Out & About
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
At a luncheon in her honor Monday, Yoo Soon-Taek, the wife of UN Secretary-Gen eral Ban, received welcomes from dozens of diplomatic wives, and a special gift from Gurie Lie Zeck endorf, the daughter of the first secretary-general, Trygve Halvdan Lie: a rare copy of “In the Cause of Peace,” a book by her father. Meanwhile, the host of the event, Aye Aye Thant, daughter of the third secretary general, U Thant, presented a copy of her father’s memoir, “View from the U.N.,” to the executive director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Noeleen Heyzer
The event supported the U Thant Institute, which Ms. Thant founded to advance her father’s “One World” philosophy. One example of its work is Friendship Across Cultures, an after-school program being established in South Korea.
“It is most appropriate that today’ event falls on the anniversary of my father’s 98th birthday,” Ms. Thant said. “In this room today we can feel the energy of friendship among peo ple of so many different cultures which is a great example of my father’s work.”
Mrs. Ban Soon-Taek told guests that she met her husband in high school, just after U Thant was appointed as secretary-general, and that her husband looked up to U Thant as a statesman and humanist “Of course, he never imagined he’d follow in his footsteps,” Mrs. Ban Soon-Taek said, “but I know he will try to inspire a new generation of young Asians to public service.”
