On February 20th, Uldis Bluķis, a scientist and one of the founders and activists of the Baltic Appeal to the United Nations, passed away at the age of 93 in New York State, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Immediately after Latvia regained its independence, Bluķis worked at the Permanent Mission of Latvia to the United Nations in New York and served as an advisor to many. He made significant contributions to the restoration of Latvia’s independence and international relations.
Uldis Bluķis was born on February 19th, 1933, in Jelgava, but in 1944 he and his family fled to Germany and then to the United States in 1951. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in chemistry and received his doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Bluķis was a professor emeritus at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, where he taught chemistry, history of science, and general science until 1991.
From 1966 to 1991, he was active in the organisation BATUN (Baltic Appeal to the United Nations) to gain support from the United Nations for the restoration of independence in the Baltic states.
When Latvia regained its independence and became a member of the UN on September 17, 1991, Uldis Bluķis began working at the Permanent Mission of Latvia to the UN.
Bluķis has been awarded the Order of the Three Stars, Latvia’s highest state decoration.
Our condolences to his wife Bitīte Vinklers Bluķis and all who knew him.
Select text and press Ctrl+Enter to send a suggested correction to the editor
Select text and press Report a mistake to send a suggested correction to the editor
Tell us about a mistake