Col Conrad A. Namiesniowski OMM, CD (Ret'd)

It is with a very heavy heart that we announce that Col. Conrad A. Namiesniowski, having just celebrated his 93^rd birthday, finally gave up the fight and slipped away at the Perley Health Care Facility on August 21, 2022.  He will be dearly missed by his immediate family, Col. Conrad R. Namiesniowski (Ret’d) (Janice), Kristina Namiesniowski (Don), their children Liam, Connor and Michaela, Andrew Namiesniowski (Giselle) their children Adam and Alex; and, the many people that he encountered, worked with and influenced over the course of his life.

Conrad was born in Warsaw, Poland in July 1929, the only son of Karolina and Capt(N) Conrad F. Namiesniowski.  A decade later, his father left for England to join the allied war effort. Conrad survived being shot at by a Nazi aircraft and ended up in a camp for enemies of the Reich.  His father returned to Poland and helped his family escape to Marseilles, France through Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece.   Conrad and his mother lived in France until Italy entered the war.   Enroute to get another ship after his own was sunk in Narvik, Norway, his father moved his family to England.  Conrad survived another near death experience when an unexploded bomb landed near him on the street.   Conrad succeeded academically and as a Rugby player, and received his own taste of military life as an Army Cadet. Conrad and his mother moved to Wales at one point where he became a member of the home guard as a runner, riding a bike and delivering messages.

During the war, Conrad’s father made a number of good friends in the Canadian Navy one of whom sponsored Conrad’s family to come to Canada, since polish migrants were no longer welcome in Great Britain.  Conrad’s family arrived in Canada in February 1949 as Naturalized British subjects and settled on Vancouver Island. Despite being a war hero, Conrad’s father had difficulty finding work and started, along with his son, at a lumber mill, doing odd jobs and sweeping floors. Although proud of their heritage, Conrad and his family embraced Canada as their new home and eventually became citizens. 

To pay his way through school, Conrad enlisted in the Canadian Armed forces in September 1952 and completed a degree at the University of British Columbia.    While at school, his parents moved to Ottawa. While attempting to visit them in December 1953, the flight he was on encountered problems, returned to Vancouver and crashed on landing.  Conrad evaded death yet again. 

Upon Graduation and completing his Artillery training, he became part of another family, the Canadian Army with the Artillery Regiment.  Understanding the concepts of service before self, professionalism, courage, honour, and setting the example as a leader and a follower, he excelled. Posted to Shilo, Manitoba, he met and married the love of his life, Marjorie Joan Giffin, an Army Nurse, in 1956. 

Like his father, Conrad’s chosen vocation led to many absences from home including being sent to Roger’s Pass in BC.  He led the team that worked with the National Parks Commission and Public Works to develop the approach still used every winter in Canada to control  avalanches and keep the roads and rail lines open.  If you travel through Roger’s Pass and stop at the scenic outlooks that are also used as firing points for the Artillery you are benefiting from his legacy.  

Conrad followed a traditional career for an Artillery Officer with a series of leadership and command positions including one of his most favourite roles leading the Apprenticeship program. His strength of character made him a great role model and many of his protégés maintained contact for decades.  After various training courses, staff and command opportunities, including a year unaccompanied in Cyprus, he was selected as a Canadian Military Representative to NATO headquarters in Brussels Belgium.  This is where he transitioned to international negotiations.   

In the early 1980’s, Conrad spent a year in Madrid, Spain and another three in Stockholm, Sweden as the Canadian Military advisor for the “Conference on Confidence and Security Building Measures and Disarmament in Europe”.  He was chair of the NATO Military Advisors Group and was one of the principal allied negotiators on compliance and verification measures with the Former Soviet Union.   Conrad was awarded the “Order of Military Merit” by the Governor General of Canada for exceptional service.  Regrettably, what was negotiated began to fall apart and many safeguards designed to prevent what is going on in Ukraine today were not enforced. 

After hanging up his uniform in 1986, Conrad joined the Federal Public Service in what was then External Affairs, where he continued his international work until he transferred to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.  His life experiences gave him a unique ability to offer exceptional advice on Russia and former Soviet Bloc Countries, which remains relevant today.  

Conrad believed that it was an honour and a privilege to serve one’s country, which he did for 48 years. He brought credit to Canada and was highly regarded by many in Canada and overseas.  He will be greatly missed but not forgotten.

Conrad received exceptional care from the Perley Heath Care Facility.  We are extremely grateful for their compassion and professionalism. In lieu of flowers, donations in Conrad’s name, to some of his favourite charities can be made to: Perley Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation, the Shepard’s of Good Hope or a charity of your choice.

Conrad will be interred at Beechwood Cemetery alongside his wife Joan on August 31, 2022.  Public Visitation in the Beechwood Hall of Colours will be 1100-1245 and a Funeral Service 1300-1400.  A private graveside service for immediate family will follow.