One of the Pacific region’s most respected authors and academic, Cook Islander Dr. Marjorie Tuainekore Crocombe née Hosking OBE passed away on Thursday night aged 92.

Crocombe, who worked as a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands and senior lecturer at the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, collaborated with her husband, the late Ron Crocombe, co-writing and editing several books and articles.

Crocombe’s son, hotelier Tata Crocombe in a Facebook post said: “Over 92 active years, Mum was first and foremost the devoted matriarch of our family, as well as an educator, author and university administrator whose life helped and touched so many.”

“Mum was a pioneer in so many fields of endeavour, the first Cook Islands female sent as a scholarship student to Wanganui Collegiate where she was the first Polynesian Head Girl, the first Cook Islands graduate from a New Zealand Teachers College, the first Cook Islands author of many books for the Education Department, the first published Cook Islands historian for her research of the early Cook Islands missionaries in collaboration with a Professor from the Australian National University, the first female Director of Extension Studies at the University of the South Pacific, first Director of the Centre for Pacific Studies at Auckland University, first Cook Islands recipient of an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of the South Pacific and so much more.

“Rest in Peace Dear Mum.”

USP Cook Islands campus director Dr Debi Futter-Puati said Marjorie was a hugely influential Vaine Toa who made an impact on generations of scholars and academics.

“She was a teacher, a writer, academic leader and friend. She was an ally for all things scholarly in the Cook Islands and right across the Pacific region for that matter,” Futter-Puati said.

Mama Marjie as many affectionately know her was awarded an honorary degree from USP – a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) in 2010, for her huge scholarly contribution to Pacific knowledge which included books, journal articles, advocacy, feminism, etc.

She received numerous awards for her long-standing and outstanding service to the region in the Pacific, and particularly the Cook Islands, including receiving the Queen’s Award of the Order of the British Empire, OBE in 2009.

Mama Marjie agreed to be the patron of Te Vairanga Kite Pakari, the Cook Islands Research Association, with much reluctance as she was never one to seek the limelight, Futter-Puati said.

“She continued to support scholars right through to the last of her days. She never ceased encouraging others to write, to enter in academia, to challenge the status quo, and constantly reminded people that their stories were important to tell. ‘just write’ she would often say!

“Mama will be sorely missed. She was my mentor, my friend and a champion of USP. Rest easy my friend.”