Maurice Heenan
Encyclopedia
Maurice Heenan was born in Wyndham, Southland, New Zealand
on 8 October 1912. His mother was Ann Frame (died 1976) and his father was David Donnoghue Heenan (died 1942). Maurice attended Canterbury College in New Zealand from 1937–1946 and received his LLB from Canterbury College
, University of New Zealand
in 1946. In 1944, he was selected to attend Staff College, Camberley
in the UK where he was awarded the Staff College Award.
It was in London, England where he met his future wife, who was attending a summer course for foreign students at Oxford and was one of the first students that the Czechoslovakian government permitted to attend a foreign college after the war. In 1951, he married Claire Gabriela Stephanie daughter of Emil Ciho (died 1975) and Irene Rotbauer (died 1950) of Trencin, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
. Maurice was a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
from 1937 through 1940. In 1945 he was a major in the 2nd NZEF and saw active service in the Western Desert, Libya, Cyrenaica and Italy being mentioned in dispatches.
From 1946-1949 he was Crown Counsel for the Palestine Mandate in Jerusalem. In 1952 he became Solicitor General of Hong Kong and then served as His Majesty’s Attorney General of Hong Kong from 1961 through 1966. In 1966 he became the Deputy Director of the General Legal Division (United Nations Office of Legal Affairs
), Offices of the Secretary General, United Nations
, New York and remained in that post until 1973. In 1973 he became General Counsel for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian Refugees in Beirut
, Lebanon and retired to his home in New Canaan, Connecticut
in 1977.
He was a member of the American Society of International Law
and the Barrister & Solicitor, Supreme Court of New Zealand. He was awarded Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.) in 1962 and in 1966 he was inducted into the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) at Buckingham Palace
in London.
He was a member of the Hong Kong Club and the Country Club of New Canaan. He is survived by his wife Claire, his daughters Ingrid Heenan Hammond and Karen Heenan Pujol, and his grandchildren Ogden, Ingrid, John, Katharine and Alexa.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
on 8 October 1912. His mother was Ann Frame (died 1976) and his father was David Donnoghue Heenan (died 1942). Maurice attended Canterbury College in New Zealand from 1937–1946 and received his LLB from Canterbury College
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
in 1946. In 1944, he was selected to attend Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
in the UK where he was awarded the Staff College Award.
It was in London, England where he met his future wife, who was attending a summer course for foreign students at Oxford and was one of the first students that the Czechoslovakian government permitted to attend a foreign college after the war. In 1951, he married Claire Gabriela Stephanie daughter of Emil Ciho (died 1975) and Irene Rotbauer (died 1950) of Trencin, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Trencín
Trenčín is a city in western Slovakia of the central Váh River valley near the Czech border, around from Bratislava. It has a population of more than 56,000, which makes it the ninth largest municipality of the country and is the seat of the Trenčín Region and the Trenčín District...
. Maurice was a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
Supreme Court of New Zealand
The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court and the court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence on 1 January 2004. The court sat for the first time on 1 July 2004. It replaced the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, based in London...
from 1937 through 1940. In 1945 he was a major in the 2nd NZEF and saw active service in the Western Desert, Libya, Cyrenaica and Italy being mentioned in dispatches.
From 1946-1949 he was Crown Counsel for the Palestine Mandate in Jerusalem. In 1952 he became Solicitor General of Hong Kong and then served as His Majesty’s Attorney General of Hong Kong from 1961 through 1966. In 1966 he became the Deputy Director of the General Legal Division (United Nations Office of Legal Affairs
United Nations Office of Legal Affairs
The United Nations Office of Legal Affairs is a United Nations agency, established in 1946, that performs several key functions in the area of international law....
), Offices of the Secretary General, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, New York and remained in that post until 1973. In 1973 he became General Counsel for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian Refugees in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon and retired to his home in New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
in 1977.
He was a member of the American Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
The American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
and the Barrister & Solicitor, Supreme Court of New Zealand. He was awarded Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.) in 1962 and in 1966 he was inducted into the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
in London.
He was a member of the Hong Kong Club and the Country Club of New Canaan. He is survived by his wife Claire, his daughters Ingrid Heenan Hammond and Karen Heenan Pujol, and his grandchildren Ogden, Ingrid, John, Katharine and Alexa.