Rutherford M. Poats– “Rud”– a pioneering
designer and director of international development programs, died at his home in New York City on November 10, 2020. Rud was born in Spartanburg, SC in 1922 and graduated from Emory University in 1942 before joining the Army, serving in the Philippines and Japan. He had a distinguished career as a journalist and international development and banking services expert and innovator over his nearly 50-year career spanning posts in Asia, Europe and Washington, DC. Rud wrote the first published history of the Korean War (“Decision in Korea”) and headed the Far East Bureau of UPI in Tokyo.
He entered civilian government service in 1961, rising through the ranks of the newly created Agency for International Development (AID) to become assistant administrator for the Far East and later Deputy Administrator and Acting Administrator of the agency under Presidents Johnson and Nixon. He took a fellowship at Brookings Institute where he wrote “Technology for Developing Nations” in 1972. He was a key driver in AID’s efforts to promote US private investment, serving as the principal architect of the US Overseas Private Investment Company (OPIC) and as its acting president in 1977.
In 1978 he moved to the National Security Council as an international economic policy advisor to President Carter and remained on the NSC staff during the first year of the Reagan administration. Rud was elected chairman of the OECD’s Economic Development Assistance Committee from 1982 – 85 in Paris, where he led reforms in aid management by bilateral and multilateral agencies, notably in strengthening program coordination in recipient countries, culminating in his authorship of “Twenty-five Years of Development Cooperation”. In 1986 he returned to Washington as a consultant to the World Bank in the design and launching of its new affiliate, the Multilateral Investment Guaranty Agency (MIGA), of which he was the interim chief at its inauguration in 1988. Rud finished his career as President of International Investment Services, where with other senior partners, he advised governments on creating favorable climates for foreign investment and indigenous private enterprise. Rud was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, the Asia Society, Japan Society, Korea Society and the hereditary Society of the Cincinnati.
Rud took up painting and stone and wood sculpting in his retirement years, assisted wife Lea Sneider, now deceased, with her numerous Korean art exhibits, travelled extensively, and loved gathering with the family. Rud is survived by four children from his first marriage to the late Esther Smith, including Penfield Thompson, Huntley Poats, Rutherford Poats and Grayson Poats, as well as five grandchildren and five great grandchildren, and his faithful, beloved caretakers, Boodnie Pandohie and Rangamah Ramgulan of New York, NY. Service to be held at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, VA in Q2 2021, pending Covid19 conditions. Service to be held at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, VA in Q2 2021, pending Covid19 conditions.
grew up in segregated Louisiana, became the first African American ambassador to apartheid South Africa and opened the ranks of the Foreign Service to minorities as its director general. He was married for 47 years to Lucy Liu Perkins and had two daughters (Katherine and Sarah) and four grandchildren. He died Nov. 7, 2020 at a hospital in Washington. He was 92.
“Curt,” was born on May 26, 1939 in Upland, CA to the late Levi C. and Lilly “Landis” Nissly. After graduating high school 1956, Curt attended Westmont College and Upland College (each for one year),and served as a missionary helper in Zambia and Zimbabwe. In 1962, Curt returned to Upland College and earned his Bachelors of Science in Biology. Between 1963 and 1981, he completed his Master’s degree at Cal State (Los Angeles), moved his family to Zambia to teach math and science under the Brethren-in-Church Missions; earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Agronomy in 1976; and taught at the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) and the University of Zambia (UNZA). Curt became a commissioned officer with the USAID in 1981 and moved his family to Nairobi, Kenya serving as Regional Economic Development Services Officer (REDSO). In the summer of 1987, Curt and family moved to Islamabad, Pakistan where they were evacuated at the beginning of the Gulf War. They resided in Springfield, Virginia where Curt worked for USAID in Washington, DC until being assigned to Niamey, Niger as the Natural Resources Officer. He later worked in the Food for Peace (FFP) office in Washington, DC until being assigned to Bamako, Mali as Food Aid Officer in 1999. Curt retired in 2004. In retirement, Curt and his wife operated a small business and organized and led 15 different short term mission teams to New Orleans to assist in the clean-up and rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. Curt travelled with his wife and enjoyed family and grandchildren. He and his wife became a Cumberland County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) advocating for children in the foster care system. In his free time, Curt enjoyed keeping up with home projects and looking for ways to help others.
On October 26, 2020, Tom passed away after a five-year battle with cancer. Tom was born July 15, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. When he was five, his father–a lawyer– was called to Washington, DC and Bethesda became the home of the Kellermann family since then. Tom attended Bradley Elementary and BCC until his father was assigned to Paris as Minister of the UNESCO. In Paris, Tom attended and graduated from the American HS. Then he got his degree at Indiana University, followed by serving two years as Tank Commander in Bad Kissingen, Germany. He left the military and joined the Foreign Service as a Career FSO. He served with USAID in Nigeria during the Biafra war, in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), the Ivory Coast and Mauretania – while on home tours, he served as the desk officer for the Philippines and Burma. His favorite tour was in Guatemala and his last tour in Peru. Tom loved Shrimp and Cheese Fondue and was an obsessed Marathon Runner and Golfer. He served under Msgr. Reddy at St.Bart’s Social Concern board, sang in the choir and organized the first Hunger Drive of the Parish. He loved the Redskins. Tom is survived by his wife Theres A. Kellermann-Hammer; his daughters Alessandra and Debbie; his sons, Thomas and Patrick (wife, Laura Mundy); his beloved grandson, Ed Kellermann, and his best friend, Isabel M. Rodriguez. He has family in Princeton, NJ, and in Switzerland. Due to the Covid, the burial will be private. A Celebration of Life will be held once the Covid is over. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to UNICEF. Please view and sign the family guestbook at 
David Edward Mutchler, 79, died peacefully on September 4, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Lexington KY, he graduated St. Louis University and earned his Ph.D from Washington University in St. Louis. He joined USAID in 1971 and spent the next 30 years as a foreign service officer in Nepal, Barbados, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Panama and Washington, DC. He served as the USAID Mission Director for Panama and was Director of the Cuba Program (1997-2007), the first USAID program in support of the Cuban people.
parents. When he was three years old, the family returned to Switzerland. In 1949, he went back to the US to attend Rutgers University. He received his Masters’ Degree in 1955 and his PhD in Economics in 1957 from Wharton. USAID then offered him a job at USAID/Cambodia as economist in the Planning Office. His next assignment was to the Abidjan regional office for four West African countries. From there he transferred to the Central African Republic where he opened a new USAID post. In Bangui, John focused this fledgling AID mission on supporting friendly missions with US-made reliable trucks and introducing telecommunications. In 1964 the AID budget for Africa was drastically reduced, the USAID office in Bangui closed, and the functions were given to the American Embassy. John and family returned to Washington in the summer of 1964. Morale at the USAID home office was at a low ebb and John eventually moved to the Export/Import bank where he would secure financing for U.S. exports, a post he filled until his retirement.
hospice in on June 13, 2020. He was 97 years old. He was born on January 4, 1923, on a small farm in Newland, North Carolina in 1923. After he graduated from high school, he attended Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina State University. His education was interrupted by World War II, during which he spent three years in Europe with the U.S. Army, working as an officer in a medical battalion. After the war, he attended Cornell University, where he received his Ph.D in Agronomy. While at Cornell, he met and married a fellow grad student, Betty Jane Brooks. After his graduation he was employed by the Rockefeller Foundation’s Agricultural Research Country Programs and he and Betty spent two decades in Colombia, South America and in India, helping those countries (and many others) in their efforts to become agriculturally self-sufficient. During his time overseas he and Betty had three children, Jeffrey, Joel, and Jane. In 1971 the family returned to the United States when Guy became the International Agricultural Specialist with USAID in Washington, D.C. A few years later, he and Betty moved to New York City, where he worked for the International Agricultural Research Service (IADS). Betty died of cancer in 1981.
transition on Sunday morning, August 2, 2020 in Washington DC. She was the youngest of six siblings, all who have preceded her in death. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Debbie Williams Galiber, her son-in-law, Edward Matthew Galiber, two grandchildren Edward Elisha Galiber and Blair Barbara Galiber and a host of family and friends.
Senior Advisor to the Administrator and Executive Director, Northern Triangle Task Force
Jonathan Fantini-Porter is co-founder and Executive Director of the Partnership for Central America, in which he serves in a volunteer capacity.
Claudia Umaña Araujo