1969 – 1994
Whenever I would meet Cely, she would always recount the story of how I held her hand and took her on a walking tour of Thimphu, Bhutan when I was only 9 years old. While my memories of the tour with Cely are hazy, I remember growing up calling her Cely Aunt, until later in my 20s, I found out that her name is actually Cely Arndt. My family and I met Cely when my father, Mingma Norbu Sherpa, was the Country Director of WWF Bhutan and she was visiting the World Wildlife Fund’s environmental projects in rural Bhutan. Throughout the years, Cely has remained a thoughtful and generous supporter and friend. She continued to support environmental conservation and community programs in Bhutan and Nepal through the two organizations that I work with: the Bhutan Foundation, and the Greater Himalayas Foundation. We will always remain deeply appreciative of her support, love, and respect for the Himalayas and her Himalayan friends. She has left a lasting impact on conservation in the Himalayas, and also personally touched so many of our lives.
Mingma Sherpa, Bruce Bunting, and Cely Ardnt in Bhutan