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Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com. This summer I am joined by Keir Wilmut and Omar Soliman.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Peter Naglik, RIP
I cannot go to bed tonight without saying something about the passing of a friend. When I heard the news that Peter Naglik had died, I was completely dumbfounded. I had known Peter for almost 10 years, through my involvement in politics. You never want to think someone you know could die in such a horrendous and tragic way and at such a young age. (For more info on Peter, see here and here.)
I first got to know Peter when he was one of the crackerjack staffers at Queen's Park during the Mike Harris years who manned the caucus research office. (That place was full of brilliant people.) He was amazing in that job and always seemed available to help out by sending along research, talking points or whatever I needed when I needed help. (As the head of the party's campus wing at the time, he had absolutely no obligation to help me at all but did so out of pure kindness.)
Peter went on to work for MPP Gary Guzzo and then to Ottawa, where he worked for Jason Kenney, Stockwell Day and in other capacities in the Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party. In his youth he had been active in the Liberal Party, but, being a committed social conservative, grew disenchanted with that party's position on the issues he cared about, and left. He had recently started an Ottawa consulting firm with his longtime friend Mark Spiro.
Simply put, Peter Naglik was the most devoted and principled movement conservative I knew. He ate, lived and breathed politics and committed his life to fighting for the causes he held dear. He was a meticulous reader of newspapers and magazines and knew nearly every book ever written about conservatism and modern politics. (He'd probably read most of them, too.) He also loved sharing his love of reading with others: he encouraged young conservatives to "read to lead" by making lists of important books they ought to devour. Years later those lists are still sitting in my email inbox.
Peter was the kind of person who was always doing favours for others, never expecting anything in return. While I was writing the book last year, he would send along newspaper articles he came across that he thought would be of interest. He also liked to challenge people -- challenge them to better understand why they believed what they purported to believe and to gain new political knowledge. When he spoke or wrote, you listened because you knew he would be conveying something worthwhile and important. That's just the type of person he was. I never had a chance to properly thank him.
What I have written here doesn't do Peter justice. He will be missed by everyone he knew and worked with over the years, Conservative or Liberal. He was a wonderful human being and a friend to all. My thoughts and those of many others I know are with his family.
UPDATE: Joan Tintor weighs in, in a way that only she could.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 12:43 AM
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