press releases 2009

Statement by U.S. Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe on the Occasion of the Death of Former U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Rey

23 January 2009

Joan and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Nick Rey on Tuesday January 13 in Washington, DC. He was an enthusiastic and effective supporter of Poland, the land of his birth, and of the United States, the land he called home for most of his life. Like most who had the privilege of knowing him, we were touched by his warmth, intelligence, and decency.

Both Poland and America have lost a dear friend. As Ambassador, Nicholas Rey contributed greatly to strengthening the friendship and special relations that exist between our two countries. With his background, in many ways he symbolized that relationship. I am proud that I was able to know him. He and Lisa were personally most helpful to us during my nomination process in 2004.

Rey was born in Warsaw in 1938 and fled with his parents in 1939 just four days after German forces invaded Poland and began World War II.  The US Ambassador at the time, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Jr., invited the family to join a diplomatic convoy to Austria.

Appointed US Ambassador to Poland by former President Bill Clinton, Rey served in Warsaw from December 21, 1993 to October 25, 1997.  He was here during the time when Poland was still in the early stages of its transformation into a democratic country.  His tenure included Poland’s admission to NATO.  Rey had been managing director at Bear, Stearns and Co. and Merrill Lynch before he helped start and served as vice chairman and director of the Polish-American Enterprise Fund, which later endowed today’s Polish American Freedom Foundation.  He was one of the founders of APAC, the American Polish Advisory Council, an organization lobbying for Poland and worked closely with many prominent Polish-Americans including Edward Rowny and Mark Brzeziński.

He is survived by his wife Lisa, a daughter, Cecilia, and two sons, Anthony, and Michael. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 30 at 11 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown.  Notes of condolences may be sent to Lisa Rey at 1077-30th Street, N.W., apartment 305, Washington, D.C. 20007.

A condolence book will be available in the American Embassy lobby (Al. Ujazdowskie 29/31) for signing Friday, January 16, from 10:00 until 14:00.