for 20 years underlines her dedication to both the staff and the
Organization, and the exceptional skills and personal qualities she brought to the job.
Vijaya leaves a rich legacy. She strove tirelessly to address the serious flaws in the system of
justice, and her efforts were rewarded when drastic reforms were approved by the General
Assembly in 2008 and 2009. She guided the staff of the Panel of Counsel, and taught volunteers
like me just about everything we know about justice at the UN. I fully expected to continue
to see her in her new role as a mediator, and to continue to benefit from her unequaled
knowledge and insights for many years to come. Her untimely demise is a huge loss to the
Organization. She will be very sadly missed by her former colleagues, and most especially by
the hundreds of staff who have benefited from her wisdom and compassion.
CHRISTOPHER RONALD Volunteer Counsel, OSLA, and member, former Panel of Counsel

I first met Vijaya Claxton soon after I was appointed Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee
of UNDP/UNOPS/UNHCR. She graciously invited me to lunch to talk shop. We soon realized
that we not only had many interests in common but also had mutual close friends.
Immediately after my stint at UNDP ended, she invited me to join the Panel of Counsel office
(POC), which was located in a three-room basement office in the Secretariat building.
The POC staff consisted of a less than a handful of people that was in effect charged with
providing legal support to thousands of UN staff the world over. Totally unfazed by the near
impossible task of servicing such a large labour force, Vijaya Claxton had ingeniously melded
a hardy band of workers and allied retirees and volunteers into a powerful law office. We were
all inspired by her pioneering spirit and keen commitment to the hapless staff members
strewn across the world who looked to the POC office for not only legal support but also for
emotional succor as well. Vijaya successfully instilled in the POC a deep sense of commitment
and dedication to the varied needs of its clientele who would otherwise have been bereft
of effective legal assistance. The skeletal staff was bided over by Vijaya Claxton’s noble spirit
of service and cheerfully took on the daunting task before them. We saw ourselves as the proletariat
of the UN legal system pitted against the bourgeoisie of the Administration’s legal
support team. We all had heavy caseloads and shaky contracts, but we soldiered on, fueled by
the powerful spirit of service Vijaya Claxton had instilled in us. The vast majority of clients
we serviced came to respect us and repeatedly plumbed the POC for legal counsel in all phases
of their careers and work.
But there was more to Vijaya Claxton than the workload of the POC; she had a panoramic
view of the UN legal system and set herself the task of transforming and making it more re-
sponsive to the needs of the UN community. Long before it became fashionable, she started
the campaign of getting the General Assembly to install a professional system of justice run
by real judges. She tirelessly lobbied the various delegations of the GA for years until the idea
of transforming the internal system of justice was first accepted and then a process was set in
motion to make it a reality. For those who are in the know, Vijaya Claxton was the driving
force behind the movement that led to the creation of the Office of Administration of Justice
(OAJ). It is rather ironic that she had retired and was not available to receive the accolades due
her for her selfless contributions. However, that will not detract from her achievement because
in a very real sense, the OAJ will stand as her monument and a sure recognition of her patriotic
commitment to the UN Organization.
The POC alumni can safely testify that it was Vijaya Claxton who single-handedly built a
spirit of cooperation and cordiality within the POC which formed the cohesive element that
impelled the tiny POC to pursue the claims of its large clientele without fussing over the obvious
lack of resources. Vijaya Claxton kept up our spirits and was always available to provide
the staff with directives, advice and solutions to knotty problems that cropped up all the time.
Vijaya Claxton was so dedicated to the cause of clients and the effectiveness of the POC that
even when she went on vacation or in “treatment” she freely responded to the questions we
plied her about pressing problems. She never let on about any mishaps about her personal situation
but was instead keenly concerned about the well-being of each and every member of
the POC larger family. Vijaya Claxton’s noble spirit so pervaded the POC office that the staff
developed a sibling interest in each other. This spirit of dedication has been carried over into
OSLA (POC’S successor), which is in turn expanding the efforts of the POC to an ever increasing
clientele base. OSLA is in effect carrying on Vijaya Claxton’s noble spirit of dedicated
service (sans resources) to the great benefit of its wide array of clients.
It bears noting that the name she adopted in adulthood — Vijaya — which means victory,
is truly apt because it sums up the outcome of her remarkable achievement to the service of
the UN community.
DUKE DANQUAH Legal Officer, OSLA; and Legal Officer, former Panel of Counsel

Vijaya was one of the most peace-loving and compassionate human beings I have ever met.
She showed great concern for the people she served and devoted herself wholeheartedly and
tirelessly to ensuring that not only were their grievances handled in a professional manner, but
that they understood that she cared about their being treated with dignity and respect.
Vijaya’s work at the UN and her relations with colleagues truly exemplified the lofty objectives
of the UN — promoting and encouraging peace and respect for human rights and for
fundamental freedoms for all without distinction. She will never be forgotten and her legacy
will endure.
ROSE MARIE DENNIS Legal Officer, OSLA; and Legal Officer, former Panel of Counsel
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Simply a lovely, wonderful person! My father’s greatest compliment was, “S/he had good instincts.”
It was Vijaya’s lot in life not only to have them, but to act on them, unfailingly — perhaps
not the easiest thing to do at the United Nations. I will, like everyone else, miss her enormously.
C. STEPHEN BALDWIN Legal Officer, former Panel of Counsel

Vijaya was a very accomplished athlete who, only a few years before retirement, crossed the
English Channel. This achievement required years of training, willpower, great determination,
perseverance, courage and strength. In the same manner, without ever being discouraged,
with generosity and caring for her colleagues, Vijaya tackled the daunting task of their defense
under a dysfunctional system and with such insufficient means at her disposal. She also contributed
to the new system of administration of justice that she had at heart.
ANNE FOSTY Legal Officer, former Panel of Counsel


She was a very rare and unique staff member in the fashion she demonstrated her devotion
to duty and in her humane and compassionate handling of each case. At the same time she
maintained excellent relations all around and never failed to provide support to her colleagues
and associates.
ANTONIO T. BAUTISTA Volunteer Counsel, OSLA; and Member, former Panel of Counsel

I first heard about Vijaya more than two decades ago when, as a young lawyer at the UN, I was
trying to find out how to assist my colleagues in need of legal advice and representation. My
phone rang in Santiago, and there was this encouraging and cheerful voice on the other end,
inviting me to the great adventure of fighting for our internal justice. We kept a very encouraging
phone and later email contact for years and I only met her personally during a
mission to NY in 2005. I will never forget her welcoming attitude, the funny efforts to look
for a place to sit amidst papers, folders, books, candles and flowers, and her offering me a
tempting variety of incredible teas which we drank while talking for hours in the middle of
her taking care of people, phone calls, her reviewing submissions and arranging beautiful
flowers in fresh water. After that wonderful journey, I left her office with a reinforced conviction
that, as many people wisely say, “Impossible is not a fact, only an opinion.”
Some years afterwards, during a longer assignment in New York in 2007, I was finally able
to assist the New York Panel of Counsel for a month. I had the opportunity to share cases
(some of them that I still handle), approaches, initiatives and legal arguments with her, but
also all her excitement, decisions and hope for the crossing of the Channel. Other friends in
the office and I enjoyed learning about the Channel swimmers’ fraternity. We examined maps,
tide and winds information, and we walked in our minds and souls along Normandy. I reallyfelt like we were preparing for a D-Day.
Of course, one could speak about sadness, surprise, denial of the departure of somebody
so cheerful, active, healthy. But let me say that I firmly believe that she departed in a time of
joy, of life, of hope. I am sure she has entered that wonderful place in which she certainly believed
through her strong and lively faith, smiling and transmitting courage, dreams for a
better world, beauty, compassion, commitment. She will surely cast a different but equally
powerful light as she did during her passage for this life on Earth.
I only hope that, as a pro-bono counselor for my colleagues worldwide, I am able to keep
the flame that she once lit for all those in need of justice.
CARMEN ARTIGAS Legal Officer, ECLAC, Santiago;
and Legal Officer, former Panel of Counsel

As the Coordinator of the Panel of Counsel, Vijaya achieved much more than anyone believed
was possible. Because of her efforts and influence, the administration of justice became
much more fair and equitable. She also made major contributions to the development
of the new system of justice.
In some legal cases in Peacekeeping Missions, staff felt abandoned and hopeless. Vijaya
made an immediate and positive difference in their lives. Vijaya took risks instead of playing
it safe; she boldly pursued what she believed in and she made a major difference in the lives
of many people. Vijaya lived a life to be proud of.
BERNARD ADAMS Volunteer Counsel, OSLA; and Member, former Panel of Counsel

Vijaya will be remembered not only for her tireless efforts to assist staff in their time of need
for a compassionate listener and advocate, but also as an effective voice for gender issues in
the workplace. She has touched so many of us and will be truly missed.
AMAL OUMMIH Legal Officer, OSLA; and Legal Officer, former Panel of Counsel

Dear Vijaya, you have fought a good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith:
henceforth there is laid up for you a crown of righteousness. Rest in Peace!
ROSALIE AKA Legal Specialist, Legal Support Office Bureau of Management, UNDP
Vijaya Claxton was full of life and energy and, more importantly, lived life to the full. She was
a fantastic advocate for many former and present UN employees who were wrongfully treated
by the Organization and she gave a renewed sense that justice was still possible in this world
despite the odds stacked against them. The richness and depth of her experience in advocacy
of employees’ rights in the UN is probably without equal. Vijaya was always willing to impart
her knowledge and experience and give advice despite her hectic schedule.
Vijaya was in many ways a pioneer of the changes in the internal justice system and was
constantly seeking and successfully using new ways to obtain justice for aggrieved staff members.
The changes she pioneered were necessary for the UN and will, in the long term, be positive
for the UN and its employees. One day when the history is written of Internal Justice at
the UN, Vijaya’s important role will undoubtedly be recognized.
Personally, many of the lessons Vijaya taught me about advocacy still form the basis of the
work that I do now as a lawyer. I also remember the wonderful cookies and other goodies
that she always made available to visitors of the Panel of Counsel. It was indeed a pleasure and
great learning experience working with Vijaya, and her loss will be greatly felt by myself and
countless others whose lives she touched.
CYRIL F. KUDIABOR Assistant General Counsel, The City of New York,
Office of Labor Relations; and Member, former Panel of Counsel


(Vijaya communicating with her support crew before a training swim.)

Over the last few weeks I have been thinking about the impact Vijaya has had on so many different
people. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry explained that love is looking “together in the same
direction.” Vijaya seemed to approach each person and the problems that they brought to her
from this perspective. She would identify so completely that one felt she understood the situation
better than someone who was in the middle of a difficulty. Then she would do everything
possible to obtain the best result. People felt Vijaya’s acceptance of them and the intense
focus and commitment to their concerns as a sign of her great capacity to love.
She felt things so intensely and suffered deeply from people’s disappointments; however, she
would not give up. She was always willing to try one more thing. If she felt something was
right, she would try another approach to cajole someone into taking progressive action.
She was a true warrior in the best sense of the word. She always strove to be an instrument
for good. She loved to be victorious for something she felt was right and yet was able to accept
temporary setbacks as experiences to be learned from and transcended. I am sure now
she will be finding ways to assist the good and beautiful and all those she loved from the new
plane where her soul resides.
ADHIRATHA KEEFE Member, former Panel of Counsel; English Channel swimmer;
and Project Officer, Records and Archives Management Unit, UNICEF (retired)
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I worked with Catherine Vijaya Claxton for more than 20 years in the Panel of Counsel. I had
the greatest admiration for her total dedication to her function. It was really much more than
work for her; it was a sacerdotal activity. She devoted countless hours every day trying to help
colleagues who were victims of the UN bureaucracy. Her generosity and devotion were exceptional
and she will never be replaced.
JOFRED GRINBLAT Volunteer Counsel, OSLA; and Member, former Panel of Counsel

My contact with Catherine goes back to early 2004 when I requested assistance from the UN
Panel of Counsel. I found in Catherine an officer in the very best sense supporting and guiding
me in my case. Through her selfless work, Catherine has gained my profound respect and
gratitude. She will be sorely missed by many colleagues in the UN and beyond. I shall remember
Catherine Claxton forever!
RAINER LESAR Former Director of UNMIK,
Directorate of Infrastructure Affairs, Communications

Vijaya was a wonderful person with a lot of vigor, energy and trust in her clients. I was one
who felt privileged as she really tried to assist me more than expected. Moreover, she was a
good listener and gave comfort at times when many of my UN colleagues had turned away. I
am currently working for the European Union in Tbilisi, but my thoughts will be with her
family and friends and colleagues in New York.
GERARD FISCHER Client, former Panel of Counsel

“My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk…”
Only these words from Keats can truly express the pain I feel at the loss of our dear sister,
Vijaya.
GORDON H. TAPPER Chief, Facilities Management Service,
Department of Management (retired)

I was impressed by her care for the UN staff, her commitment to justice and her dedication
to work beyond what was expected of her to reach this outstanding goal. This was a challenging
job, but she did not yield and took up the challenge with confidence and belief. Colleagues
are very proud of her great service, and she left us while being proud of all the good
contributions she made. We are missing her greatly at this particular time of year when the
sky opens up with blessings. Surely, she will be in a very good place before the Lord and she
will be blessed by God.
MORTEZA MIRMOHAMMAD Chief, Organizational Design and
Classification Unit, Field Personnel Division, Department of Field Support

I had the opportunity to work with Vijaya to try to help staff members struggling with substance
abuse. Vijaya was compassionate. She worked with the energy of a true spiritual warrior.
Vijaya helped me learn to negotiate, through her skills in mediation. I will not forget the
day Vijava invited me into her office to view the DVD of her swimming the English Channel.
Over a cup of tea, she shared with me how she was feeling during each phase of her 22-hour
swim. Vijaya is a strong example that we can accomplish whatever we set our intentions on.
KEN DALEY UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, PES Section (retired)

We were all very blessed to have Vijaya in our lives. She was always on the move and usually
on someone else’s behalf. She was a true live-wire — always onto something else, trying something
new, climbing a higher mountain. I am very sorry to hear that she has left this world.
MAUREEN OTTO UN Department of General Assembly and Conference Management

Vijaya was a mentor, guide and spiritual big sister to me, like she was to many others. The last
time I saw her, right before her retirement, I wanted to get advice on effecting a transformation
in how the UN addresses external conflict prevention work, as she did with internal conflict
work. Basically, she told me there is no secret; stay true to your vision and do it from a
higher perspective, a spiritual perspective….not for one’s own aggrandizement, but wholly
for the cause. She really did incredible work despite so many challenges.
Vijaya was one of the strongest people I had ever met, physically (setting the record for the
oldest American woman to swim the English Channel), mentally (figuring out and staying the
course on moving the whole UN system, including the General Assembly to create the massive
change of a new internal justice system), and spiritually (being a devoted disciple of Sri
Chinmoy and upholding those standards unflinchingly). I just cannot believe there is a battle
she lost, but not without a fight, the depths of which we cannot even imagine.
GAY ROSENBLUM-KUMAR Secretary, Framework Team Bureau
for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, UNDP

I am deeply saddened by the news of Vijaya’s passing, and would like to offer my sincere condolences
to her family, friends and colleagues. I only met Vijaya a few times, but she immediately
struck me as a genuinely kind and compassionate person. The world needs more like her.
NICOLAS MORIN Security Advisor, World Food Programme, Rome

Vijaya reminds me of the great architect who places the right people in the right place at the
right time. The Panel of Counsel was the perfect place for Vijaya. She embodied the spirit of
a great counselor. When you sat in front of her with a problem, you immediately sensed her
empathy and desire to be of help. You walked away relieved and uplifted, knowing there was
hope and a solution to your problem, and that Vijaya and the Panel of Counsel were with
you. This Organization is so much richer for the dedicated and inspiring work of Vijaya and
her staff.
Under the guidance of Vijaya, I have seen the Panel of Counsel blossom from a small seed
into the beautiful flower that it is today: the Office of Staff Legal Assistance. Thanks, Vijaya,
thanks for your great spirit of inspiration, dedication and love for your brothers and sisters.
God bless Vijaya.
ANSELMO EVANS Assistant Archivist,
UN Archives and Records Management Service (retired)

1947-2009
First comes the date of birth
Followed by a dash
Then comes the date we depart
What matters most in this life is not the date of our birth nor the date we depart this world
What matters most is HOW WE SPEND OUR DASH
I would like to share with you my impressions of my dear friend and colleague Vijaya, and
more importantly, how I believe that she spent her DASH
To me, Vijaya “Catherine”, You Were
Loved<>Not liked,
Understood<>Misunderstood
This was the daily scene
Lived by Catherine
Humble<>outspoken
Sensitive<>in your face
Always addressing the issue at hand
As she thought deep down inside it should be
Accomplished artist
Accomplished athlete
The English Channel will
Not see the likes of a Vijaya
For a while, perhaps never
Because of her multi-talented
Multifaceted nature with
Multiple names, multiple friends
Multiple committee meetings
Multiple trainings
Multiple streams of output
Open in her own way to
Receiving inputs at times, yes
Ah, that, for me was my Vijaya
MURIEL GLASGOW Member, former Panel of Counsel

There Is So Much to Do in Your Honour
Besides the many cakes,
a small pot of berries to plant for the new spring
named victory — after you —
This is not sentiment.
It is an urban salute to the Van Gogh beauty of your garden,
one that could transfix
with a palette of vibrant primary colors.
So I will wear strong reds, yellows and blues — nothing lackluster.
As much as I can, I will challenge the physical world,
move forward on earth as if it were weightless stuff beneath the feet
to be tapped down hard with the clackity-clack of high heels.
And how your hug could bear witness to a maternal heart,
I will have to pass that on —
grip of affection and plain speak.
Ah my friend, in a sheltered car ride,
an hour’s commute, I would shift the incomprehensible
onto your strong swimmer’s shoulders
so I could kick back and daydream out the window.
We, who too, will one day be warriors
will miss your wise counsel.
There is so much to do in your honour.
BHIKSHUNI WEISBROT Vice-President, UNSRC Society of Writers; and UNDP staff member

Vijaya — Heroic Champion
To lift and inspire
You courageously braved the fire
Of forces undivine
With your manner gracious and kind;
Heroically you transcended
Ruthless failure — unbended —
And undaunted you strove,
Into cold waters you dove
To swim without ceasing —
Your victory-delight increasing.
The suffering ones you embraced
With wit, wisdom and grace.
Some knew you as Catherine —
How great your noble soul! And in
Our lives, Vijaya, you shone
As our fondest, trusted champion.
May Mother Earth’s affection-smile be brightest
As you speedily journey to the highest.
Our gratitude-message we impart:
You are forever in our hearts.
NILPUSHPI WHITE Member, UNSRC Society of Writers; and UNFPA staff member

Often when one is on a journey for justice, you become so consumed on the path you have
taken, that you forget the angelic people who have come into your life, to give you a clear perspective
on your spiritual calling. No matter how long I prepared myself to overcome unforeseen
obstacles that would come my way, Vijaya was always there with her sisterly and
spiritual advice to help me see things through. I’ll miss her dearly.
KEITH A. BEAUCHAMP Filmmaker and Director, “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till”

A tear in my heart falls for Catherine Claxton, a magnificent and dynamic spirit I met years
ago at the United Nations. We met via a New York news article on a movie I worked on, and
that article set in motion our meeting. Ms. Claxton was a joy and bundle of experience and
knowledge, and we spoke of other projects that we could work on for the United Nations. I
am deeply saddened to hear this news, but I am humbled and grateful to have met her, worked
with her and laughed with her. I remember most her speaking about swimming the English
Channel; her many tales of her journey were a gift to hear and inspiring.
I send my heartfelt condolences for her passing and pray for healing and comfort for her
family, friends and all the staff at the U.N. To have known Catherine was an “honour”; we had
become not only business associates but also friends. I will miss my friend and mentor and
will always keep her in my heart.
ANTHONY ANDRE JONES CEO/President, Senoj LLC, Movie/TV/Music Producer/Director


I happened to be on the jetty when Vijaya came off the boat after her Channel swim and I recall
being immensely impressed by how cheerful and energetic she was. She wasn’t fast, but
she had enormous determination. It was a long and therefore a tough swim — but you never
would have known it. She was an inspiration.
KEVIN MURPHY “King of the Channel” with 34 English Channel swims (UK)

She was a remarkable individual who gave so much to others. It has been a real privilege to
be her friend. She has enriched my life and that of many people who had the fortune of knowing
her. She leaves a big gap in many of her friends’ lives, because of the love and affection she
transmitted to all of those around her. She will be dearly missed.
LAURA OPEZ-BONILLA English Channel swimmer (Spain)

I remember the day when Vijaya came back after her Channel swim. I was happy to be able
to take a photo of her with Kevin Murphy and Alison Streeter (43 Channel swims) on the
jetty. She was tired, but extremely happy, content and at peace, having succeeded at last. She was
also proud as anything to have her photo taken with the King and Queen of the Channel.
CLIFF GOLDING English Channel swimmer (UK)

Vijaya Claxton from New York, one of the most respected, committed and cherished English
Channel swimmers in recent history, passed away this week after losing her battle with cancer.
In addition to her position as the Coordinator, Panel of Counsel at the United Nations headquarters
in New York City, where she worked relentlessly as a public defender, she was similarly
persistent in her pursuit of swimming the English Channel over the course of the years.
As the news of her passing was learned throughout the swimming community, tributes
poured in from all over the world from people whom she touched and inspired by her actions,
words and memory. She truly led a life worth living. May many others follow in her wake.
STEVE MUNATONES Coach, USA Swimming National Open-Water Swimming Team

Vijaya was someone who made a positive difference in the world. She strived to do, and be
her best, and I think she inspired all of us.
LYNNE COX American long-distance open-water swimmer and writer,
and English Channel swimmer


With her wonderful determination, Vijaya finally became an English Channel swimmer. It
was a longtime dream realized. The crossing fulfilled years of training and spiritual work on
her part and her loyal support teams. The CS&PF [Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation]
honored Vijaya with the Gertrude Ederle Award for her relentless effort to reach France,
and I know that meant the world to her. Vijaya embodied Victory, which is the meaning of
her name. She inspired many of us so much — beyond words for me here really.
AHELEE SUE OSBORN Ironman Triathlete, English Channel swimmer and coach (USA)

I only met her once, but was in awe when she told me about her swims. We had a great laugh,
but not once did she ever mention her illness or complain. I am in even greater awe of her
achievement and of her. She is definitely an inspiration to us all and will be sadly missed.
CHRIS SHEPPARD English Channel swimmer (UK)

Vijaya was a bubbly person known to a lot of us in the Channel swimming world. She came
into our lives determined to swim the Channel and did it on her fourth attempt with Eddie
[the boat pilot] in 2007. Her first three attempts were with me. All were long swims, all were
great advances on the previous swim. All were very happy swims with a great support team
of girls who enjoyed life to the full. Vijaya, complete with her smile and her willingness to
help all around her, will be sadly missed by the people who knew her. Those who did not
know her missed out on one of the little pleasures of life. (Angela Oram) Vijaya had a very
good understanding of life and the Channel. Her positive attitude made everything shine.
(Mike Oram)
MIKE AND ANGELA ORAM Heads of the Channel Swimming
and Piloting Federation (CS&PF)

She was truly an inspiration. Vijaya taught me so much, and I am a better person for having
known her.
ANNE CLEVELAND English Channel swimmer (multiple swims, including a double) (USA)

I remember Vijaya swimming in the Dover harbor, always having a smile on her face, no matter
how long she was in the water. The love she had for the water and our sport will be missed.
MARCY MCDONALD American Channel Queen (10 Channel swims,
including several doubles)
22
Vijaya was a tremendous inspiration with her unflagging and powerful determination, perseverance
and poise, plus her cheerful spirit and great sense of humour. I was so proud of her
when she made it in 2007, after three heroic attempts. In July of her victory year, she had to
return to New York without getting her feet wet, hoping to get a go at it a bit later. She was
called back to Dover in September 2007 when the weather improved, and she finally made it
with her pilot Eddie. Vijaya`s sudden passing is a powerful reminder of how important it is
to value time and not postpone fulfilling your heart’s and soul’s dreams!
VASANTI NIEMZ English Channel swimmer (Germany)

Vijaya was an inspiration. I had several conversations with her on the Dover beach in 2004.
On August 10, 2004, it was pouring heavily at 5:45 a.m. in the Dover Marina. I was waiting
for the Marina gates to open to get on to Lance’s boat. I was nervous, drenched in rain and
shivering from cold. Vijaya and her team came into the Marina and changed my morale. I will
never forget that moment, when she changed my “state of mind”, contributing to my successful
Channel crossing. On that day Vijaya swam for 19 hours in the Channel, and she was
smiling when I met her the following day. She was a hardcore aqua-athlete — we’ll miss her.
MADHU NAGARAJA English Channel swimmer (India)

I had a talk with Vijaya in the summer of 2007 in New York before her successful swim. At that
time I had crossed the Channel on my first attempt, and she was about to make her fourth attempt.
I felt great inspiration from her never-give-up determination, and I hope she was inspired
by the story of my successful swim. The inspiration from our conversation will live in
my heart forever.
IGOR NENKO English Channel swimmer (Ukraine)

We are very sorry to hear the sad news of dear Vijaya’s passing. Betty and I went down to the
seafront in Dover today to find the flowers offered in her honour. We found them in a corner
on the grass lawn, and felt they would be better placed on the Channel Swimmers’ sculpture.
ALASTAIR AND BETTY DIMECH Bed and Breakfast owners in Dover


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