Elizabeth Crook, recipient of the Friendship Medal and one of the founders of foreign language education in New China, passed away. Foreign Expert | Ms. | Foreign Language Education
Deeply mournful for Advisor Elizabeth
Ms. Isabella Crook, advisor to the China International Committee for Industrial Cooperation, an international communist warrior, educator, anthropologist, pioneer of English teaching in New China, foreign expert and lifelong honorary professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, passed away on August 20, 2023 at 00:59 in Beijing at the age of 108.
Elizabeth Crook, female, Canadian, was born on December 15, 1915 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. During the early stages of the Anti Japanese War, she joined the rural construction movement in Sichuan and later went to England. She married her husband David Crook and participated in the International Anti Fascist War. In 1943, she joined the British Communist Party. In 1947, he came to the Shanxi Hebei Shandong Henan Liberated Area to observe and record the process of land reform. In 1948, he was invited by the CPC to teach at Nanhai Mountain Foreign Affairs School. He worked hard for more than 60 years, devoted all his efforts and wisdom to English education in New China, and cultivated the first batch of foreign affairs departments, a large number of outstanding scholars and diplomatic talents for New China. As a scholar studying anthropology and sociology, Elizabeth wrote works such as "Ten Mile Shop - A Revolution in a Chinese Village" and "Xinglongchang", faithfully observing and recording the Chinese revolution and construction, introducing China to the West and the world in her own way, and making outstanding contributions to foreign friendly exchanges.
In 2007, Beijing Foreign Studies University awarded Ms. Isabella "Lifetime Honorary Professor". In 2008, the University of Toronto in Canada awarded Elizabeth a doctoral degree. In 2016 and 2018, the Chinese government awarded her the honorary titles of "Top Ten Meritorious Foreign Teachers" and "Most Influential Foreign Expert for the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening up". In September 2019, Ms. Isabella was awarded the highest honor medal for China's foreign affairs - the "Friendship Medal" of the People's Republic of China.
Consultant Isabel paid close attention to China's rural development, teaching and educating people all her life. She died peacefully with infinite loyalty to the cause of international communism and love and nostalgia for the CPC and the Chinese people. According to my last wishes, the funeral will be simplified, the body will be donated for medical research, and no farewell ceremony will be held.
This obituary is hereby issued.
Our esteemed Isabelle advisor is immortal!
China International Committee for Industrial Cooperation
August 20, 2023