Author Archive | Ven Suresh

Frank W. Brecher, age 88, died April 19, 2020 in a New York hospital due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. He was a New York City native and a sailor on the USS Tarawa (1951-54).  He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from City College and a Masters in International Affairs from the School of International Affairs, Columbia University. Later, Frank served at the State Department’s US Agency for International Development (1961-83), specializing in economic development. His postings included Nigeria, Bolivia, and Morocco. He also served as an Economic Specialist at the U.S. Mission to the UN under Ambassadors Adlai Stevenson, Andrew Young (a tennis partner) and Jeanne Kirkpatrick. Frank was at Princeton University 1967-68 on a State Department mid-career fellowship award. He received the Department of State’s Meritorious Honor Award in 1974. Thereafter, he received Senate confirmation as a Counselor to President Reagan.

After retiring, Frank embarked on a second career as a historian. He had developed a keen respect for historians who combined the practice of diplomacy with the skills of a scholar, and he applied his own diplomatic knowledge and expertise in producing a number of scholarly works. In addition to a trilogy of books analyzing early French – American relations, he also authored “Reluctant Ally: Foreign Policy toward the Jews from Wilson to Roosevelt” (1993).

He also maintained a special interest in John Jay’s contribution to diplomacy and American independence, authoring “Securing American Independence: John Jay and the French Alliance” and lecturing on this seminal figure in American diplomacy.  In addition to his books, he contributed articles to a number of periodicals and scholarly journals, including a 2010 profile of the first American Ambassador to Israel, James G. McDonald, published in the Foreign Service Journal and included in his 2013 book: “American Diplomacy and the Israeli War of Independence.”

In retirement, Frank researched and wrote in the mornings; played tennis at the Central Park courts most afternoons until his late 70’s. Frank’s immediate survivors include his brother, Dan, his two sisters, Kayle and Lila, as well as many other family members and friends. Donations in Frank’s memory may be made at birchfamilyservices.org  which provides schools, group homes and job training empowering individuals with autism and development disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.

Donald Willard MacCorquodale died peacefully at home in Chevy Chase House on March 21, 2020. Born on November 13, 1921, he saw tremendous changes during his 98 years.  Donald’s passion for medicine began at an early age, influenced by his mother Helen G. Murphy, a nurse in WWI. His father, Willard MacCorquodale who died shortly after his birth, served as an Army private in WWI. His parents met in a veterans’ hospital where they both were treated for tuberculosis.

Donald MacCorquodale received a B.A. in chemistry from the University of Denver in 1942, and an M.D. from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1945 where he was awarded the Samuel D. Gross Prize in Surgery. Later he earned a Master of Science in Public Health in 1969 at the University of North Carolina. His public health training cultivated his lifelong interest in epidemiology and biostatistics. After serving two years in the Navy, Donald became a general practitioner of medicine in Colorado Springs, Colorado for 15 years, where he “lanced boils, delivered babies, made night house calls, and held the hands of the worried well.” He had a remarkable bedside manner and was an excellent diagnostician.

He joined the US Agency for International Development (AID) in 1964 and served in Guatemala, Colombia, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic and AID/ Washington with temporary assignments in another 14 countries. In 1969, he earned AID’s Superior Honor Award. After AID, he worked in occupational medicine at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, the Civilian Employee Health Service of the Pentagon, Crater Health District in Virginia. He wrote about health and preventive medicine in a column “Notes Washed up in a Bottle,” published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the American Association for Public Health Physicians website and the DACOR Bulletin.

He will be greatly missed by his daughter, Patricia MacCorquodale (Philip Krider; Tucson AZ), step-daughters Vivian Spiro (Lionel; Boston MA) and Jean Reubens Lorrey (Martin; Nashua NH), his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and his nephew Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield who faithfully managed his care in his later years.
Contributions in his memory can be made to DACOR Bacon House Foundation, 1801 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006; The Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, 3212 Cutshaw Avenue, Suite 226, Richmond, VA. 23230-5024; The American College of Preventive Medicine, 455 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Suite 200, Washington, DC 20001; or , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

John Kent Scales (82) passed away peacefully at home on April 14, 2020, after a valiant, two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He maintained a strong joy of life, spending time with family and friends, as well as a love of international travel, adventure and public service. He worked for seven years as General Counsel for the Peace Corps, managing operations in the US and 86 countries; and at USAID as legal advisor for Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia.

A memorial service will be held at the Friends Meeting in the fall in Washington,DC.

Dick Podol passed away peacefully at home on February 19, 2020, after a long illness complicated by Parkinsons disease.  He had retired from USAID in 1989 with the Senior Foreign Service rank of Minister Counselor.  During his USAID career of 29 years, he served in Turkey, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Tanzania and was Mission Director in Zaire and Uganda.  After retirement, Dick and his wife Betty lived four months in Prague teaching English to Czech military officers.

Dick was born July 10, 1928 in Chicago.  He received his BS, MA and PhD from the University of Iowa.  In 1950, he was drafted in to the US Army and served in Korea during the war.  In January 1961, Dick’s first assignment with USAID took him to Ankara, Turkey, where he met his future wife, Betty, who was also employed by AID.  They were married in Ankara in 1962 and their two children were born there.  He is survived by his wife of 57+ years, daughter Beth in El Paso and son Edward, wife Claudia and grandchildren Emma and Eric in Scottsdale.

Dick and Betty both had a love of travel.  They were most fortunate to have visited all 50 states, almost 130 countries and the seven continents.  From climbing Machu Picchu to tracking gorillas in Central Africa–they did it all, like Bogie and Bacall.  And, yes, Dick still had places on his “bucket list” that he wanted to visit.

Dick was a lifelong, diehard Cubs fan and in 2016, he and Betty watched all three World Series games in Wrigley Field.  He coached Little League wherever he lived and took two of his teams to their European World Series.  After retirement, he delighted in playing softball with the NVSS for 13 years.

Dick was cremated and will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, do something nice today for someone you love, go watch a baseball game, buy a kid a baseball glove or a world globe (Dick’s two great loves!)

Kenneth Patrick LuePhang, 79, of Ooltewah passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at a hospital in Washington, D. C. after a brief illness. He was born on May 26, 1940 in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies and spent 2 1/2 years in Hong Kong, and 6 months in China from ages 8-11. After high school in Jamaica, he earned his BS Degree in Civil Engineering at LSU (1962), a Master of Science Degree in Industrial Management (1967) and completed all course work for a PHD in Environmental Engineering (1976). He worked for 18 years withKe the Tennessee Valley Authority.  For the next 30 years, Ken served as a Foreign Service Officer with USAID in Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria and Tanzania, as well as serving two years in Washington, DC.

Ken was an enthusiastic traveler and loved his family–always with a beautiful smile and willingness to help anyone. He dedicated most of his life to advancing global health, economic prosperity, and promoting democracy and governance to Africa. He was awarded a Heroism Certificate by the Secretary of State in 1998 for providing help after the US Embassies were bombed in Tanzania and Kenya. He was also knighted by the President of Madagascar and bestowed the title of Medaille de Chevalier de I’Ordre Nationale for dedicated and unselfish service.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Chin Choy Keow (mother), Lue Phang (father) and brother, Abraham (Abe).  Survivors include his loving wife, Julia; son Kenneth Matthew; daughters, Shelley Elizabeth and Susan Lynn; brothers, Joe, Freddie, and Stanley; sisters, Margaret, Catherine and Patricia; many nieces, nephews, and friends; and colleagues from all over the United States, Tanzania, Canada, Jamaica and around the world.

A private graveside service will be held at the Matthews Cemetery in Georgetown. A memorial service will be held at a later date.  We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the LuePhang family guestbook at the Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home (www.fikefh.com).

James Edward Blackwell, PhD,  departed this life on Thursday, January 16, 2020, at the age of 93.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Dapremont Blackwell, his parents,and five sisters and six brothers. He is survived by a host of loving nieces and nephews and will be fondly remembered by many colleagues, neighbors and friends.

Dr. Blackwell was a sociologist, educator and consultant who specialized in the study of the sociology and economics of the Black community and the desegregation of higher education institutions in the United States.  Long-time professor and chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston (1970-1989), Dr. Blackwell focused his research on the structure of inequality within major social institutions, particularly in the areas of economics, professional marketplace, and education.

Dr. Blackwell was extensively involved in various professional organizations and was the first President of the Association of Black Sociologists (1970) and received the American Sociological Association’s Dubois-Johnson-Frazier Award in 1986.

He was born in Anniston, Alabama.  He received his Bachelors of Science and Masters of Arts degrees from Western Reserve University (1949) and his PhD in Sociology from Western State University (1959).  He held several university teaching positions, as well as a number of high level administrative positions throughout his career.

He was Deputy/Acting Director of the US Peace Corps in Tanganyika (Tanzania) from 1963 tp 1964, Director of the Peace Corps in Malawi (1964-66), and Director of the Division of Public Administration and Community Development for USAID in Kathmandu, Nepal (1966-69). In Nepal, he taught English and sociology at the University of Nepal in Katmandu.  He also traveled through the country working with the local population on community development programs, helped to relocate Tibetan refugees in Nepal, and was instrumental in sending 12 Nepalese college students to the US for training in community development and public administration for advanced leadership positions.  Until 1969, Dr. Blackwell divided his time and assignments between Tanzania, Nepal and Malawi.

Richard J. “Dick” Pond, 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 27, 2020 at the Hospice Care Center in Brooksville, FL after being in home hospice care since the beginning of October 2019.

Dick was born in Massillion, OH on May 19, 1924, son of the late Albert and Martha Pond.  Upon high school graduation in 1943, Dick joined the U.S. Army at age 18.  Instead of basic training, he spent a year learning every aspect of communications.  He was chosen and flown to London as the nucleus of the 3118 Signal Corps.  Dick was assigned to SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces) under the direction of General Dwight Eisenhower, the supreme commander.  He ended up in Rheims, France where Dick was given the honor of handling the final message from the German surrender.  He was present when General Jodl came to surrender at the building the Americans dubbed the Little Red Schoolhouse, May 7, 1945.

A few months later, Dick was being processed for top secret clearance to free him for work as a civilian with the State Department in Washington, D.C.  He applied for the Foreign Service and this began his life as a world traveler.  His first assignment was in Copenhagen where he met and married his first wife.  They had two sons and a daughter in the years that followed.  Tragedy struck in Bangkok, Thailand, in July 1969, when their 13 year old daughter was killed in a car accident.  A few years later Dick and his wife divorced.

After being in Foreign Service, Dick retired and worked for USAID serving in Blantyre, Karachi, Hawaii, Saigon, Rio de Janeiro, and Amman.  While in Amman, Dick took up oil painting.  In December 1972, his paintings were part of an exhibition presented by the Diplomatic Club in Amman.  After 30 years of service with the Department of State, Dick retired from Kabul, at age 50, in 1974.  Dick said, “The countries I enjoyed the most had the least”.

In January 1975, while celebrating the Pittsburgh Steelers 1^st Super Bowl win, he met his 2^nd wife, Saundra, and they married in September of that year.  Their son, Jason, was born in January 1977.

Dick and the family moved to Spring Hill, FL in 1979.  Throughout the years, he enjoyed serving in various church capacities.  His other interests were playing bridge along with other card games, solving Sudokus, and going on cruises with family.  He and his wife had been on a total of fifty cruises together.  Dick was fun loving, had an infectious laugh, was a faithful, loving husband and servant of the Lord.  He is preceded in death by his father, mother, and brother.  He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Saundra Dize Pond and three sons, Eric (Goslar, Germany), Peter (Lynda; Eugene, OR), Jason (Melinda; Spring Hill, FL), 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandsons, nieces, nephews, along with many caring friends.