Thomas B. Moorhead, Deputy Under Secretary for International Labor Affairs since September 2001, died April 27th at George Washington University Hospital at the age of 69. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, his son Merrell, his two daughters Hannah and Rachel, and by his many friends and colleagues at the Department of Labor and around the world.

After a long and successful career as a business executive, Mr. Moorhead accepted President George W. Bush’s and Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao’s call to public service and was appointed as the head of the Bureau of International Labor Affairs. His devotion to his country and concern for the welfare of others was readily apparent, quickly earning him the respect and admiration of his staff, his colleagues at the Department of Labor, and the many individuals with whom he interacted.

He had previously served for 14 years as Vice President for human resources at Carter-Wallace and for 11 years as Senior Vice President for corporate affairs at Esteé Lauder. Mr. Moorhead had also represented U.S. employers as a delegate to the International Labor Conference for more than 10 years, and his expertise in business and on international labor issues was recognized around the world.

At Mr. Moorhead’s memorial service in Washington, D.C., Secretary Chao remarked that his enthusiasm for life was contagious to everyone he met and that the world is a better place because of him. Indeed, no matter how busy he was he would always have time for a good joke, a story about his beloved town of New Canaan, Connecticut, or his latest fishing trip.

Perhaps the most lasting tribute to Mr. Moorhead’s life is the thousands of children and millions of workers whose lives he helped to improve and who face a brighter future because of his dedication and commitment. He played a key role in helping to lead the global fight against the worst forms of child labor, and he was a strong advocate for the shared benefits of free trade for workers and their families.

One of the last events Mr. Moorhead worked on prior to his death was the DOL’s recent “Children in the Crossfire” conference, which aimed at eliminating the use of child soldiers in conflicts around the world. Hardly a pessimist, he once remarked that even if only one child were freed from abusive labor and poverty because of our efforts, it would be well worth it.

Tom Moorhead set an example for us all to follow, and he will be greatly missed.