Georges R. Delaume

His Life and Faith
October 11, 1921 - December 19, 2016

The world lost an extremely talented, accomplished, and educated man, Georges Rene Delaume of Oro Valley, Arizona, on December 19th, 2016. Born in Paris, France on October 11th, 1921, the son of Georges Andre and Yvonne (nee Pousse) Delaume, he was destined to travel far and wide in his 95 years on this earth.

An only child, Georges was a good student at a young age, and showed an early appreciation for education. In his early twenties, he became curious about religion, and chose to become baptized in the Catholic Faith. He extended his beliefs and appreciation of the church to his two children, who were baptized. He appreciated the strong tradition and values of a Catholic education, and thus sent his daughter to Catholic elementary and high schools. His children had the luck of having a father who loved to travel. Throughout their family adventures, Georges always made sure to admire and enter churches and cathedrals in every town they passed through, from Notre Dame Cathedral in his native Paris, to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, to the beautiful churches and cathedrals of Portugal and Spain. Later in life, he reconfirmed his faith, choosing to be re-baptized in his eighties. 

Although his university studies were interrupted by the German invasion of France in WWII, he became a doctor of law in 1944, and studied law at Cambridge University the following year. He came to the United Stated in 1949, when he accepted a position in the Legal Department of the fledgling International Monetary Fund. In 1954 he took a position as an attorney for the World Bank, eventually becoming a Senior Counsel in their Legal Department and retiring in 1986. Mr. Delaume worked on international arbitration law, primarily overseeing loans to French-speaking African countries. His efforts helped the process of building infrastructure in these countries and halting the spread of diseases for the people there. 
 
Always an advocate of education, Mr. Delaume was a professor of law at George Washington University in Washington D.C. for twenty-two years. His legal mind was appreciated by his career, he wrote many books about international law. These have been so well-respected, that they are still used in law schools today. Following his retirement from the World Bank, he was a consultant for Curtis Mallet International Law Firm in Washington D.C.
 
In addition to his journeys for the World Bank, Mr. Delaume was an avid traveler, always eager to explore new places and cultures. He was a talented watercolor painter, and enjoyed capturing the beauty of these travels with his palette and brushes. He was also a passionate sailor, and while living in Washington and Virginia, he spend many delightful hours sailing on the Chesapeake Bay with his family.
 
He is survived by his devoted wife and the love of his life, Sophia Delaume (nee Tang), of Splendido, Oro Valley, AZ, his step-daughter, Faye Liu and her husband, Jerry Zawatski of Marana, AZ, his son, Georges H. Delaume of Great Falls, Virginia, his daughter, Annette Delaume Goyne and her husband, Jeff, of Richford, T, his two granddaughters, Jennifer Goyne of Underhill, VT< and Annalise Goyne of Richford, VT, and his step-son, Harry Liu of Portland, OR.
 
Written by his loving daughter, Annette Delaume Goyn