NDI mourns the passing of Willie Blacklow, a colleague and friend who believed in the power of politics to improve people’s lives and who worked to instill the values of democracy as a long-time trainer for the Institute.

Through the years, NDI sent Willie to eight countries on three continents to work with parliamentarians, political parties, minority groups and others as they sought to master the role of communication in order to participate more effectively in the political process.

“To each of those assignments Willie brought his intellect, skill, good humor, curiosity and passion,” said NDI President Kenneth Wollack. “He became a friend and mentor to countless individuals, young and old, who were drawn to his gentle manner and admired his principled sense of fair play.”

Willie started out as a journalist but moved quickly into what became a three-decade career in politics and public service. Many of those years were spent on Capitol Hill, where he served as press secretary for Reps. Toby Moffett, D-CT, and George Miller, D-CA, and Senator Carl Levin, D-MI. He then moved to the Pentagon, where he was deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs. And throughout those years he worked on campaigns and for causes that he held dear.

“Willie believed that democracy could improve people’s lives, particularly those who had little power or prestige,” Wollack said. “He was a champion of underdogs and worked in some difficult environments to help them build the skills they needed to be heard. He will be missed.”

Published Aug. 21, 2014