Leading Pacific academic Ron Crocombe dies

One of the best known figures in Pacific Studies, Emeritus Professor Ron Crocombe, died in Auckland yesterday of a heart attack while on a bus to Mangere for a flight to his home in Rarotonga.

Prof Crocombe, 79, an historian who earned his doctorate at the Australian National University, was considered the world's foremost authority on the cultures of the Pacific. Last week he had been inducted as a fellow of the Atenisi University in Tonga.

The New Zealand born academic lived and worked in the Pacific as an administrator in the Cook Islands, director of ANU's New Guinea Research Unit in the 1960s and as Professor of Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific.

Even in retirement in the Cook Islands, he continued to consult and publish widely on Pacific affairs. “He is a phenomenon,” said one commentator, “there is no one quite like him. He is not a disciplined nor a discipline-bound scholar. Indeed, he has a healthy disregard for disciplinary boundaries and niceties.”

Prof Crocombe lived in PNG from 1962 to 1969 and returned many times. He gained an international reputation for his work on Pacific land tenure systems and his scholarly reputation will probably relate to this work.

He will also be remembered as the indefatigable encourager and publisher of works by Pacific islanders. During his directorship of the Institute of Pacific Studies, hundreds of Pacific Island students, teachers, administrators and others published big and small works of varying quality on a range of Pacific topics.

Quality was not necessarily Crocombe's primary concern. He was more concerned to boost the confidence of the island peoples' in their ability to write and reflect on their experiences.

His lifetime partner and collaborator was Marjorie Tuainekore Crocombe, until recently Director of the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland.

Professor Crocombe is also survived by four children, 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Prof Crocombe will be buried in Rarotonga later this week. A memorial service will also be held at the Pacific Islands Christian Church in Auckland next Sunday.

Comments

[Manfred Assmann]

Very very late I found that Emeritus Professor Ron Crocombe died. He was the most important author for Pacific studies in this time. I remenber 2004 where I stayed with hem two days in Nikao. He was a honourary member of the German Pacific Society. Rest in peace.All the best to Marjorie... Manfred Assmann, Vice President of GPS, Email: kiaorana@aol.com
www.deutsch-pazifische-gesellschaft.de

[Laurie Meintjes]

Thank you for the latest issue of PNG Attitude. I hadn't heard that Ron Crocombe passed away. I met him and Marjorie several years ago while I was visiting the USP in Suva. She was the Director ot the Distance Ed program at USP at the time, and Ron was the prof in the history department.

I met him again on a number of occasions, in PNG, and always found him to be a perfect gentleman. What struck me particularly was his WYSIWYG nature; what you saw was what he was. I don't think there was a pretentious bone in his body. The South Pacific will miss him.

[Bill Welbourne]

I well remember working with Professor Ron as a cheerful adviser to the Commission of Inquiry Into Land Matters during my time as Secretary in 1970. He was a breath of fresh air and we valued his intellect and contributions to the Inquiry. We will remember him for his great endowment to the South Pacific region.

[Patrick Kaiku]

A great man who will be sorely missed! He was the brain behind the renowned Waigani Seminar Series, staged at the University of Papua New Guinea during the 1980s. I had the most memorable chance of meeting him at the 10th Pacific Islands Political Studies Association Conference in Port Vila in December 8 and was awed by his great humility. My heartfelt condolences to his wife Marjorie and his children. Papa Ron, kalaro luai...

[George Armstrong]

What a contribution and what a loss now! Ron was a legend from way back. My wife and I were so delighted to meet him early this year in Vanuatu when he was honoured there during the celebrations ending the ten year mourning period for founding Prime Minister Walter Lini.

We of Te Rau Kahikatea of the College of St John the Evangelist in Auckland New Zealand honour him.

We send our deep sympathy for Marjorie and her family in their loss. We would be grateful for any news of the funeral arrangements for Ron.

[Dr 'Opeti Taliai]

Deepest sympathies to Professor Ron's family. I am as deeply shocked and sad about Ron's premature departure. I had been geared up to tap into Ron's massive experience to advance my next project. Thank you Ron for your huge contribution to mankind. Ofa atu fau

[Mele Tu'ilotolava Taliai]

What a tragic loss to the Atenisi Institute of Tonga, a most learned colleague and much admired friend and inspiration of Prof Futa Helu; and to Pacific peoples at large.

It was just last Tuesday when this learned gentleman was honoured as one of the first six Fellows of the University of Atenisi at Nuku'alofa Tonga on the 16 June 2009.

It was just 18 June when I had the privilege of talking with Prof Ron about things mundane and things establishment to assist the Atenisi struggle to stand up and be counted as an university in time immemorium.

His last words to me still burning in my ears as I continue to ponder his ideas for resolution.

Mu'a atu koe Ron ka tau toki feiloaki i Hevani.

[Martin Hadlow]

Indeed, he was a legend in the Pacific region and beyond. His work will continue to impact for many years...his contribution to furthering our knowledge of the Pacific not forgotten. Condolences to Marjorie and the family. Vale Professor Crocombe.