A working life spent trying to reduce global poverty
Bruce Trangmar
anti-poverty consultant b November 2, 1952 d April 4, 2020
Bruce Trangmar was a sensitive, thoughtful man with strong family love and values, and a subtle sense of humour, those closest to him say.
His four-decade contribution to international poverty reduction saw him successfully conduct more than 60 research and consultancy projects in 25 countries in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and South America.
On April 4, Trangmar lost his long battle with cancer and died peacefully with wife Sharon by his side.
He is remembered with great affection by friends, family and colleagues as a kind and patient man, with excellent people management skills. He always had time to communicate with and listen to his staff and colleagues.
Sharon Trangmar said he was her soulmate and best friend of 37 years.
‘‘It was by chance that we met at a night club in Hawaii,’’ she said. ‘‘He always told the story that I picked him up at a bar. I guess it was true. I knew a good one when I saw one.
‘‘I feel very privileged to have had this amazing man in my life, he will be missed by his family and all who knew him.’’
Trangmar was born in Christchurch and attended Shirley Boys’ High School. He then completed a bachelor of science in geology at the University of Canterbury, and a masters in science in resource management from Lincoln University.
In 1980, Trangmar was awarded a scholarship to travel to the University of Hawaii to study for his PhD.
Through the university, he was later involved in several USAID-funded projects in Hawaii, Rwanda, and Sudan.
These projects started Trangmar’s international career, which spanned 40 years and included work in 25 countries.
In particular, Trangmar made more than 80 visits to China where he worked extensively in poverty reduction, agricultural improvement and irrigation projects, mostly for the World Bank.
In the late 1980s, Trangmar began working for Crown-owned research company Landcare Research, where he worked on consulting projects funded by the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat), the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank.
During this time, he also completed a masters in business administration from the University of Canterbury.
At Landcare Research, he was contracted as project design and review consultant for several of the World Bank’s poverty reduction loan projects in China.
He was hopeful of achieving 100 visits to China, but unfortunately his failing health in recent years did not allow this milestone to eventuate.
Trangmar was awarded the Chinese National Friendship Award in 2001, a title awarded to 50 recipients each year. He also received a certificate of recognition from the World Bank in 2001 for his work in China and Vietnam. In recent years, he continued working on three large World Bank poverty reduction projects in China, and with Mfat.
He was passionate about using his knowledge and experience to help developing countries, and was involved in water resource and poverty reduction projects in Vietnam, Pakistan, India, China, Thailand, Laos, the South Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
His projects made a significant difference in many countries and communities, and had a profound and positive impact on the lives of many.
Trangmar was diagnosed with a bone disease in 2001, which he battled for the rest of his life. Despite this, he remained very active in his work.
‘‘He was totally dependable, honest, and not afraid to say what he thought. He was always sincere and thoroughly explained his views,’’ colleague Paul Heveldt said. ‘‘Bruce possessed a superb analytical mind, was an organised planner, a great communicator, and skilled in the design and implementation and review of projects.’’
Trangmar loved sport and was a big Canterbury and Crusaders rugby supporter. He was always fit through many years of playing both A grade and social squash. He was also an accomplished low-handicap golfer.
Trangmar is survived by his wife, Sharon, and two daughters, Lauren and Rachel. – By Jake Kenny, David Leslie and Paul Heveldt