Obituary for
Daniel Maurice Ulmer
Daniel Maurice Ulmer, 38 years old, passed away peacefully on January 22nd in Ottawa after a courageous battle with cancer. Loving son of Robert and Su-Yung Ulmer, loyal brother of Julian Ulmer, devoted husband of Claudia Lopez, and caring nephew of John and Lori Ulmer, and Fred and Linda Waks. Daniel touched the lives of those around him and taught us all the meaning of conviction, conscience, and compassion.
Daniel was born and raised in Toronto. His education continued in Tokyo Japan (high school), Princeton New Jersey (University), and New York (Columbia University Law School).
Pursuing his interest in international justice and human rights that began with Human Rights Watch, Daniel joined the Canadian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Human Rights Policy Division in 2007. He was Lead Policy Officer for the UN Human Rights Council, during Canada’s tenure as a founding member of the Council.
In 2010, to balance his international experience with solid domestic policy work, Daniel joined the team of the Privy Council Office’s Operations Secretariat in 2010.
Two years later, Daniel had an opportunity to work internationally again, this time for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where he provided legal and policy analysis to advance the ICC Prosecutor’s preliminary examinations of key files such as Afghanistan, Colombia, and Iraq.
Returning to work for the Federal Government of Canada (Global Affairs) in 2016, Daniel played a key role as lead officer on the UN Security Council campaign for Asia-Pacific region and for human rights policy issues globally.
His interest in contributing his legal and international experience to Global Affairs Canada’s fight against Cybercrime had just begun in the fall of 2018, when he was unexpectedly diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer.
From his childhood, Daniel’s extraordinary talent for languages (English, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish) was cultivated alongside his love of music through playing piano and cello. At Princeton, he was part of the Princeton University Orchestra and at the same time participated actively as a member of Princeton’s Debate Team.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O’Connor) on Sunday, January 26 at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow.
In the last few days before his beautiful light was extinguished, some of his friends wrote to him recalling their memories of Daniel, for example:
“…he helped me aspire to better things…”
Daniel’s strength, humour, and kindness are part of his legacy.
We will love him and keep him in our hearts forever.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Daniel Maurice
Ulmer 1981 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Ottawa, Province: Ontario