Edmund Hillary, first man to climb Mt. Everest, dies at age 88

UPDATE: Here is the NY Times coverage – it’s excellent. Looks like everyone has the picture below. Edmund Hillary, First on Everest, Dies at 88 – New York Times

Second Update: The Washington Post coverage Conquered Everest, Advocated for Planet – washingtonpost.com

My original posting is here-

New Zealander Edmund Hillary, along with Nepal Sherpa Tenzig Norgay, were the first men to reach the top of the world’s highest mountain, on May 29, 1953. Tenzig Norgay died in 1986.

Of course a great accomplishment – 15 other expeditions had failed to get to the top – but Sir Edmound Hillary (he was knighted shortly after the climb) was one of the great men of the last century because of what he did after climbing Everest.

Bloomberg.com: India & Pakistan

`Big in Heart’

Hillary, known to the Sherpa people as Burra-sahib, meaning “big in stature, big in heart,” returned to Nepal many times to climb. In 1977, he journeyed by jet boat to the source of the Ganges River. He was New Zealand’s high commissioner to India from 1984 to 1989, the equivalent of an ambassador among British Commonwealth countries.

The Himalayan Trust, established by Hillary in 1960, has helped build three hospitals, 13 health clinics and more than 30 schools, according to its Web site. He successfully pushed for the creation of the Sagarmatha National Park in the valleys below Everest, funded by the Nepal and New Zealand governments and now a World Heritage site.

Here are a couple of postings from the New Zealand Herald

Sir Edmund had been in ‘high spirits’ – 11 Jan 2008 – Sir Edmund Hillary – The life of and tributes to this great New Zealand…

World’s media honours Hillary – 11 Jan 2008 – NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

Looking at how the world’s media are treating the loss of a truly great New Zealand shows that while many focus on conquering Everest, many pay tribute to Hillary as the widely respected man he was.

One Australian News site quotes acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard describing Sir Edmund as a "giant of New Zealand", acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said today.

Australia’s ABC News is running Sir Edmund’s death as its lead story: New Zealand climber Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest, has died at the age of 88, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has announced.

The cause of Sir Edmund’s death was not announced, but he had been ill for some time and New Zealand media is reporting that he had been suffering pneumonia.

The Daily Telegraph, in a fitting tribute that lauded Hillary’s massive humanitarian efforts, described the man as the colossus of Everest:

"Despite conquering Everest and winning international renown as one of the 20th century’s greatest adventurers, Sir Edmund Hillary, who died last night, remained humble to the end," it reported.

"The mountaineer, known to friends and family simply as Ed, said he wished to be remembered mostly for his humanitarian work."