Michael passed away peacefully on Sunday July 22, 2012 surrounded by close members of his family in Columbia South Carolina.
Correspondence can be directed to his wife Jia Jia Xiaojia Gu xiaojia_gu@yahoo.com or to his son
Alan Geoghegan who put together this page - alan@medianetsc.us

Michel's Guestbook

Michel H. Geoghegan-click for extra photo- Queens • New York • USA As an economist and development consultant, my experience has spanned over 30 years in over 80 countries, including 30 years of service with the United Nations and 6 years in the British Diplomatic Service. All correspondence to his wife Xiaojia: xiaojia_gu@yahoo.com Michel Geoghegan's Obituary (scroll down) + Michel Geoghegan's Biography (scroll down) Profession: Development Economist Advisor/Manager on developing country projects for a list partial list of of publications, lectures and writings: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3  For a text only version of Michel Geoghegan's Bio, click here__________________________________________________________ Michel Henry Nucheze Geoghegan OBITUARY, July, 2012 • January 11, 1937 (Bradford, England) - July 22, 2012 (Columbia SC)   Michel Geoghegan, 75, of Jamaica, New York, died on Sunday, July 22, 2012 at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia SC, after many years of Alzheimer's disease. Michel was born in Bradford, England, the son of Tom and Chantal de Nuchéze Geoghegan. He was the eldest of six siblings. For the past 18 years he has lived with his devoted partner and wife, Xiaojia Gu, originally of Guangzhou China. Michel attended the University of London School of Oriental Studies (Diploma in Chinese language and culture), graduated with Honors from the London School of Economics as an International Relations major in 1960, and obtained an MA Degree in Politics from New York University in 1973 with a focus on UN-Aid. He took graduate courses in Political Economy at the New School, NYC, 1974-75. His career was dedicated to foreign service and international development. He was a British Royal Air Force Officer from 1955-57, then served 10 years in the British Diplomatic service: in the South East Asia and Burma desk; UK Mission to the EEC in Belgium and Luxembourg; Cultural & International Affairs Officer, UK Embassy, Manila,1964-1966; and British Official in external aid matters in China,1965. Michel joined the United Nations in 1966, working for 30 years in the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). He worked for the UN Office in Haiti, as consultant with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (FAO) in Rome, in Addis Ababa as a UNDP-UNITAR Instructor for senior Ethiopian Government Officials, and was assistant head to the UNDP office in Sierra Leone (1986-1989). He was a gifted speaker and lecturer, and in his later career years he spoke about UN issues at UN associations, universities and television stations in all US States, while consulting on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) for the UN, and traveling to China conceptualizing an environment-oriented World Expo in Beijing. He also held assistant professorship in economics, sustainable development, global ecology & international diplomacy at Fordham University, Queens College and Empire State College in New York. A lover of language, Michel was proficient in several languages besides his mother tongue of English, including French, Chinese, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Tagalog and Krio (the local language of Sierra Leone). Michel was also a published poet. As a volunteer, he served as Honorary Chair for the Communications Coordination Committee for the UN; was Co-Founder of World Information Transfer, an environmental literacy NGO in New York; was Chairman of the Board of the Earth Society Foundation; Board Member of the USA Club of Rome; and a volunteer consultant to Trickle-Up while in Sierra Leone, coordinating micro-enterprise development for people living on less than $1.25 a day in developing nations. Michel is survived by his devoted wife, Xiaojia; his eldest son, Christopher Geoghegan of Zoetermeer, Netherlands and grandson, Paul-Henry; his son, Alan Geoghegan, from Jamaica, New York and daughter-in-law, Maria Cecilia Geoghegan, originally from Mindanao, Philippines and now living in Columbia, South Carolina; his son, Michael Balmaceda, daughter-in-law, Suzanne and grandsons, Kevin and Jayden of El Cerrito, California; his daughter, Mary Balmaceda, son-in-law, Scott Hulse and grandchildren, Parker and Calla of Seattle, Washington. A viewing was held on Thursday, July 26th, at 6 until 8:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel in Columbia, South Carolina, and a memorial Service wias conducted on Friday, July 27, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at St Joseph's Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations were appreciated to Trickle-Up, an organization coordinating development for the extreme poor in Asia, Central America and West Africa. Donations were made available on its website at www.trickleup.org/Donate.cfm   “Michel The Eloquent” Michel was born on Bradford England, a friend to many from diplomats to busboys from royalty to peasant Eloquent in 8 languages, he had a mighty soft tongue Anyone could sit at his table and eat plenty, he was ever so pleasant. From Addis Abbaba to Sierra Leone he travelled afar and was rarely alone reaching for his pocket, he would often give to any though at home for an audience you had to wait because he was always on the phone. For all his children he valued their education if you traveled abroad it would give him a sense of elation Inside, he felt we were connected to all from all around the world to this great US nation. At 11 and 14, he went to London to St. Bede’s where he learned French in Poitiers France, where you have marvelous cheese, Later at the London School of Economics, He would gaily walk the halls with swagger, which is also the school of Mick Jagger. Like Mick with his education MIchel studied the wool and insurance trades which he realized was not his calling To not be true to your Personal Legend, would have been appalling. Because although there is the Will of God we all have a true path and destiny which sadly over the past few years, he couldn’t share, over a cup of tea. He cared deeply about world ecology and humanity seeing poverty around the planet to him was insanity he could chat with anyone, poet, priest, fishmonger, village chief, and would do all he could to protect your local coral reef. Michel you don’t leave us with sadness for you had a wonderful life, although you never visited me at home, two days after you passed, you came by our bedside at the house, caressing our hands and brows, if you don’t believe me, ask Cecilia my wife... So Michel, we will miss you dearly, you traveled far and wide and touched many souls from Rome to Haiti, we will honor you Yearly, with love from all his family sincerely, we hope you have an esteemed place in God’s heavenly scroll. Written the morning of Michel's Funeral Mass July 27th 2012 by Alan Geoghegan

Michel's Guestbook