"Baha'is...throughout the world, are grief-stricken at the news of the death January 19, 2000, of Mrs. Ruhiyyih Rabbani (nee Mary Maxwell), widow of Shoghi Effendi, the late head of the Baha'i Faith. Mrs. Rabbani passed away peacefully after a long illness. She was 89."
Mrs. Rabbani provided the last living link with the family of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. She married his Great-grandson, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani. Then head of the Baha'i Faith, in 1937, and went to reside in Haifa, Israel, at the administrative center of the religion. She worked as his researcher, secretary, confidante and counselor, as he single handedly guided the growing worldwide Baha'i community. Her vast correspondence and personal contacts, at once dignified and informal, endeared her to thousands of Baha'is."
Throughout her life, Mrs. Rabbani worked tirelessly for the realization of the oneness of humanity, focusing in particular on the environment and indigenous cultures. A film producer, poet, and lecturer, Mrs. Rabbani was also a widely read author. Her extensive biography of her husband, "The Priceless Pearl", has appeared in many editions and many languages..."
Later in her life, Mrs. Rabbani traveled widely, crossing all continents, visiting 185 countries. She was received by many heads of state and governments, including Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India, Prince Philip, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Javier Perez de Cuellar."
Thousands of people were touched by her compassion for human suffering, her indomitable spirit, humility, wit and humor. Her strong desire and one of her greatest successes was in encouraging members of indigenous people into full partnership in society. An example of her work towards fulfilling this aim was a six-month expedition that she led through the Amazon basin to survey the impact of development on the environment and indigenous cultures."
I only saw Ruhiyyih Khanum Rabbani once. This was in 1981. I had been back in California less than a year when my wife, Caryn, and I found out the Mrs. Rabbani was going to be in Los Angeles to give a talk. Along with three other Baha'is from the Central Coast accompanied us on the 200 mile drive to L. A. One of our passengers had never been more than 30 miles from her home before this trip. We all loaded into my '66 VW beetle and set out for the City of the Angeles. The trip was uneventful, but, with 5 people in a beetle for 4.5 hours, combined with the anticipation of seeing a Hand of the Cause, it was exciting.
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