Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (July 20, 1919 – January 11, 2008)[

[KIWIKAAS]

In his 88 years, Sir Ed had known the worst of human misery, as well as the joy of conquest and triumph.

To the people of the Himalayas, he was a god. Around the world, he was regarded as the greatest of adventurers, the man whose extraordinary endurance forever changed perceptions of human possibility.

And for New Zealanders, Sir Ed was everything a good bastard ought to be - modest and humorous, brave and compassionate, and just grouchy enough to remind us he never sought, nor particularly enjoyed, adulation.

When death came about 9am yesterday, it was kind - a sudden heart attack, ending the slow discomfort of illness and his increasing frustration with frailty and fatigue.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Edmund-Hillary.web.jpg/441px-Edmund-Hillary.web.jpg

[Davee]

Thanks Kaas for that brief bio - I don't know much about the man, even though he has been known to me all my life.

This thread is a good way of exploring a famous Kiwi! :banana:

[KIWIKAAS]

I saw him in person in 2000.
A very special NZer. Apart from being the first to the top of Everest he also did a huge amount of work in Nepalese villages. He is very highly regarded in Nepal

[Svartmetall]

^^ Exactly and as I said in the other thread this is why he should be remembered. His pioneering work as a philanthropist sets him apart in my opinion.