–submitted by Ellsworth Brown
We had the pleasure of spending time with Tom Loftus, advisor to the World Health Organization; member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents; and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Governor of Wisconsin, defeated by Tommy Thompson.
We were in the company of this Sun Prairie man’s service as United States Ambassador to Norway between 1993 and 1997.
Loftus reviewed the old order, now past: USSR’s government had collapsed; the Berlin Wall was down; Nelson Mandela shared the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993; Oslo Accords 1 and 2 regarding Israel and Palestine were signed in 1993 and 1995 respectively. Among other things, Loftus negotiated with the Russians regarding safe disposal of their submarines’ liquid nuclear waste at sea.
Loftus shared lighter stories too: his introductory presentation to King Harald V of Norway, who later visited the United States; hosting and feeding Governor Thompson’s impromptu trade mission visit to Norway; and Norwegian immigrants to Wisconsin and their links to Wisconsin mayors.
Ambassador Loftus was highly articulate, self-effacing, and very funny. Watch the video (https://youtu.be/ubjQQoLfz8A) if you missed the meeting, or buy his book, Mission to Oslo, published last month. It would be a rewarding experience.
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 