Rey, Nicholas A.

Rey, Nicholas A.
1938 - January 13, 2009
Businessman, US ambassador to Poland
[From US Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe II] "It is with sadness that we report that Polish-born Nicholas Rey, who actively supported Poland's transition to freedom and democracy after the fall of communism in 1989, and served as US Ambassador to Poland from 1993-1997, died of lung cancer in Washington on Tuesday night, January 13," announced U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe. Rey was named Ambassador by former President Bill Clinton in recognition for his work in creating and leading the Polish-American Enterprise Fund, the forerunner to today's Polish-American Freedom Foundation. During his tenure, Poland was invited to join NATO and enjoyed strong growth of its economy and democratic institutions. Ambassador Ashe added that both Poland and America lost a dear friend. "As Ambassador, Nicholas Rey contributed greatly to strengthening the friendship and special relations that exist between our two countries," said Ashe. "With his background, he symbolized that relationship in many ways. I am proud that I was able to know him and draw inspiration from him during my tenure as Ambassador. He and Lisa were personally most helpful to me and my wife Joan during my nomination process in the spring of 2004."
Born in 1938 in Warsaw, Rey was a toddler when his parents fled their native Poland in 1939 just four days after German forces invaded Poland and began World War II. [His 16th century ancestor is known as the father of Polish literature.] Rey's parents, members of the Polish intelligentsia, were likely to become victims of the Nazi regime. The family was allowed to join a diplomatic convoy to Austria with permission from the US Ambassador at the time, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Jr.
Rey served as US Ambassador in Warsaw from December 21, 1993 to October 25, 1997. He was here during the time when Poland, a former member of the Soviet bloc, was going through the transformation into a democratic country. Before his tenure in Warsaw, Rey was managing director at Bear, Stearns and Co. and Merrill Lynch and served as vice chairman and director of the Polish-American Enterprise Fund. He was one of the founders of APAC, the American Polish Advisory Council, an organization lobbying for Poland, and worked closely with many prominent Polish-Americans including Edward Rowny and Mark Brzezinski.
Rey spoke fluent Polish but said he didn't feel a close connection with his home country until later in life. "The older I get, the more I feel like a true Pole," Rey once said in an interview for Rzeczpospolita, quoted in their January 15 story: Poland's American Friend Passed Away. Rey is survived by his wife, Lisa, a daughter, Cecilia, and two sons, Anthony, and Michael.
A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown (Washington) on Friday, January 30, at 11 a.m.
A condolence book will be available in the American Embassy lobby (Al. Ujazdowskie 29/31) for signing on Friday, January 16, from 10:00 until 14:00.
From: US Embassy Warsaw (2009)

Nicholas Andrew Rey
Born: 1938
Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland
Died: 13-Jan-2009
Location of death: Washington, DC
Cause of death: Cancer - Lung
Occupation: Diplomat, Businessman
Party Affiliation: Democratic
Nationality: United States
Wife: Lisa Machado (three children)
Daughter: Cecilia Rey (b. 1976)
Son: Michael, Anthony
Education:
University: BA, Princeton University (1960)
University: MA, School of Advanced International Studies (1963)
Career:
US Ambassador to Poland (1993-97)
Polish American Enterprise Fund Vice Chairman (1990-93)
Merrill Lynch Managing Director, Investment Banking
Bear Stearns Managing Director, Investment Banking
Council on Foreign Relations
Dean for America
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Gore 2000
Hillary Clinton for President
Joe Lieberman for President
John Kerry for President
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs Board of Directors
Obama for America
American Polish Advisory Council Working Group
Naturalized US Citizen 1946
From: US Embassy Warsaw (2008)