Posted on May 31, 2018
Jock McCulloch was an internationally renowned writer, researcher, professor, human rights advocate and friend. His extensive work had a huge impact in the field of occupational health and safety. From the mines of South Africa to his homeland in Australia, Jock’s legacy of work was founded on advocating for safe working conditions from asbestos.
Tragically, Jock McCulloch passed away from his 6-month mesothelioma battle on January 18, 2018. Jock believed he was exposed to asbestos while working in South Africa.
We are deeply saddened at the loss of a great friend and our hearts continue to go out to Pavla Miller, his partner for 30 years, and his close friends and loved ones.
Memorial Tribute from the University of Cape Town
While our community continues to mourn and remember Jock, his legacy lives on around the world. His life partner, Pavla Miller, is currently working on finishing his book. In addition, Dr Sophia Kisting, Executive Director of the National Institute for Occupational Health, held an educational seminar on May 17 in honor of Jock. In the audience were students and faculty of the University of Cape Town’s School of Public Health and Family Medicine.
Memorial Tribute from the Occupational Health Southern Africa
In addition, Gill Nelson, Editor-in-Chief, Occupational Health Southern Africa compiled quotes from around the world into this touching tribute which was published in the The Occupational Health Southern Africa. As Gill shared, “My own memories of Jock are of a kind and caring man, deeply committed to the ‘cause’ of asbestos and the immense suffering that so many people experienced after being exposed to the deadly fibre. I can imagine him walking across the veld of the Northern Cape asbestos fields, witnessing the scarred landscape and the ubiquitous scatterings of grey tufts of crocidolite. It is something that I and many others who worked at the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) and affiliated organisations also, naively, did. Sadly, some, like Jock, subsequently developed mesothelioma. The legacies of Dr Derick Rendall, Dr GK Sluis-Cremer, Dr Jack Abramowitz, Mr Joas Kubayi, and others, live on in their valuable contributions to asbestos-related research. May they all rest in peace.”
Dr. Barry Castleman, and Geoffery Tweedale also paid a beautiful homage to Jock’s incredible work and inspiring life by writing a wonderful tribute. Jock was truly admired and loved and will be greatly missed by many across the world.
Our hearts were heavy at our 14th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference when we recognized Jock with the 2018 ADAO’s Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless dedication to increasing awareness about asbestos and for his outstanding contributions for truth and justice. Below is Dr. Barry Castleman’s introduction about Jock and Palva’s acceptance speech video.
Jock will live on in our hearts and work forever.
Linda Reinstein