Obituary - Tom Marchione

Tom with Liberian vice- president, Joseph Boakai, a graduate of the College of West Africa, the high school where Tom taught as a Peace Corps Volunteer

Tom with his wife, Janna Marchione, this summer

A little 'sight-seeing' around the SCN meeting in Rome in 2007

The ENN was very sad to hear of the recent and premature death of Dr Tom Marchione.

Tom had a long and distinguished career as a nutritionist. Having completed a PhD, he worked at the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Centre in Jamaica, Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and finally at USAID in Washington DC. Tom represented USAID on the UN Standing Committee for Nutrition for many years and was instrumental in securing funding for the ENN in the early years.

A passionate advocate for the poor, hungry and malnourished, Tom brought a rare set of skills including anthropology, nutrition and statistical analysis, to his work. He was instrumental in showing how monetised food aid, if given to community nutrition programmes, had a better impact on nutritional status than free handouts of food.

Tom was always supportive of ENN's work and did all within his powers to secure funding for ENN activities. His encouragement and positive attitude to the ENN bred confidence and endeavour within our small organisation. He not only supported the work of Field Exchange, but also ENN infant feeding in emergencies activities and our early research into emergency supplementary feeding programmes.

His warmth and the generosity with which he gave of his time were traits that many of us found enviable. He was always accessible professionally and as a friend.

Tom made a significant difference and the world is a poorer place for his loss. We will miss him.

Jeremy Shoham and Marie McGrath

A recently published article by Tom - A Time to Rethink the Global Food Regime - has been reprinted in this issue of Field Exchange (p25).