Archive | Memoriam

Karl Mathiasen III of Washington, DC, a community leader and adviser to many charities, passed peacefully while in hospice care on September 20, 2014 at the age of 88. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth Howard Mathiasen in 2007. He is survived by his son Tim of Pennington, NJ, daughters Elizabeth Tillson and Ann Farquhar as well as six grandchildren – Andrew, Tyler, Madison, Sarah, Logan and Lynn.

Mr. Mathiasen was an Army veteran of World War II and graduated from Princeton University in 1949. He went on to earn a Masters degree from Columbia University School of International Affairs in 1951.

Mr. Mathiasen served with the Agency for International Development from 1951 to 1963. He served in North Africa and as Chief of the Policy Planning Division. After USAID, he was a senior staff member of the Brookings Institution and he was Executive Vice President of the University of North Africa Association. In 1972, he founded the Planning and Management Assistance Project of the Center for Community Change, which became the Management Assistance Group (MAG) in 1980. At the MAG, he provided management counseling and organizational analysis to many nonprofit groups, including the National Resources Defense Council, Amnesty International USA, and Children’s Defense Fund, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, various AIDS related charities and many community foundations. He was recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on board and staff dynamics and board development. He retired in 1995. He served on the boards of over 35 charities and faith-based groups, among them the New World Foundation, where he served as President, the Winston Foundation for World Peace, the Center for Theology and Public Policy, the International Women’s Health Coalition, D.C. Citizens for Better Public Education and the Moriah Fund. He also was active in the Episcopal Church and served as Vice Chairman of the Board for Theological Education.

As the sun rose, on Oct. 9, 2014, Sandi Severn closed her eyes, breathed her last breath and left us. The daughter of Winston and Louise (Hill) Robbins, Sandi was born on Aug. 3, 1946, in Portland. She graduated from Falmouth High School in 1964 and three years later graduated from the University of Maine at Portland (now the University of Southern Maine) with a degree in English and a minor in education.

After graduation, Sandi moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where a favorite aunt resided. There she began her career in the health field with Aetna. A few years later, one of her best friends from high school told her that her brother, Ben Severn, was moving into the area to work on his advanced degree and asked Sandi to introduce him to the area. She did that as well as marrying him just four months later on Jan. 31, 1969. Their only child, Amy was born on Oct. 8, 1972.

In 1974, they moved to the Washington, D.C., area, where Sandi continued working for Aetna and Ben began his career with USAID. In 1979, the family moved to Panama for Ben’s job. While there, Sandi worked for Oklahoma University and earned her master’s degree in human resources. In 1983, the family returned to Washington, D.C., where Sandi continued her work in the health field. In 1987, the family followed Ben’s career to Nairobi, Kenya where Sandi, not known to let grass grow under her feet, quickly immersed herself in a USAID agricultural project. Weekends and vacations were spent on Safari trips throughout Kenya, with many a short trip to the Nairobi National Park to just sit in the car with Ben and watch the giraffes as they roamed around, and often with just Amy while Ben traveled around the continent.

While in Kenya Sandi offered her home as a place for Peace Corp. volunteers to come for a hot shower and a home cooked meal while they were in town. This sparked several friendships that have remained after all these years. After four years in Kenya, the family moved back to the D.C. area for just a few months and then moved to the Dominican Republic. In 1992 Sandi and Ben came back to their home in the Washington, D.C., area.
Given her experiences oversea and working with USAID, Sandi found a great fit in her job as a contracts officer with Family Health International working on grants and contracts for a project called AIDSCAP, helping to control the spread of AIDS in under developed countries.

In 2000, Sandi and Ben retired to a 10 family association at the very southern end of Panther Pond in Raymond, ‘The Home of the Land Locked Salmon,’ that flows into Sebago Lake. Sandi particularly enjoyed sharing their lake front home with family and friends. She continued her work with Family Health International from home for a few years. Always one to be kept busy, over time she became involved with the Raymond Public Library, and to maintain data bases for the Panther Pond Association and the Raymond Waterways Protective Association and to write many of their thank you letters. As the ultimate shopper of bargains, she loved to show everyone how much, well, how little she paid for a shirt or a pair of pants she bought at GW Designs (Goodwill) or Sal’s Boutique (Salvation Army) .

When grandson Jack was seven years old he started attending Camp Nana and Grandpappy for at least a week before Amy and her husband David arrived for their annual vacation at the lake. As the informational hub for extended family, Sandi loved having family gatherings at the lake during the summer to catch up with her siblings, nieces, nephews and even the grandnieces and nephews, creating lasting memories for all.

It was Sandi’s green thumb and love of order and beauty that led her to bring a common area filled with rocks and high and low blueberry bushes under control and to build beautiful flower beds in front of the house looking toward Panther Pond. Her battle with deer over her hosta was legendary, with her shaved Irish spring soap bindings winning the day.

Surviving are her husband Ben; daughter Amy Brown, son-in-law David, and grandson Jack; sister Joan Jagolinzer, brother Win Robbins and his wife Penny; Ben’s siblings Eveleen, Charnette and Ken; along with numerous nieces, nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews whom she adored.

Dr. Carol J. Lancaster, the former USAID Deputy Administrator and Dean of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, died October 22.

Carol was an extraordinary leader in the development community and gave much during her three decades of exemplary service and leadership to her alma mater, Georgetown University, to the Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Department of State. In addition, Carol supported the larger national and international development communities through her pro bono work with countless non-profits. She was a creative scholar and a trusted practitioner. Over the years, she became a highly respected interlocutor for governments throughout Africa and Asia.

Her deep knowledge of what works and does not work in the development field, her common sense approach to difficult obstacles to development, her can-do philosophy, and her wonderful sense of humor will be sorely missed.

The Wilson Center extends its deepest sympathies to her husband, Curt Farrar, her son, Doug Farrar, and the extended Lancaster-Farrar family.

Alfred “Al” “Dad” “Poppop” “Grandpa” Bisset, 88, peacefully passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, Tuesday, September 16, 2014. Born on August 30, 1926 to Alfred and Helen Bisset in Washington, DC, he attended Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, earned his Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Education and Doctorate of Education from the University of Maryland. He will be forever remembered by the “Love of His Life”, wife of 62 years, Patricia (Hill), their six children Kristina (John) Whittaker, Suzanne (Forest) Butler, Sheila (Lee) Aronfeld, Dana Bisset, Julie (Chris) Reid, and Peter (Mary) Bisset; six grandchildren, Erin and Chelsea Whittaker, Dustin and Brad Whittier, Matthew Bisset and Emily Bisset.

Al began his amazing career by serving his country as a Navy Corpsman during WWll. He became a Teacher and Middle School Principal. He then joined the US State Department as a Foreign Service Officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Al’s career allowed him and his family to live all over the world in countries like Brazil, India, Egypt, Barbados, Kenya and Jamaica.

Al’s accomplishments are many, but his earliest achievement was becoming an Eagle Scout. As a Teacher, his innovation of developing individual learning plans for students, helped students learn the way each needed to learn. Through determination, and while helping to raise six children, Al earned his Doctorate of Education. He received many awards including the second highest award at USAID, the Superior Honor Award, for his “sustained innovative and productive effort in the development of a major program in human resource development for the Egyptian people.”

“Al”, “Dad”, “Poppop”, “Grandpa”, will always be in our hearts for his devotion to his family, his humor, love of music, dancing, love of gardening and playing golf. Even in death, living with Alzheimer’s, Alfred Bisset wanted to make a difference, and in that, he decided to donate his body to Georgetown Medical School.

Lyle Dean Bernius, 71, of Keene, NH passed away Feb. 11, 2012, at his home surrounded by family and friends after a courageous fight with cancer.

He was born in Vandalia, Ill., June 2, 1940, son of Paul and Alice (Brown) Bernius. He graduated from Vandalia High School and then from Chaminade University in Honolulu. He went on to receive his master’s in business administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In 1973, he married Cathy Garren in Arlington, Va.

Mr. Bernius began his career with the U.S. Agency for International Development, an agency of the U.S. State Department in 1968. Starting in Vietnam, he served in a number of countries including Kinshasa, Zaire, Port Au Prince, Haiti, Tegucigalpa, Honduras and Maseru, Lesotho. He retired from diplomatic service in 1990, and moved to Keene with his family in 1992.

In his retirement, he kept busy managing family-owned rental properties. He also served on the boards of the Woodward Home and the United Spinal Association, formerly Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association. Mr. Bernius enjoyed skiing, often volunteering with an adaptive ski program. Always open to new challenges, he became a talented watercolor painter. An avid reader, his interests included politics, Westerns, mysteries and some science fiction. He enjoyed fishing, traveling, and wandering back roads. Nicknamed the “Ice Cream Man,” he was popular with family and friends for his homemade ice cream and blueberry jelly.

He is remembered by his family and friends as an open-hearted, generous and knowledgeable man, who was a good conversationalist, gifted and colorful storyteller, and a humorous practical jokester.

Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Cathy Bernius of Keene; his two daughters, Stephanie Kimber and her husband, Matthew, and Amanda Bernius, all of Keene; and many very close family friends. His parents, his sister, Norma Case, and his father and mother-in-law, Joseph and Martha Garren, all died earlier.

Roger Ernst, passed away in Tampa, Florida on November 17, 2014, surrounded by his children.

Born in New York City to Morris L. and Margaret Ernst, Roger attended City and Country School, George School, Williams College, and the National War College. He served in the US Army, and was Assistant Director for NATO and for Planning in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He started the Peace Corps in India, served as Deputy Director of the US Economic Assistance Mission in Taiwan and Korea, and was Director of USAID in Ethiopia and Thailand. He was a Fellow at the East-West Center in Hawaii, and taught at the University of South Florida.

A lifelong summer resident of Nantucket, MA, his trademark red sail was as well-known in the harbor as his smile was on land. An exercise devotee, he ran 1000 miles a year for 25 years. He loved traveling and dancing with his wife Jean O’Mara Ernst, to whom he proposed on the day they met.

He is predeceased by his wife Jean, and his sisters Constance Bessie and Joan Dauman. He is survived by daughter Debbe Nicholson, her husband Jeff and son Sam; and son David, his wife Jennifer and their children, Ben, Julia and Daniel.

Larry Rosen passed away on January 9, 2015 at his home in Falls Church, VA, surrounded by his loving companion Kim and his immediate family members.

He was born March 30, 1940 at Walter Reed Hospital to Leo Rosen (d. 1992), and Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Wrenn. After earning a B.A. in Economics from McGill, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Sorbonne, Larry worked for several years in Zurich for an international consulting firm. He joined the U.S. State Department and later USAID serving in several overseas stations before an extended term as an economic adviser in the Executive Office Building in Washington DC. He left government service in 1982, going on to become an accomplished and respected real estate investor in Northern Virginia.

Blaine Wesley Jensen, 75 of Blackfoot, passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2014 at home surrounded by his family.

He was born June 10, 1939 in Blackfoot, Idaho the second child of James W. Jensen and Ruby Parrish Jensen.

He graduated from Idaho State College in 1961 with a Bachelors Degree in Business/Education and a minor in Social Science. He attended Syracuse University in New York under a US Government sponsored program during 1972-73 and graduated with a Masters Degree in Public Administration in May 1973.

He was a volunteer with the International Voluntary Services from 1963-1965 in the Laos, where he taught English, basic agriculture, and worked with the refugee relief program. The remainder of his career was spent working overseas as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Agency for International Development, an arm of the United States Department of State. During his career, he worked in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, The Philippines, Washington D.C., Tanzania, Barbados and the Republic of the Sudan. He retired from the federal government in November 1989 and returned to the family farm in Pingree, Idaho.

He enjoyed reading, gardening, fishing, camping, and community service. He was the registrar and chief judge for the elections in Pingree precinct. He also worked on bonds and other elections for the Snake River School District. He was a member of Lions Club International, which is dedicated to helping the community in which that club has been chartered.

He was married in Laos in 1966 and divorced in 1967. He remained single for the rest of his life. He is survived by siblings, Harvey (Marina) Jensen of Pocatello, Barbara Hurst of Blackfoot, Donna (Chuck) Mitchell of Blackfoot, 18 nieces and nephews, 35 great nieces and nephews and 6 great great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law, Gayleen and niece, Jodie.

On January 6, 2015, Roma Knee died at home surrounded by family and friends in Silver Spring, MD. She would have been 80 on January 29th.

Roma was born in Morgantown, WV, and came to the Washington DC area to attend George Washington University. She traveled extensively in her early career with USAID with postings in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam. In Washington as a Personnel Officer, Roma was known as a champion of those who needed help in fighting for the right treatment by the Agency.

One of her fans told her about a new job posting in the Latin American and Caribbean Bureau dealing with women issues. Encouraged to leave a field in which she excelled, Roma started a new phase in her career in 1975. Her job would be enlarged to include human rights, democracy and the administration of justice. These areas required a high level of skill in developing projects in countries not always receptive to these initiatives. Roma also work closely with the State Department in supporting these programs. Of all the projects she supported, she was most proud of her work in making possible the establishment of the Inter-American Human Rights Institute in San Jose, Costa Rica. Besides a demanding portfolio, Roma was active in Women’s Action Organization that promoted women’s rights in the State Department, USAID, and the USIA.

During her retirement, she continued to work with her Jazz exercise group and the Faithful Circle and Friendship Star Quilting Guilds where she enjoyed exhibiting her own quilts. Roma is survived by her daughter, Leslie A Knee of Silver Spring, MD.

Martha Hall Wedeman, wife of USAID alumnus Miles Wedeman, passed away on January 12, 2015 at the age of 90. Born in 1924 and raised in Pontiac, Michigan, Martha graduated from the Western College for Women (Oxford, Ohio) in 1946.

After briefly attending the University of Michigan as a graduate student, she moved to Washington, DC, where she was a government intern. She later joined the Washington Post as a reporter. In 1955, she married Miles George Wedeman. Martha later worked as a reporter for the Montgomery County Sentinel. In 1968, she moved to South Korea after her husband was appointed deputy director of the USAID mission. Thereafter, she accompanied Miles on assignments that took her to live in Thailand, Cambodia, Cote D’Ivoire, Syria, and India.

In 1985, she and Miles returned to the United States and took up residence in Arlington, Virginia. Martha then began a new career editing academic journals for Heldref Press. She remained with Heldref for twenty years during which time she won recognition for her editorial work, including an award for the Journal of College Health Throughout her life,

Martha travel extensively and managed to visit, among other places, China, Tibet, Central Asia, and Iran. She was an avid tennis player and opera aficionado. She was an active member of the community and volunteered at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington for many years.

Martha is survived by her daughter, Sara Wedeman; three sons, Andrew, Benjamin, and Nicolas, and seven grandchildren.