In Memoriam | 2024. - Free Online Library (2024)

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July 2024

Brian James Ahern, 69, died April 4, in Falls Church, Va. Ahern served in the U.S. Navy from 1976 to 1980. That same year, he entered the Foreign Service. He served as an information technology analyst at posts in Yemen, France, Burma, Algeria, India, Ethiopia, Bahrain, and Qatar. Ahern enjoyed fine art, oil painting, and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Merlyn; two children, David and Veronica; two brothers, Timothy and James; and three grandchildren.

Peggy Blackford, 82, died March 30, in New York, N.Y. Blackford received a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's from Pace University. In 1972, Blackford joined the Foreign Service. She served at posts in Kenya, Brazil, France, and Mali. In 1995, she was appointed as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. She earned an honor award for her courage and leadership during the violent coup d'etat that racked that nation in 1998. Following her retirement in 2000, she settled in New York City and continued to accept short-term assignments with the Department of State for several years. Living in New York, she pursued her passion for the performing arts, continued to travel extensively, and volunteered at an animal shelter. She is survived by a brother, Barry; two nieces; and several longtime close friends.

Sue K. Brown, 75, died May 14, in Arlington, Va. Brown entered the Foreign Service in 1980, working with the United States Information Agency. She rose through the ranks, culminating in her appointment as U.S. ambassador to Montenegro in 2011, a position she held until her retirement in 2015. Brown was the second U.S. ambassador to Montenegro and the first African American woman to serve in Southeastern Europe. She was renowned for her leadership, diplomacy, counsel, humanitarian efforts, and commitment to supporting the well-being of staff and families at her posts. Brown remained deeply committed to mentoring future diplomats in her retirement. She is survived by her children and grandchildren.

Brendan Robert Burns, 63, died May 6, in Palm Bay, Fla. Burns served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1981 to 1985. In 1986, he joined the Foreign Service. Burns served at posts overseas in Karachi, Bangkok, Freetown, Addis Ababa, Almaty, Ljubljana, and Dubai before retiring in 2011. In retirement, he lived in Carson City, Nev., and Palm Bay, Fla. Burns was predeceased by his father, James. He is survived by his wife, Sunisa; two children, Veronica and Seamus; his mother, Mary; his brother, James; and many cousins and friends.

Richard John Bushby, 65, died April 27, in Branson, Mo. Bushby served in the United States Navy before being honorably discharged in 1988. In 2005, Bushby joined the Foreign Service, working as an information management specialist. He trained in Washington and served overseas in Mumbai, Toronto, Warsaw, Tripoli, Hermosillo, and Ottawa. Bushby retired from the Foreign Service in 2018 and enjoyed tying lures for fly fishing. Bushby is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Gabriella; mother, Catherine; nine siblings; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Carole Dolores Haas, 83, died April 10, in Great Falls, Va. Haas was born and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) before working as a Foreign Service national at the U.S. Consulate General in Cape Town, South Africa. It was there that she met her husband George, a Foreign Service officer, whom she accompanied on tours in Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Washington, South Africa, and Thailand. Haas was active in youth sports, holding board positions in the Reston Swim Team Association and Reston Youth Baseball. She enjoyed overseas travel, loved elephants and supported conservation programs, and was an avid supporter of St. Jude's Children's Hospital--participating in their annual marathon in Memphis. Haas is survived by her husband of 51 years, George; two sons, Trevor and Brian; four siblings; and four grandchildren.

Barbara Beth Lampron, 65, died April 8, in Kearneysville, W.Va. In high school, Lampron became a foreign exchange student, which enhanced her lifelong dream of being abroad. She received a master's degree in business administration from Eastern New Mexico University, and in 1998, she joined the Foreign Service. Lampron served as an economics officer for 25 years before retiring in 2023. Lampron was predeceased by her infant brother, George. She is survived by two children, Robert and Fiona; four grandchildren; and eight siblings.

Maria Ifill Philip, 77, died April 15, in Silver Spring, Md. Philip was born in Barbados and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1953. In 1967, she received a bachelor's degree from Wilberforce University in Ohio and initially worked for the Social Security Administration. In 1980, she joined the Foreign Service. During her 27 years with the Foreign Service, she served at posts in Bogota; Bridgetown--where she met and married her husband, Oliver; Suva; Lagos; Georgetown; the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.; and Washington. After 39 years of government service, she retired after serving with the Office of Inspector General. Philip had a lifelong love of music, singing in church choirs and was a stalwart member of the Sweet Adelines-participating in many local, regional, and international female barbershop performances and competitions. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and was supportive of her alma mater. Philip was predeceased by her husband, Oliver; a son, Daniel; and three siblings. She is survived by eight children, Barbara, Joyce, Veda, Paul, Peter, Ray, Samuel, and David; 21-plus grandchildren; and two brothers.

June 2024

Victoria A. Durgana Latortue, 31, died May 11, in Fort Washington, Md. Durgana Latortue graduated with a B.A. from New York University. She was selected as a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs fellow while pursuing her M.A. at George Washington University. She joined the Foreign Service and served as a political officer in Algeria and vice consul in Israel. Most recently, she served as a line officer in the Office of the Secretary of State in Washington. She was recently selected to join the first inaugural cohort of the Colin Powell Leadership Institute organized by Black Professionals in International Affairs. Durgana Latortue was predeceased by her mother, Nivedita. She is survived by her husband, Foreign Affairs Officer Jean-Bernard Latortue; two sons, Jean-Paul and Philippe; her father, Joel; her sister, Belinda; and many other family members.

Charles Edmund Flinner, 89, died March 11, in Richmond, Va. In 1955, Flinner served two years in the U.S. Army, posted in Germany. In high school, he worked as a photoengraver apprentice and later served as a reporter for United Press International in Knoxville, Roanoke, and Washington. He later joined the U.S. Information Agency's Voice of America, where he served as an editor until he retired in 1997. Flinner was a longtime member of his church, where he was active in ministries, teaching, and music groups. He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Susan; a son, Carlyle; and a sister, Maryalice. He is survived by two daughters, Kathryn and Deborah; four grandchildren; and two nieces and a nephew.

Paul B. McCarty, 100, died April 6, in Weymouth, Mass. McCarty joined the Department of State in 1943, followed by entering the Foreign Service a year later. As a Foreign Service officer, he served at posts in India, Baghdad, Trieste, Rome, Tijuana, Sao Paulo, Santos, Salvador de Bahia, Stockholm, Vietnam, Istanbul, Damascus, Jamaica (which also served the Cayman Islands), and Dublin. Beginning in 1947, he also served as a private pilot. In 1983, McCarthy was a founding member of Foreign Affairs Retirees of New England. He remained interested in world affairs through webinars and the American Foreign Service Association's Media Digest. McCarty is survived by his wife, Carol Ann D'Arcy; and two children, Paul and Christine.

Ernest Charles Ruehle, 86, died March 10, in Red Oak, Iowa. Ruehle worked for the Red Cross in San Antonio, Texas, for a short time before he joined the Foreign Service. He served at posts, along with his family, in Portugal, Mexico, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Burma, Brazil, and Costa Rica. Ruehle retired in 1987 and moved to Oakland, Iowa, where he was elected mayor in 1996. Ruehle was an active member of his church and served as a lay pastor at several surrounding churches. He was also active in Hispanic ministry and helped found the Centro Latino of Iowa. He was involved with Share Iowa and the Oakland Lions Club. Ruehle is survived by his wife of 65 years, Martha; seven children, Cynthia, Judith, Robert, Richard, Scott, Dan, and Donald; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Swope, 79, died March 9, in Arlington, Va. After earning a B.A. from Mary Baldwin College in Virginia, Swope joined the Foreign Service. She later earned a master's degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School and graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Senior Seminar. During her career, Swope served in Portugal, Spain, Mexico (three times), France, and Egypt, working in consular positions in the last three. Domestically, she served in the Bureau of Personnel, the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, the U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States, the Foreign Service Institute as director of consular training, as a U.S-Mexico border coordinator in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, as the deputy director of management operations, and as the coordinator for consular notification in the Office of the Legal Advisor. She was also a member of the Executive Women at State employee organization. Upon retirement, Swope returned as a reemployed annuitant in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. In retirement, she continued to serve as a mentor to many and was a member of DACOR and the Associates of the American Foreign Service, for whom she managed the jewelry section of its annual book fair. Swope is survived by her husband of 43 years, Ambassador Patrick Kennedy.

Robert "Bob" Carl Whatley, 79, died March 1, in Annandale, Va. Whatley graduated from the University of Florida. He served for 28 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a command sergeant major. After his military career, Whatley transitioned to a second career in computer operations with the Department of Defense, followed by a career in information technology project management with the Department of State. He retired after 20 years in the Civil Service. Whatley loved classical and oldies music. He enjoyed nature, sports, history, and opera, and he loved traveling. Whatley is survived by his wife of 48 years, Tina; two siblings, Norma and William; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Christopher Wittmann, 65, died April 8, in Arlington, Va. A native of Washington, Wittmann graduated from the College of William and Mary and served as a law enforcement officer in Fairfax County, Va., before joining the Foreign Service. He served at posts in Guangzhou; Harare, Bangui; Frankfurt; Pristina; Honolulu, with the U.S. Pacific Command; Vienna, with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and New York in 2001, with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. In Washington, Wittman was responsible for various U.S. efforts to fight international terrorism and served in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. Wittman's beloved corgis, Boo and Brat, accompanied him to Frankfurt, Honolulu, and Vienna. During his 49-year career with the Department of State, Wittman received an M.A. from the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He was a patron of the arts, particularly opera, serving as a supernumerary in several Washington productions, and he gave generously to arts organizations and animal charities. Wittman was predeceased by his parents, Erwin and Rita; and his brother, Michael. He is survived by his spouse of 27 years, Nicholas; and many cousins and family members.

Sharon Elizabeth Erdkamp Ahmad, 90, died Feb. 18, in Carlsbad, Calif. In 1955, Erdkamp Ahmad received a B.A. from the University of Omaha. She earned an M.A. from Northwestern University the following year. After her studies, Erdkamp Ahmad entered the Foreign Service, serving in a variety of roles during her more than six decades of service. She served at posts in Rome, Curacao, and Islamabad. In Washington, she worked as an international economist in the Office of Canadian Affairs, director of the Office of International Trade in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, and deputy assistant secretary for European Affairs. In 1982, she was nominated to serve as ambassador to The Gambia but chose instead to remain in Washington. After a brief retirement in 1986, she returned to work part time for the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and the Freedom of Information Act office until 2020. As a longtime Washington resident, she enjoyed the arts and the many cultural and historical institutions that the city offers. She loved theater and made annual trips to New York City to see Broadway plays, musicals, and operas. Erdkamp Ahmad was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce, and her husband, Syed. She is survived by two daughters, Marya and Sameena; seven nieces and nephews; and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

John Howard Curry, 83, died Feb. 17, in Miami, Fla. Curry served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1958-1959. A graduate of the Ohio State University, he joined the Foreign Service in 1966. During his tenure, Curry served at posts in Mexico, Tunisia, and Nicaragua--where he met and married his wife of 44 years, Patricia. Curry enjoyed sharing jokes and stories with his children and grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, Richard. Curry is survived by his wife; four children, Jeff, John Patrick, Donald, and Evelyn; three siblings, Pamela, Christine, and Joey; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Christa Ute Griffin, 84, died Feb. 18, in Silver Spring, Md. Born in Tianjin, China, to German parents, Griffin moved to Kabul, Afghanistan, with her parents after completing her German education. She met her husband, Robert, there, who was serving at his first Foreign Service post. They married in 1967, and Griffin became a naturalized citizen, accompanying her husband to his postings. While parenting, she completed both an undergraduate and a master's degree in financial management. Upon Robert's retirement, she joined the Foreign Service and served at posts in Greece, Nigeria, Qatar, and Burundi until her retirement in 2004. Griffin enjoyed gardening and entertaining and later discovered her love of pit bulls and cats as she became a "grandma" to both. She was predeceased by her husband and a brother, Gerhardt. Griffin is survived by two sons, Oliver and Mark; and a sister, Inge.

Lars Holman Hydle, 83, died Nov. 19, in Washington, D.C. In 1960, Hydle received a B.Afrom Occidental College and later earned his doctorate from Columbia University. His first job with the federal government was with Voice of America in Washington, where he produced broadcasts for Africa. In 1965, he joined the Foreign Service and the following year volunteered to go to Vietnam for his first tour, where he served in Saigon as consular and political officer. During his career, he served as a political advisor in Bien Hua and Danang, vice consul in Belfast, political officer in Accra, and political officer in Port of Spain. In Washington, Hydle held positions in the Vietnam Working Group, in the Policy and Planning Division (as a speechwriter), in the Bureau of Public Affairs, on the Ethiopia desk, in the Office of the Inspector General, in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (as division chief for the West Central and East Africa Division), as chairman of the secretary's Open Forum, on the Kuwait Task Force, and as an analyst in the Near East and South Asia Office. In 1974, Hydle spent two years with the Department of Defense-Marine Corps Plans Division serving as a congressional escort and interpreter in Vietnam. From 1977 to 1979, Hydle served as president of the American Foreign Affairs Association (AFSA). After 30 years of service with the federal government, Hydle retired in 1993 and turned his attention toward his community and local activism. He enjoyed working with former AFSA presidents, served as a lead census field manager in 2000, held a term as an advisory neighborhood commissioner, and focused his efforts on the movement to gain representation in Congress for the citizens of Washington. Hydle is survived by his wife, Irene; two children, Lars and Ingeborg; two siblings, Katrina and Hugh; and a grandson, Victor.

Afton Olson Miles, 93, died Jan. 28, in Washington, Utah. In 1953, Olson Miles graduated from the University of Utah. She spent many years working in New York City while also earning a master's degree from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from New York University. In 1986, Olson Miles joined the Foreign Service. During her career, she served at posts in Yugoslavia, the USSR, and Washington. She traveled extensively before retiring to St. George, Utah, where she continued her active engagement in and love of music. Olson Miles was predeceased by her son, Stan. She is survived by a sister, Emma.

Steven Lee Blake, 79, died Jan. 19, in San Antonio, Texas. Blake graduated from Tulane University in 1966 and spent his junior year abroad at the University of Aberystwyth in Wales. Having completed the Reserve Officer Training Corps program, Blake was then commissioned as a transportation corps officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. He went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Virginia in 1970. During his graduate studies, he was twice awarded grants from the Ford Foundation and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation to do year-long periods of research in then-communist Romania. Following graduate school, Blake taught political science at the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany, for six years. In 1980, he joined the Foreign Service, where he served in a variety of roles as a political-economic officer and deputy chief of mission for 22 years, with postings in Doha, Washington, Bonn, Belgrade, Krakow, Bucharest, and Sofia. He retired in 2002 and first resided in Romania before moving back to Bulgaria in 2010. In 2022, Blake settled in his family's hometown of San Antonio, Texas. In retirement, he enjoyed reading, exercising, and pursuing his interest in European antiques. Blake was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Phillip. He is survived by two brothers, Robert and Douglas.

Robert "Bob" P. Coe, 88, died Feb. 5, in Bethesda, Md. In 1957, Coe earned a B.A. from Princeton University. He went on to earn three master's degrees from Wesleyan University in 1957, Columbia University in 1962, and Harvard University in 1975. A career Foreign Service officer, Coe served at posts in Bolivia, Ghana, Chile, and India. He retired in 1988 and was active in a number of organizations, including Bethesda Help, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Nature Conservancy. He also taught 49 courses at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at American University. He was an ardent hiker, tennis player, and swimmer. Coe was predeceased by his parents and a brother, John. He is survived by his wife, Jane; two daughters, Cati and Cindy; a brother, Peter; and two grandchildren.

Frederick Ragnar Cook, 78, died Nov. 24, 2023, in Sarasota, Fla. After earning a B.A. from Syracuse University, Cook served in the U.S. Army as an infantry lieutenant in Vietnam. He later earned an M.P.A. from Syracuse's Maxwell School of Public Affairs, joining the Foreign Service in 1970. He served in Belgium, Burundi, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. Domestically, in addition to positions in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Cook held management positions in the Bureaus of Consular Affairs and International Organization Affairs, the Foreign Service Institute, and the Foreign Buildings Office. His last three assignments were as minister counselor for management in Mexico, executive director of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the Department of State's senior liaison officer to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Cook retired in 2006 but was recalled as a reemployed annuitant to work for the CIA at U.S. embassies in Beijing, Tokyo, and Manila; at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics; and in support of the president's participation at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Yokohama. Cook is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathleen; two daughters, Sarah and Rachel; and five grandchildren.

Anna Rose Jacobson, 82, died Nov. 4, 2023, in San Marcos, Calif. Jacobson joined the Foreign Service as a secretary. She served in Germany, then France in 1968, where she met her Foreign Service officer (FSO) husband, Bob. The two held assignments in Cambodia, Greece, the former Soviet Union, Lesotho, Mozambique, Cote d'lvoire, India and at the Bureau of African Affairs' executive office. They then returned to Paris before retiring in October 1994. In retirement, Jacobson worked part time in human resources at Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif. She enjoyed traveling within the United States, and swimming and was an active member of the women's group at her church. Jacobson is survived by her husband of 53 years, Bob (retired FSO), and a daughter Kristin.

Judy Lane Knott, 76, died Feb. 14, in Arlington, Va. After Knott graduated from the College of William and Mary, she participated in a summer internship program, which led her to enter the Civil Service in 1967 as a program analyst with the Office of Overseas Schools. For more than 50 years, Knott served in this capacity, retiring from the Department of State in 2021. Knott enjoyed gardening, reading mysteries, and caring for animals. She is survived by three sisters; numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews.

Marvin Groeneweg, 91, died Jan. 19, in Fairfax Station, Va. Groeneweg spent two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. After an honorable discharge, Groeneweg joined the Department of State's courier service. In 1963, he joined the Foreign Service and was posted to Panama. He then worked as a consular officer in embassies and consulates in Austria, Canada, Malaysia, The Bahamas, Germany, and France. After retiring in 1988, Groeneweg worked with the Departments Office of Inspector General. He is survived by his wife, Dagmar, and three daughters.

Nancy Ostrander, 98, died Feb. 8, in Indianapolis, Ind. After graduating from Butler University in 1947, Ostrander traveled to Cuba to visit an uncle who managed a coffee plantation on the island. While there, she applied and was hired for the position of general clerk at the U.S. consulate. She continued in clerical positions in Havana and The Hague until she was appointed as vice consul under the Wriston Program in 1958. Ostrander served in Antwerp, Mexico City, and Kingston, followed by positions in Washington in the Bureau of Personnel, the Visa Office, and the Inspection Corps before being appointed as ambassador to Suriname in 1978. She also served as diplomat in residence at Indiana University/Purdue University in Indianapolis and deputy assistant secretary for population affairs. Ostrander was also a member of the 1974 class of the National War College and attended the Department of State's Senior Seminar in National and International Affairs from 1980-1981. She retired in 1989; served on the board of directors of Family Health International in Raleigh, N.C.; was active in the Women's Rotary Club of Indianapolis; and served on the vestry at her church. She was an avid gardener and birdwatcher. Ostrander is survived by numerous cousins.

Owen D. Phillips, 71, died Jan. 6, in Stafford, Va. Phillips was a native of the island of Barbados. In 1980, he received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University. He joined the Department of State in 1999, serving in Cotonou, where he worked with the Department of Defense for the embassy, and later serving in Georgetown, Guyana. In Washington, he served as a manager at the Foreign Service Institute until his retirement. Phillips is survived by his wife of 35 years, Bermadine.

Alberto "Cookie" Rodriguez, 63, died Dec. 7, 2023, in Arlington, Va. Rodriguez served in the U.S. Army for almost seven years. He joined the Foreign Service in 1988 as a program officer, and served in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) as a director in Guatemala, Pakistan, Peru, and Mexico. Before his time in INL, he served as a consular officer in Barbados and as information management specialist in Spain. Rodriguez helped reestablish the U.S. diplomatic presence in Somalia, served as an information officer in Pakistan during the Bin Laden Operation, and helped open new diplomatic posts in Estonia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan in Operation Restore Hope following the breakup of the former Soviet Union. Rodriguez retired in 2023 and loved reading, traveling, getting to know people and cultures, playing various sports, and dancing to salsa music. He is survived by his wife, Silvia; two daughters, Sarah and Ariana; and a brother, Carlos.

Judith Kay Williams, 84, died Nov. 1, 2023, in Charlottesville, Va. Williams served as a Foreign Service spouse from 1961 to 1987 in Germany, Nigeria, Turkey, South Africa, and Canada. After securing an M.S. in social work in 1984, she worked at the National Institute of Health, leading their HIV counseling program. Her marriage to Thomas Williams Sr. ended in divorce. In retirement, Williams became a Virginia Master Gardener. She was predeceased by a daughter, Lisa Anne. Williams is survived by a daughter, Amelia; son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Stephanie (retired Foreign Service officers); and four grandchildren.

Frederick Ragnar Cook, 78, died Nov. 24, 2023, in Sarasota, Fla. After earning a B.A. from Syracuse University, Cook served in the U.S. Army, including as an infantry lieutenant in Vietnam. He earned an M.P.A. from Syracuse's Maxwell School of Public Affairs, joining the Foreign Service in 1970. He served in Belgium, Burundi, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. Domestically, in addition to the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP), Cook held management positions in the Bureaus of Consular Affairs and International Organization Affairs, the Foreign Service Institute, and the Foreign Buildings Office. His last three assignments were as minister counselor for management in Mexico, executive director of EAP, and the Department of State's senior liaison officer to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Cook retired in 2006, but returned as a reemployed annuitant working at the CIA at U.S. embassies in Beijing, Tokyo, and Manila, at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and in support of the presidents participation at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Yokohama. Cook is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathleen; two daughters, Sarah and Rachel; and five grandchildren.

William "Bill" L. Harwood, 77, died Aug. 23, 2023, in South Burlington, Vt. In 1968, Harwood received a B.A. from the University of North Dakota. He then served three years in U.S. Army Intelligence and completed a year at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., which he then used to receive his doctorate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, conducting research atthejagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. In 1977, he joined the Foreign Service, working with the United States Information Agency, and served as a press and cultural attache in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Russia, Poland, and Somalia. Harwood retired in 1998 and was active in his church, the Rotary Club, and local music groups, in which he sang and played the French horn. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Elaine (a former family nurse practitioner with the Department of State); a daughter, Laura; and two grandchildren.

Erick Murrer Jr., 28, died Dec. 27, 2023, in Taos County, N.M. In 2018, Murrer received his undergraduate degree from Western Kentucky University and graduate degree from American University. Also in 2018, Murrer was selected as a Pickering fellow and joined the Foreign Service as an intern, serving in Israel. Murrer recently served in Azerbaijan until December 2023. He was preceded in death by his brother, Ethan. Murrer is survived by his husband; parents, Erick Sr. and Sherri; and two siblings, Austin and Olivia.

Robert "Bob" Jaffe Muscat, 92, died Jan. 9, in Haymarket, Va. In 1952, Muscat served in the U.S. Army. He joined the Foreign Service in 1957 and served as a reserve officer in Bangkok, Thailand; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nairobi, Kenya; and Washington. He retired in 1981. Muscat was a talented musician who played classical piano. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Juliette; three children, David, Joshua, and Elysabeth; and three grandsons.

Patrick Villegoureix-Ritaud, 75, died Jan. 6, in Haymarket, Va. Born in Bordeaux, France, Villegoureix-Ritaud immigrated to the United States in 1971. He received a bachelor's degree and studied law in France, and earned a degree from the University of Ohio. He served as executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Casablanca before joining the Department of State as a French teacher at the Foreign Service Institute. In 1981, he joined the Foreign Service and served as an administrative officer in Niger, Mexico, and Poland. He also served with the Bureau of International Organizations and Bureau of Administration's Office of Logistics Management in Washington, with a brief hiatus in 1993-1994 at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris. Villegoureix-Ritaud retired in 2015 and enjoyed cars, skiing, sailing, soccer, American football, golf, tennis, and his dogs. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Phyllis; and three children, Katia, Andrew, and Marc.

February 2024

Melvin Raymond Chatman Jr., 83, died Dec. 2, 2023, in Aldie, Va. Chatman served in the U.S. Army for six years before joining the Foreign Service. During his career, he served at posts in Bangladesh, El Salvador, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, and Washington. Chatman retired in 1998 after almost 30 years with the Department of State. In retirement, he wrote a book detailing his family roots, pursued a master's degree in creative writing, and spent years working with his wife to establish an urgent care clinic in South Riding, Va. Chatman is survived by his wife of 40 years, Anita; a son, Farouk; two siblings, Whit and Susan; and his mother, joan.

Kit Allison Junge, 66, died Dec. 9, 2023, in Surprise, Ariz.Junge attended the University of Washington before joining the Foreign Service in 1999. She began her career in Armenia, then served in Azerbaijan, and later, she was a management officer in Calcutta and Kigali. She also served in Tunisia and Washington. She retired in May 2021. In retirement, Junge enjoyed building wooden ship replicas, cooking for friends, and taking care of her mom. She was also an avid motorcyclist. Junge was preceded in death by her brother, Scott. She is survived by her mother, Joyce; a sister, Nina; and four nieces and nephews.

Joann "Jodie" Lewinsohn, 92, died Nov. 9, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Lewinsohn earned a B.A. from Stanford University in 1952. At the urging of a professor who had served in the Foreign Service, Lewinsohn applied to the United States Information Agency (USIA). She first participated in a summer seminar at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Rangoon, then served a year in the Philippines as a Fulbright fellow. After she graduated from SAIS in 1956, Lewinsohn served as an administrative assistant at the Embassy of Cambodia in Washington. In March of 1959, she joined USIA as a public affairs trainee. During her career, she served at posts in Phnom Penh (twice), Jakarta, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Stockholm, Pretoria, and Rome. In Washington, she served in the Office of East Asian Affairs and was a deputy associate director in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In retirement, she briefly ran a small catering service with her sister and read applications from high school students for a summer travel program of the American Councils for International Education. Lewinsohn also had a passionate love for opera and classical music. She was predeceased by her sister, Nancy. Lewinsohn is survived by her long-time housekeeper, Melanie; and many close friends and devoted aides.

Jerry Dean Pifer, 68, died Nov. 22, 2023, in Everett, Wash. Pifer joined the U.S. Navy and served as a submariner for six years aboard SSBN Ethan Allan. He later worked as the technical manager on a rubber plantation in Liberia. In 1996, Pifer joined the Foreign Service as a facility manager serving in Finland, Namibia, Cote d'lvoire, and Washington--where he developed the first-ever facility management tradecraft training at the Foreign Service Institute--Mexico, Senegal, and the Florida Regional Center. He retired after 21 years in the Foreign Service and took up horticulture and plant propagation techniques, creating beautiful gardens around his home in Granite Falls, Wash. He also continued his interests in astronomy, quantum physics, and ancient history, and he enjoyed music and playing bass guitar. Pifer is survived by his wife of 45 years, Karolyn; and two sons, Jesse and Kyle.

Helen Solitario, 96, died Dec. 17, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. In 1956, Solitario joined the Department of Agriculture in Mexico City as a foreign national. She then entered the Foreign Service after she married Tom Solitario, a Foreign Service diplomat, in 1957. She was posted in Leopoldville, Ankara, Athens, Tel-Aviv, Dublin, San Jose, Belgrade, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Lima, and again in Mexico City as the ambassador's secretary. She retired in 1990 to become a full-time grandmother in Charlotte, N.C. Solitario enjoyed traveling, swimming, and hosting Latin newcomers as a volunteer with the International House of Charlotte. She was predeceased by her husband in 1989. She is survived by two sons, Tom and Paul; and four granddaughters, Christine, Elizabeth, Chiara, and Allegra.

Catherine "Cathy" Thibodeau, 92, died May 29, 2023, in Bradenton, Fla. In 1958, Thibodeau joined the Department of State's personnel bureau (now the Bureau of Global Talent Management). She held details in the secretary's office, Geneva, and at the White House during the Nixon administration. She served as chief of congressional correspondence in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs before retiring in 1991. In retirement, Thibodeau was elected and served on the town council in University Park, Md. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, numerous women's and garden clubs, symphony guilds, and bridge clubs. She was also an excellent seamstress and volunteer, and she enjoyed reading, political debates, crossword puzzles, daily news, music, and hosting parties and events. Thibodeau was predeceased by her husband, Delmar. She is survived by three children, A. Bridget, A. Bryan, and Aurilla "Dee Dee"; three sisters, Josephine, S.P., and Pauline; and five grandchildren.

William "Bill" Jesse Weinhold, 84, died July 8, 2023, in Reston, Va. A Wisconsin native, Weinhold graduated from a trade school in Chicago as a radio technician. He joined the Peace Corps in its inaugural year, 1961, and was sent to Malaya (present-day Malaysia). His future wife, Mary, was in the same group, which is how they met, marrying in 1962 in Kuala Lumpur. As one of the very first overseas marriages between Peace Corps volunteers, the wedding was covered by Voice of America in its international broadcasts. Weinhold joined the United States Information Agency in 1967. His overseas tours were in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, and South Africa, all in public diplomacy positions. In Washington, he served in the Office of American Studies, the Bureau of African Affairs, and human resources, retiring in 2000 with more than 35 years of federal service. In retirement, Weinhold was active in serving those in need in a variety of roles, including delivering meals, participating in musical performances at care institutions, and volunteering at charities. He was a fervent supporter of the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Nationals. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary; three children, Scott, Shana, and Patrick; and nine grandchildren.

Thomas Edward Williams Sr., 85, died Dec. 13, 2023, in Arlington, Va. Williams entered the Foreign Service in 1961. He served in Germany, Nigeria, Turkey, South Africa, and Canada. He was director of the Office of International Affairs in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, where he led preparation of the annual report to Congress. Williams retired in 1987 but managed the human rights reports until 1994, when he joined his wife, Foreign Service Officer Robin Quinville, in Austria. Subsequently, he accompanied her to Belgium, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovena, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling, good food, conversation, and vibrant debate about current affairs. Williams is survived by his wife; his children, Amelia and Thomas Jr. (a retired Foreign Service officer); and four grandchildren.

Bernard J. Woerz, 87, died Dec. 1, 2023, in Sound Beach, N.Y. In 1958, Woerz graduated from Manhattan College. Following two years working in New York City and service with the National Guard, he entered the Foreign Service in 1960. He served five years in communications and records in Accra, Oslo, and Warsaw, followed by assignments as a general service officer in Warsaw and Tokyo. He then served as an administrative officer in Curacao; post management officer in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs' (NEA) Executive Office; administrative officer in Kabul, Amman, and Beirut; special assistant in the Bureau of Administration; and principal officer in Curacao. Injured during the 1984 Embassy Beirut bombing, he was transferred to the Bureau of European Affairs' Executive Office as a supervisory post-management officer and then to NEA's Executive Office as executive director. Before his 1990 retirement, Woerz served in temporary duty assignments (TDYs) in Bamako and Leopoldville; after retirement, he served TDYs in Bombay, Sana'a, Islamabad, Aqaba, Muscat, Kathmandu, Kabul, Amman, and Jerusalem and with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. In 1995, Woerz and his wife retired to Sound Beach, N.Y. He was actively involved in the community and enjoyed spending his free time with the retired sisters at the convent founded by The Daughters of Wisdom. Woerz's wife, Patricia, passed away a few days prior to Bernard. He is survived by two children, Danielle and Chris; and five grandchildren.

Bruce Alright, 95, died May 11, 2023, in Monterey, Calif. After serving in the U.S. Army, Alright received a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.A. from Occidental College. In 1958, Alright joined the United States Information Agency and served as a director at binational centers in Chile, Iran, Ecuador, and Peru. He later worked as a cultural attache in Afghanistan, Algeria, and Burma. Alright retired from the Foreign Service in 1983 and began an active teaching career for the U.S. Navy. He later worked as an English language professor in Japan and China. He enjoyed traveling, painting, writing, and woodworking. He was also a life-long learner of foreign languages, and he received his second B.A. in Spanish from Cal State Monterey Bay in 2015. Alright is survived by his wife, Rachel; two daughters, Anne and Yannick; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Edgar C. Harrell, 89, died Oct. 31, 2023, in Washington, D.C. In 1955, Harrell received a B.S. from Dickinson University. He then served three years in the U.S. Navy before serving with the company Rohm and Haas in Japan. In 1962, he began a Ph.D. program at Columbia University, where he met his wife of 58 years, Paula. In 1965, they lived in Japan for two years before Harrell joined the Department of State in Japan as a special assistant. He then joined USAID as an economist in Thailand; served as USAID mission director in Jordan; and, from 1981 to 1985, helped establish USAID's Bureau of Private Enterprise, serving as deputy and acting assistant administrator. In 1983, Harrell attended a program at Harvard University's business school. After he retired, Harrell taught at Dickinson University and Johns Hopkins University and helped establish a new university--Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Pennsylvania. Harrell is survived by his wife; three sons, Erik, Philip, and Matthew; and ten grandchildren.

Albert M. Kaya, 89, died Oct. 10, 2023, in Palmdale, Calif. Kaya served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In 1961, he joined the Foreign Service. He served at posts in New Delhi, Rome, Belgrade, Kinshasa, Melbourne, Port-au-Prince, Tokyo, Paris, Frankfurt, Kabul, and St. George's. Kaya retired in 1990. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Roberta; three children, Angela, Alcia, and Paul; two siblings, George and Ruth; and three grandchildren.

John Stephen Kramer, 77, died Oct. 3, 2023, in San Pedro, Philippines. Kramer attended Benedictine College in Illinois. He served in the military from 1964 to 1968 and then joined the Foreign Service. He served at posts in Sudan, Egypt, Belgium, and Nepal. Kramer retired in 2004 and relocated to the Philippines. In retirement, he enjoyed writing, reading, rediscovering familial roots, and spending time with his family and friends. Kramer is survived by his wife, Beverly; and a daughter, Angela.

David Karl Krecke, 83, died on Oct. 19, 2023, in Bethesda, Md. After graduating from Eastern Michigan University, Krecke joined the Peace Corps, where he met his wife, JoAnn. They served for two years in Ethiopia as teachers, and upon their return, Krecke taught high school civics and history in Royal Oak, Mich. In the summer of 1967, he joined the United States Information Agency, He served in Thailand, Germany, Liberia, and India. After retiring in 1996, Krecke worked for several years as a writer and editor for State Magazine. During retirement, he enjoyed golf, tennis, and volunteering at The Methodist Home of D.C. Krecke was preceded in death by his son Timothy; and a brother, Norman. He is survived by his wife of 57 years; three children, Jennifer, Christopher, and Emily; a sister, Kristin; and four grandchildren.

Andre J. Navez, 89, died Nov. 7, 2023, in Hopkinton, Mass. After graduating from Milton Academy and Harvard University, Navez served as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army. He earned a master's degree from The Fletcher School of International Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University before joining the Foreign Service in 1960. He served at posts in Vientiane, Stanleyville, Bukavu, Fort Lamy, Brussels, Addis Ababa, and Djibouti, as well as assignments in Washington. Upon retirement in 1985, Navez returned to an old farmhouse in Hopkinton, where he built an addition and a barn, cleared fields, planted gardens, and raised sheep and chickens. He was active in numerous conservation organizations and gave most of his land to the state as a wildlife sanctuary. He pursued a lifelong interest in the natural world, antique cartography, birding, and foreign travel. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Christine.

Teddy R. Payne, 79, died July 23, 2023, in Loganville, Ga. At the age of 16, Payne joined the U.S. Army. He served for 20 years at posts in Korea, Vietnam, Germany, Belgium, and at several Stateside bases. He played tennis for the military. Payne retired from the Army in 1982 and joined the Foreign Service as a communications officer, serving at posts in Honduras, Morocco, Belgium, South Africa, and the Philippines. From 1995 to 2001, during an assignment in Washington, Payne served as the architect of an antivirus program that protected computers from viruses and malware, which helped the Department of State and overseas embassies get through the Y2K transition without any issues. He retired in 2002 and spent his time playing tennis, traveling around Georgia, and doing repairs around his children's houses. Payne is survived by his wife of 56 yearsjeannette; and two children, Brenda and Teddy II.

Donald Bernard Simmons Jr., 81, died Oct. 21, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Simmons graduated from Troy State University in Alabama. He served in the U.S. Navy before joining the Foreign Service. Simmons served at posts in Abidjan, Mexico City, Yerevan, Monrovia, Paris, Charleston, and Washington. He also took on temporary duty assignments and served as a retired employee annuitant at posts in Sofia, Skopje, Amman, and Baghdad. While serving as an active-duty naval officer, Simmons swore his son Don into the U.S. Navy, and while serving as an active-duty Foreign Service Officer, Simmons swore his son Dennis into the Foreign Service. He retired in 2007 and enjoyed skiing. Simmons is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his two sons; and four grandchildren.

Thomas Clifford "Cliff'Tighe, 75, died Oct. 24, 2023, in Fort Pierce, Fla. After a brief stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, Tighe joined the Foreign Service in 1974. During his career, he served at posts in La Paz, Port-au-Prince (twice), Belfast, Nicosia, Bonn, Washington, Fort Lauderdale, and Kingston. He retired in 2009 after serving as charge d'affaires and deputy chief of mission in Jamaica and Haiti. Tighe enjoyed traveling, history, and collecting old coins and stamps. He is survived by his wife, Luisa; two children, Tom and Colleen; two stepchildren, Peter and Alex; five grandsons; a brother, John; and former wife, Debby.

Questions concerning employee deaths should be directed to the Office of Casualty Assistance. Inquiries concerning deaths of retired employees should be directed to the Office of Retirement at (202) 261-8960. For specific questions on submitting an obituary, please contact State Magazine.