Archive | 2016

Lawrence Elliot Harrison, 83, a long-time resident of Martha’s Vineyard, died on December 9, 2015 at the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Greece. He is survived by his three daughters, Julia Harrison of Norwalk, CT, Beth Harrison of Lincoln, MA, and Amy Harrison Donnelly of Ridgewood, NJ, and his grandchildren, Dylan and Georgia Grady, Max and Harry Thébaud, and Megan, Jack and Nora Donnelly. Larry is also survived by his first wife and the mother of his children, Polly Fortier Harrison of Washington, DC. He is preceded in death by his second wife, Patricia Crane Harrison, his parents, David and Jenny Harrison, and his brother, Robert Arthur Harrison.

Mr. Harrison was born in Boston, Massachusetts; graduated from Brookline High School in 1949 and Dartmouth College in 1953; served as a lieutenant in the US Navy from 1954 to 1957; and graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1960 with a Masters in Public Policy. From 1965 until he retired in 1982, Mr. Harrison directed USAID missions in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti and Nicaragua. He was a Senior Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he founded and directed the Cultural Change Institute. Between 1981 and 2001, Mr. Harrison was a visiting scholar at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, and Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.

Mr. Harrison authored numerous books, beginning in 1985 with Underdevelopment Is a State of Mind: The Latin American Case. Here he laid the premises of work to come: first, that good intentions, hope, enthusiasm, and ample funding are insufficient to propel the development of countries into the modern world, and, second, that some cultures are more prone to progress than others and more successful at creating the cultural capital that encourages democratic governance, social justice for all, and the elimination of poverty.

This first publication was followed in 1992 by Who Prospers? How Cultural Values Shape Economic and Political Success; The Pan-American Dream in 1997; The Central Liberal Truth-How Politics Can Change a Culture and Save It from Itself in 2006; and Jews, Confucians and Protestants-Cultural Capital and the End of Multiculturalism in 2012. In 2000, Mr. Harrison was co-editor with Samuel P. Huntington of Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress, and in 2006 was co-editor with Jerome Kagan of Developing Cultures: Essays on Cultural Change. His articles have appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, Boston Globe, Foreign Policy, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.

Peter Oakes Sellar, of Staunton, Virginia, died at home on Tuesday, August 23, 2016. He was born June 10, 1937 in New York City to Dorothy Brown Sellar and Colin Reid Sellar and grew up mainly in New Jersey and Massachusetts. For undergraduate studies, he majored in American history and literature at Harvard University and earned his M.A. in International Relations from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Peter worked for the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) from 1963-1993 and is credited with creating the world’s first strategy for developing democracy in the Latin American/Caribbean region. After retirement he helped his wife, Laurie, manage her textile and antique retail store.

Peter is survived by his wife, Laurie Gundersen, sister, Lucinda Thomson, two children, Katherine Sellar and Colin Sellar, step-children, Ariel Valentine, Aaron Davis, Nellie Davis and Gabriel Davis, and nine grandchildren.

Robert A. Fordham died peacefully at home of natural causes, surrounded by his family on October 13, 2016. He was 87 years old.

A native of Vermont, Robert was born in 1928 on the eve of the great depression and lived nearly nine decades here and around the world. He grew up in Saxton’s River, VT and attended Vermont Academy. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in 1950 and completed his master’s degree in political science and public affairs in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army as a Reserve Commissioned Officer, leaving service with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Mr. Fordham served in government under eight Presidents-from the Eisenhower to the Clinton Administration. During the 1950s and 1960s, he worked for several agencies including the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Information Agency, and U.S. Agency for International Development. These positions took him to Finland, India, Egypt, Syria, Switzerland, and Washington, DC. Work to improve health policy was a hallmark of the last four decades of his professional life, including more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (formerly Department of Health, Education, and Welfare). He was commended by President Johnson for his role as director of the first White House conference on health, and served as special assistant to the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health, Phillip R. Lee, M.D., in the Johnson Administration.

Fordham was widely admired as creator of a new approach for convening and informing state health leaders about health policy and research, bringing leading experts to meet with elected and appointed officials. Inside government, Mr. Fordham was the original director of the User Liaison Program from 1979-1993, which he designed to convey the findings of health services research to state and local officials. Upon retiring from his career in federal service, he was employed by the Milbank Memorial Fund and was the original program officer for the Reforming States Group which uses similar purposes and methods. These efforts helped to transform the role of research in health policy, particularly at the state level.

Serving on temporary assignment as the Dean of Administration at the University of Vermont from 1967-1972, Mr. Fordham ensured the renovation of the Bennington Monument and protection of sites on campus. Negotiations and collaboration with student government in a time of change were another contribution. He was known for extraordinary management skills and an ability to work effectively with a wide array of people in positions in power and influence. Fordham’s “rule” was to expect the unexpected, which made him an effective planner and administrator. He took it as a great compliment when it was said he had a talent for getting things done.

In his personal life, he was a rugged outdoorsman who loved to fish, hunt, and camp. In later years, he created magnificent and unique flower gardens and spent as much time as possible in nature. He was proud of his Abenaki heritage. Robert Fordham is survived by his wife Kay Johnson, and his three daughters, Monique Fordham (Winooski, VT), Sonja Fordham (Washington, DC), and Robin Fordham and Bill Miller and grandchildren Madeleine and Morgan (Amherst, MA), as well as former wife and mother of his daughters, Ingrid Fordham. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marjorie Spaulding Fordham and Austin Lyle Fordham, and an infant son.

Emily Claire Leonard, 71, a retired Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development, died of respiratory failure on April 22 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the city of her last posting.

Born during World War II in her mother’s hometown of Morgantown, W. Va., Emily Claire Leonard moved with her family to Alexandria, Va., when her attorney father was appointed to a senior post in the Eisenhower administration’s Department of Justice. Ms. Leonard worked summers for the federal government during high school. After earning a B.A. in economics from Wellesley College and an M.S. in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ms. Leonard worked for a business gaming venture in Cambridge, Mass., before returning to Washington and beginning her career in the Foreign Service. Ms. Leonard served the U.S. government’s overseas programs for nearly a quarter century, initially as a budget examiner for USAID at the Office of Management and Budget (1971-1976). She then joined USAID, serving as a health economist in the Near East Bureau (1976-1979), as an assistant health officer in Cairo (1979-1982), a regional coordinator for the Middle East in the Bureau of Planning and Program Coordination (1982-1985), and as an assistant director and program officer in Tunisia (1985). After returning to Washington as a desk officer for the Office of Central American Affairs (1986-1989), Ms. Leonard concluded her career as the senior career officer in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. There she helped reform the justice system, enduring death threats to establish a district attorney’s office with nationwide jurisdiction. Her “valiant actions” were honored by the Honduran Bar Association, the Supreme Court of Honduras and the Public Ministry. She retired fromUSAID in November 1994, although she returned as a contract manager in Haiti for five months during 1995.

USAID colleagues remember Emily Leonard as a dazzling woman who windsurfed in the Mediterranean, went scuba diving in the Red Sea, and enlivened embassy parties. An accomplished linguist, she conversed easily in French, Arabic and Spanish. In retirement, Ms. Leonard studied law and enjoyed gardening, reading and collecting Central American art. She loved the people of Honduras and quietly provided regular financial help to needy students and families with disabled children. Emily Claire Leonard is survived by her sister Jennifer Leonard (and her husband David Cay Johnston) of Rochester, N.Y., and their children Molly and Kate Leonard; by her brother George Stephen Leonard (and his wife Kathy) of Monroe Township, N.J., and their children George and Valerie Leonard.

On July 18, 2016, we lost our beloved Harlan Haines Hobgood suddenly and unexpectedly to pneumonia. For our family, he was really our hero. He was the “rock” and the “brain” of the family, inspiring in us, and those he touched, to be the best people we could be, to serve others, and to fight for justice in this world.

Harlan was born in 1930 on a Navajo reservation in Arizona. He felt strongly about being of service to people and in that vein served as the parish minister at the Pilgrim Presbyterian Vinita Church in Oklahoma. He went on to attend to the spiritual and other needs of service men and women and their families as an officer and chaplain in the U.S. Army. In 1961, he met his wife, Catherine Vignal, recently arrived from France, on a blind date at a charity ball and instantly there were fireworks! They married in 1962 and had their first son, Nicholas, in 1964.

For the 20 years that followed, Harlan worked for the United States Agency for International Development tirelessly to improve the livelihoods, opportunities, and rights of people with little resources. He was truly remarkable in his passion, drive, and dedication to serving others. In 2002, he and Catherine discovered and settled in what they call their “Paradise,” Avila Beach, California. “When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure.” And what a treasure he was!

Dave S. Cohn, 77, a retired Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development, died on June 16 in Oakland, Calif., after a long illness.

A naturalized American, Mr. Cohn (formerly Paul David Cohn) was born on March 18, 1939, in Toronto, Canada, the second of three sons of Martin and Tmima Cohn. Martin was an executive in Jewish community work in Toronto and, after immigrating to the United States, in Cleveland, Chicago, Minneapolis and Cincinnati. Tmima, an attorney, was elected to the Toronto Board of Education, and much later served as chair of the Planning Commission of Volusia County, Fla.

From a young age, Mr. Cohn’s goal was to follow in his family’s tradition of helping to make the world a better place. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati and from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration in 1963, and moved to Washington, D.C., in 1965 to join the War on Poverty. There he served in several community programs before becoming a regional officer with Volunteers in Service to America. In 1973, he joined the San Francisco Regional Office of the Department of Health and Welfare. He also worked with the California State Department of Health before being offered his dream job with USAID in 1980.

Mr. Cohn served with USAID as a health and population officer from 1980 to 1999. He distinguished himself as the first USAIDHIV/AIDS officer, posted to Uganda from 1987 to 1991. The HIV/AIDS education and prevention program he developed for and with the participation of Ugandans from the military, industry, entertainment and all walks of society, was for many years the gold standard in Africa. In addition to Uganda, Mr. Cohn served as health officer in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Peru. On domestic tours, he was country officer for Bosnia and Mongolia. He helped avert widespread suffering in Ulaanbaatar one brutal winter by facilitating emergency coal blasting to keep the city’s central furnace operating. Aside from his family, Mr. Cohn’s greatest love was cars—some classic, some junkers, some high-end. At one point he owned two Lincoln Continentals and a Cadillac—none of them operational; at other times he owned BMWs and Porsches. During his lifetime, he owned more than a total of 70 cars. He was proud to have driven solo from Lima to Patagonia and fromLima to Iguazu Falls, and later enjoyed road trips with his wife, Alice.

Mr. Cohn was predeceased by his parents and his older brother, Alan. He is survived by his wife, Alice Beasley of Oakland; daughters Professor Deborah Cohn Sauer (and her husband, Peter) of Bloomington, Ind., and Dr. Tamara Cohn Krimm (and her husband, Charles) of Wasilla, Alaska; their mother (his former wife and State Department retiree) Irene Cohn, of San Francisco; his younger brother, John; a niece, Leslie Cohn; and grandsons Noah, Benjamin and Daniel Cohn Sauer, who continue his love affair with anything on four wheels.

Manuel “Manny” Marroquin, 72, a former Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development, died on Jan. 3, 2016, after a long illness.

Mr. Marroquin, who joined USAID in 2000, served in Bolivia, Botswana, Haiti and Washington, D.C. After several months as a development leadership intern, Mr. Marroquin served as an acquisition and assistance officer for six years, until his retirement in 2006.

From August 2006 to May 2010, as an international assistance adviser to the State Department, Mr. Marroquin provided consulting and assistance in developing the Central America Free Trade Agreement. During 2010, as a management officer in State’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau, he provided emergency assistance in Port-au-Prince to Haiti’s law enforcement programs, police academy, drug enforcement, prisons and displaced persons camps following the country’s worst earthquake. In 2011, Mr. Marroquin served as management officer, contracts and grants officer and management adviser to the State Department in Jerusalem.

A former resident of Mission Viejo, Calif., Mr. Marroquin had moved recently to Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. Friends and family members recall his love of life and his devotion to this family and his faith. Mr. Marroquin is survived by his wife, Marlene (née Vreeland); his children, Dina (Meslovich) and Joseph; a brother, Frank, and sister, Lupe (Chirat); and grandchildren Annie, Amanda, Kristin and Josie.

On October 29, 2016, Edward Anthony Dragon passed away peacefully in Reston, VA. Edward was born in Pawtucket, RI on October 27, 1928. He attended Grove Street Grammar School and East Senior High School in Pawtucket and graduated summa cum laude from Providence College in 1950. He obtained a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1954, and in 1957 a postgraduate law degree majoring in International Law and Trade.

As a young lawyer, he worked as an advance man during John F. Kennedy’s campaign for president in 1960. Following Kennedy’s election, he served as a consultant to the Executive Office of the President. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library holds a written interview with Edward describing his work as well as his long and prestigious legal career with United States Agency for International Development. During his 33-year career with the USAID (1963 to 1995), he served in Washington, DC and at American Embassies in Kenya, Senegal and Jamaica as Regional Legal Advisor. He traveled extensively throughout his life.

After retiring from USAID, he was appointed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for membership to the Foreign Service Grievance Board. For 12 years he served as Deputy Chairman, retiring in 2008.

Edward was a very modest person. He was always ready to welcome a newcomer and to help a colleague with the wide breadth of his legal knowledge. He was kind, humble, gracious and always a gentleman. His deeply held Catholic faith gave him great purpose in life and hope for the future. He will be sorely missed by many. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Catherine Dragon, Arlington, VA; daughter Linell M. Joyce (Bill), Herndon, VA; granddaughters, Susie E. Joyce, Reston, VA and Annie J. Powell (Kevin), Potomac Falls, VA; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Joseph (Carol), Coventry, RI and many other extended family. A sister, Frances Gryzb, and a brother, Stanley, predeceased him.

John Anthony Daly, 79, of Rockville, died peacefully at his home on November 21, 2016, of Multiple System Atrophy. He leaves behind his devoted wife of 50 years, Patricia Cross Daly, a loving son, John Patrick Daly, and relatives in Ireland, Australia, and England.

The son of Anthony C. Daly and Ethel Braunton Daly, John was born in New York. The family later moved to California, where John was raised and educated, earning a B.S. in Engineering, M.S. in Electrical Engineering, and Ph.D. in Administration from the University of California. After an early career as a research engineer, John left engineering to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Chile, and then remained in Chile as a consultant to the Ford Foundation. He later worked for three years in Colombia for the World Health Organization on community health projects.

On returning to the U.S., John joined the Office of International Health (U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare) and later the U.S. Agency for International Development. John worked at USAID for almost two decades in various capacities, including a year spent at the Carter White House working on health and hunger issues, and a period as Director of USAID’s Office of Research. John was interested professionally in research and development programs, and the impact of information and communications technology on development. At USAID he worked on issues of technology and science for developing countries for more than a decade, most frequently on programs global in scope. He managed both research and grants programs, as well as science and technology assessments in developing countries. After retiring from USAID, he was for several years a freelance consultant on science, technology and development for various organizations, including the World Bank, where he participated in the design of development projects such as the World Bank’s Millennium Science Project in Uganda.

John traveled extensively and worked in 35 countries before finally retiring after 50 years of professional work. In the years since, John devoted considerable time to supporting UNESCO, creating and maintaining websites for various organizations, blogging, and participating in a history book club. John taught at several universities throughout his career and is a published author of chapters in books, journal articles, magazine articles and reviews, and online articles.

Ellen Maria Dragotto of Washington, DC, slipped away peacefully on Thanksgiving Day. She was the loving daughter of the late Nicholas and Eleanor Dragotto. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on December 3, 1960, she was a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, the University of Scranton and George Washington University.

She started her career in international development with the U.S. Environmental Training Institute in Washington, DC in 1994. In 2001, she joined the U.S. Agency for International Development. She dedicated her life to help improving the lives of the less fortunate.

She is urvived by one sister, Ann Marie Weer, Goldsboro, Maryland and three brothers, Francis Dragotto, Princeton, West Virginia, Edward Dragotto, Peckville, Pennsylvania and James Dragotto, Archbald, Pennsylvania, seven nieces, two great-nephews and three god children. She was preceded in death by her nephew and godson, Anthony Dragotto.