By John-Henry Westen and Steve Jalsevac
OTTAWA, October 2, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The passage of Peter Naglik as the result of a 2:30 a.m. car accident in Ottawa on Sept. 29 has left family and numerous friends saddened at the sudden loss of this exceptionally well-liked and gifted individual.
Peter’s obituary notice in the OttawaÂCitizen stated he“was dedicated to public service and was well known at Queen’s Park and on Parliament Hill. He was a consummate professional, known as a gifted writer with a penetrating mind. Peter was also a loyal friend, always available with wise advice or a ready laugh, and a man of great conviction and strong faith. He will be remembered always by his many friends for his great generosity, irrepressible spirit, and razor-sharp wit. “
Beginning in his university days at the University of Toronto, Naglik mentored a significant number of young social conservatives through his extensive experience in political organizing. He was described by friends and associates as much sought after source of advice and wisdom to accomplish and make things happen. Even in those early days Naglik was politically active. He was elected speaker of the student administrative council of the University of Toronto.
By all accounts Naglik was an awesome networker, was “a cut above” when it came to running meetings and dealing with people. He possessed a grace in his language and conversation which left people impressed.
But with all these great qualities he was never one to seek the limelight. This is probably one of the most profound characteristics of Naglik. He sought no public recognition for his formidable accomplishments. And it is likely only in death that his praises could be sung.
John Williamson of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation had this to say after hearing of Naglik’s passing: “Peter Naglik was one of the good guys, a fellow traveler and who understood the small-c conservative movement. It seems inconceivable he will no longer share his thoughts on government, culture and faith in politics. But more important than any of this: Peter was a friend. As news of his death spread, everyone who had known him understood this loss above all else. We all mourn. And for the family he leaves behind, we pray. Peter will be missed by many.”
Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition had known Naglik for 15 years. Hughes told LifeSiteNews.com Naglik was “a very talented man, a solid pro-lifer, a solid Catholic, and one of the best political strategists in the country.”
Joe Bissonette, a high school teacher in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic School Board, especially remembers Peter as the campaign manager for his Scarborough federalÂLiberal nomination campaign in 1993. ThanksÂin large partÂto Peter’s skills Bissonette came very close to causing a major upset and winning the nomination against a star, party-backed candidate. The campaign was lost at the last minute due to unethical Liberal PartyÂtactics to ensure their parachuted candidate won the nomination.
Joe recalls Peter telling him at that time that every morning when he woke up one of his first three thoughts was how to fight abortion. Joe relates that Peter and a friend had practically taken over the youth wing of the Liberal Party but became disaffected with the corruption and came over to the Conservatives. Joe was also impressed with Peter’s strong commitment to his Catholic faith.
On the Western Standard’s Shotgun Blog on Sept. 30, political strategist Russ Kuykendall wrote: “IÂ met Peter in 1995, not long after Mike Harris’s landmark electoral victory, when he was working in the new Premier’s Office, responsible for writing Premier Harris’s correspondence. I quickly learned that Peter possessed a wicked sense of humour with a laugh to match. He could tap out a snappy turn of phrase and, if sufficiently provoked, he would mount a policy argument with verve. And while he didn’t wear it on his sleeve, anyone who knew Peter for very long would discover his abiding Catholic faith that informed and fed his passion for politics as public service—something far too uncommon in political circles.”
“Perhaps chief among Peter’s heroes was John Paul II—“John Paul the Great.” Peter, too, was a passionate supporter of politicians who expressed and carried forward his policy commitments into the public debate and, even, into law. Peter was a partisan’s partisan who rarely, if ever, saw a political battle in which he wouldn’t engage.”
First time Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux expressed heartfelt thanks to his campaign manager Peter Naglik on election night last January after the voting sawÂLemieux amazingly end 43 years of Liberal rule in the riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. Lemieux stated at the time, “and a special thank you to Peter Naglik, my Campaign Manager, whose hard work and invaluable advice kept everything on track through what has had to have been one of the longest and hardest campaigns ever.”
In his many roles with theÂOntarioÂProgressive ConservativesÂand the federal Conservatives Naglik alwaysÂdid his best to advance a broad agenda of genuine small-c Conservative principles.
For funeral arrangements see:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/oct/06100210.html