In Memoriam

Melvin Raymond Chatman, Jr.

Melvin Raymond Chatman, Jr., retired Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development, died December 2, 2023, in Aldie, Virginia, at the age of 83.  Mr. Chatman was born September 28, 1940, in Chandler, Oklahoma.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in 1962.  After serving in the U.S. Army for six years, Mr. Chatman joined the Foreign Service.

At the beginning of his career with USAID in Vietnam, Mr. Chatman coordinated the Saigon evacuation transportation for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. In addition to his post in Vietnam, he also served in Bangladesh, El Salvador, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Washington.

Mr. 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, Virginia.

Mr. Chatman is survived by his wife of 40 years, Anita; a son, Farouk; two siblings, Whit and Susan; and his mother, Joan Taylor.

https://www.adamsgreen.com/obituaries/Melvin-Raymond-Chatman?obId=30028291

James Elliott

James Albert Merten Elliott died January 12, 2024, at home in Arlington, VA, after a long battle with cancer. He was 79 years old. Jim was born in Seattle on September 9, 1944, and attended the Seattle public schools K-12. He completed an AB degree at Yale University in 1966 and graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with a double major (a special program) in political science and economics. He won a Marshall Scholarship to the London School of Economics, where he completed an MS degree in Economics in 1968.

Jim returned to Yale University for a Ph.D. in economics in 1972. His doctoral research was published that year by Yale University as International Comparisons of Social Welfare: A Factor Analytic Approach (282 pages). He then joined the University of Michigan’s Center for Research on Economic Development (CRED) and taught economics in Cameroon at the University of Yaounde in French, which he had to learn from scratch. From 1976 to 1980 Jim served as Assistant Professor of Economics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He joined the U.S. Agency for International Development in 1981 as a Foreign Service Officer and served in various capacities there for 28 years until his retirement in 2009. He served overseas for 4 years in Bamako, Mali, where he worked on budget reform and civil service reform, among other issues, as the USAID Mission Program Economist.

In Washington he served in the Bureaus for Africa, for Latin American & the Caribbean, and for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade. His work took him to USAID field missions throughout the world. His return to USAID/Washington coincided with the collapse of Communism in general and the USSR in particular. Jim had taken introductory Russian in summer school between his freshman and sophomore years in college (back in the 1960s) could still use it which, of course, made him the exception to the rule in AID and resulted in several short trips to Moscow.

As a USAID economist, Jim brought analytical excellence to the Agency’s understanding of the development challenges. His insights helped raise the quality of the debate on economic issues among USAID’s economic growth community. Many USAID economists sought Jim’s input to their research in progress, collaborations that he cherished. Notable among Jim’s many contributions to USAID’s work were his economic analyses of coca production and alternative crop development in South America, which were used and cited by the interagency, and his editorship (and frequently authorship) of EGAT (now IPI) Bureau’s EG Technical Briefings and Economist Working Papers on economic growth topics important to USAID programs. Jim at times sparked controversy when his thorough economic analyses pointed in directions at odds with conventional wisdom, but his gentle way of getting needed points into the conversation made USAID’s work better. Jim was a valued mentor and friend to the USAID economist community.

Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Robin Gates Elliott, cousins Kathryne Shaw, Barbra Mage, and Jack Morgan, and by a large number of former USAID friends and colleagues who will miss his constant good humor and brilliant mind. James’s inurnment was held at Acacia Memorial Park in Seattle, WA, on Saturday, February 17. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle.

Frances Brigham Johnson

1927 – 2024
Frances Brigham Johnson, age 96, died peacefully at home in Alexandria, VA, on January 27, 2024, surrounded by her children. Throughout her life, she maintained her Christian faith and good spirits. She loved her family.

Frances was born in Evanston, IL, daughter of Erwin Risley Brigham and Hortense Garthwaite Fish, fourth among five children. She was a Mayflower descendant. Her family moved to Williamsburg, VA, in the early 1930s, and then to Champagne, IL, during World War II, where she graduated from University High School in 1945.

After two semesters at William & Mary College, she moved to Connecticut College for Women, graduating in 1949 with a BA degree in Government. After graduate work at Syracuse Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, she moved to Washington in 1950 to join the Economic Cooperation Administration, administering the Marshall Plan, where she met her future husband.

Her work in the Marshall Plan and succeeding agencies over the next forty years included the Central Secretariat of the Administrator, Women in Development, Congressional Relations, and country desks for Turkey, Brazil, Afghanistan and Senegal, culminating as the first Private Sector Coordinator in the USAID Africa Bureau. Her work as the architect of the “Turn-Around Strategy” that revamped the U.S. aid program in Brazil from 1963-1968 was key to being named “Woman of the Year for Career Professional Achievement in Foreign Affairs” in 1973,

Raising a family of four children and helping citizens in developing countries prosper (“Food for All through Enterprise”) were only two of her missions. Active in her community, she helped start a successful pre-school for disadvantaged children in Alexandria in 1984, organized a state-wide conference on Pre-School Education for Disadvantaged Children held at the U. of Virginia in Charlottesville. She also served on the boards of the Urban League of Northern Virginia and Research for Better Schools, a 5-state national research laboratory.

She loved to ski, swim and play tennis, and traveled extensively, bicycling in Europe in 1948, traveling for five months in seven Asian countries in 1954-55, followed later by trips to Israel, China (twice), Russia, Turkey, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Senegal, Mauritania and South Africa.

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Gordon O.F. Johnson, three children, Gordon F.B. Johnson and Susan C.J. Gildersleeve, both of Alexandria, VA, and Brigham N. Johnson of Delray Beach, FL, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her youngest son, Christian, who died at Stanford University in 1982.

There will be a memorial service at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill in Alexandria, on Sat. February 24, at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to The Child & Family Network Centers, 3700 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. See: https://cfnc-online.org/
Published by The Washington Post on Feb. 22, 2024.

Joseph Coolidge Wheeler

Joseph Coolidge Wheeler, Age 97, died in his sleep, at home in Concord, Massachusetts on February 11, 2024. Born in Concord November 21, 1926, to Caleb Henry Wheeler and Ruth Winifred (Robinson) Wheeler, Joe studied at Concord High School (1945), Bowdoin College (1948), the Graduate Institute of International Studies of Geneva and Harvard’s Littauer School (MA/MPA 1951). A distinguished career in international development included posts in Jordan, Pakistan, Kenya, Paris and Geneva. Returning to Concord after retirement, he was active in town affairs.

Joe described boyhood on Thoreau Farm as idyllic. A brother’s $20 gift to attend a Quaker conference on World Federalism launched his international career at age 15. Becoming a World Federalist student leader, he organized national and international conferences to promote world governance and an end to war. Joe worked for the U.S. foreign aid program (USAID), Peace Corps, United Nations Environmental Program and Organization for Economic Development. He was USAID Mission Director to Jordan (1965-1967) and Pakistan (1969-1977) and USAID Assistant Administrator from 1980 to 1982.

Deeply committed to environmental issues, he organized the 1992 Earth Summit. Joe introduced himself to his first wife, Jean (Huleatt) Wheeler, after their pictures appeared together in the Boston Globe as winners of Globe scholarships for international study. They married as students in Geneva. While Joe worked at the state department and Jean wrote her PhD thesis, they shared family responsibilities for five children. Abroad, they took the family on camping road trips throughout the Middle East. After losing Jean and son, Daniel, in a 1969 car accident, Joe married M. Verona (Farness) Wheeler, beginning a joyful 44-year marriage, living in Islamabad, Washington, Nairobi, Paris and Geneva. Between adventures, they hosted innumerable diplomatic and family gatherings.

His children and grandchildren will always remember visits to Paris and Kenya, fabulous holiday meals and intensely competitive family croquet games. Joe became blind in his eighties, yet found ways to manage his blindness with remarkable grace, always describing his quality of life as very good. He leaves five children, Juliet Wheeler and Rachel Wheeler of Concord, MA, Deborah (Wheeler) Burk of Annandale, VA, Caleb Henry Wheeler of St. Louis, MO and Margaret Jeanne Kane of Walnut Creek, CA; sons-in-law, Kenneth Turkington and John Myers; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his four brothers, both wives; son, Daniel Lincoln Wheeler; and stepdaughter Marilee Kane.

A Memorial Service will be held in May. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Thoreau Farm Trust, P.O. Box 454, Concord, MA 01742. For more, see complete obituary, at www.DeeFuneralHome.com

Published by Boston Globe from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18, 2024.

William “Bill” Ignatius Rodier III

October 21, 1942 – December 18, 2023

William “Bill” Ignatius Rodier III died at the Adler Center for Caring in Aldie, Virginia after coping with dementia for several years. He was the oldest of four children born in Bronx, New York to William Ignatius Rodier Jr and Martha Marie Stoelting.

After rowing for the New York Athletic club during high school, Bill entered Virginia Military Institute where he ran track and with his usual discipline running became part of his life. At VMI he earned a BS in Chemistry followed by an MA in Psychology from Hollins University and a Ph.D in Psychology from The University of Virginia.

The following two years he served in the Viet Nam War. Promoted from First Lieutenant to Captain, he commanded a civil affairs platoon of ten specialists and several senior enlisted men. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

Returning to Charlottesville, Virginia Bill completed a variety of ‘Post Docs’ built around the study of endocrinology and psychology. Subsequently, he spent a year contracting with USAID in seven countries around the developing world, researching the acceptability of a new supplement for children, pregnant and lactating mothers.

Taking stock of his experiences and interests, Bill then joined the CIA as an analyst in what was the Political Psychology Division in the Directorate of Intelligence. In the early 1980’s he was asked to lead the Directorate’s Insurgency analysis which he did for some years. Another career turn came when he joined the Directorate of Operations where he served throughout Africa and the Middle East. Unsurprisingly he was one of the first to go into Afghanistan after 9/11.

Always retaining a love for the Army, he accepted an appointment to The Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as Senior Intelligence Representative from 1995-1998. As a member of The Department of National Security and Strategy he helped integrate intelligence issues into the curriculum. The Commandant of The Army War College awarded him A Superior Civilian Service Award for exceptionally meritorious service after Bill’s efforts helped prove instrumental for the College being recognized as the Army’s center for strategic thought.

Bill completed his professional career when requested to serve as the De Serio Chair of Strategic Intelligence for the academic year 2011 at the Army War College. Bill viewed the Army War College as another great institution much like Virginia Military Institute in its dedication to disciplined learning and thinking.

Bill will be missed greatly by his wife, Karen Walborn, his siblings, other family members and friends. He leaves us with his dry sense of humor, many kindnesses, and a deep commitment to patriotism. Services will be held at a later date.

Published by The Washington Post from Feb. 16 to Feb. 17, 2024.

Paul Christian Tuebner

Paul Christian Tuebner passed away on November 16, 2022, surrounded by friends and family at Physicians Regional hospital in Naples, Florida.

Born on April 6, 1950, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Alice Atchison Tuebner and Harry Tuebner, the family moved to Tokyo, Japan, shortly after his birth. Military orders then took the family to Thailand and Spain before they ultimately settled down in Orange Park, Florida, where Paul attended high school and his beloved University of Florida. After college, Paul joined the Peace Corps and moved to Costa Rica to serve as an Agriculture Volunteer. It was there where he met Annette, a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer who would end up being his wife for 44 years. After serving in the Peace Corps, Paul went on to get two Master’s degrees from Ohio University.

Paul spent 35 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). With his wife and two sons, he lived an exciting and varied life, which took him and his family to Botswana, Panama, Guatemala, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Honduras and Haiti. He loved going on safari in Africa, deep sea fishing in Central America and lounging on the beach in the Caribbean. Passionate for weekend barbeques, Paul was famous for his smoked ribs and steaks cooked to perfection. As an impassioned football fan, Paul enjoyed watching his Gators on Saturdays and the Commanders on Sundays. Following their exciting Foreign Service life, Paul and Annette retired to a beautiful community in Naples, Florida. He was a great friend to so many people all over the world and will be missed by everyone that knew him.

Paul is survived by his wife Annette, sons Robert and Nathan, Daughter-in-Law Anna and two Grandchildren Clara and Eric, as well as his Brothers Kenneth, Peter, David and their families. He will be missed dearly.

Manuel Carl Zenick

Manuel “Mick” Zenick, a longtime resident of the Washington area, died at age 97 from complications of a fall. Born in Hudson, New York of immigrant parents from Czarist Russia, Mick was educated in public schools in Hudson and Brooklyn, NY. He received a BS from Baruch College at City University in New York. Mick interrupted his college studies at 17 to join the Navy during WWII and served at various domestic bases at Guantanamo Bay before his final assignment as the sole medic aboard the USS ATR5, a seagoing tugboat. Following the war, he resumed his college education which included a summer program in Europe to study the Marshall Plan. Mick later completed studies at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Passing the Junior Professional examination was the beginning of Mick’s challenging and interesting overseas assignments. He first started in the US State Department as an economist before transferring to the US Foreign Aid Program. His first overseas assignment was in Paris where he served on the US Delegation to NATO and OEEC. Returning to the US in 1963, he received a Ford Foundation Fellowship to study economics under Milton Friedman at the University of Chicago. Mick then accepted an offer from the World Bank working primarily with the Caribbean and Colombia. In 1969 he was selected to open the first Resident Bank Mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. Under the King, Afghanistan at the time was a peaceful, but extremely poor, country with a government eager to accept developmental assistance from the World Bank and other international agencies. Having a Resident Mission resulted in the country’s receipt of critical economic assistance. Once back in Washington, Mick realized how much he missed hands-on work in developing countries. Inspired by the stories of his wife Linda’s Peace Corps service as a nurse midwife volunteer in Malaysia, Mick sought employment with the Peace Corps. For five years, he served as Country Director in Thailand and Guatemala. He took great pride in supporting and assisting dedicated volunteers in health, education, and agricultural projects. Mick returned to the World Bank headquarters in 1979 where he served as Chief of the Korea Division. He was delighted with his last assignment as Chief Loan Officer in the World Bank Mission in Indonesia until his retirement in 1988.

In his long retirement, he visited “paths less traveled” including Tibet, Easter Island, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, and PNG. Besides travel, he designed and built a vacation home in Berkeley Springs, WVA; answered the comment line in the Clinton White House; taught a course on the 1920s at American University’s Institute of Learning in Retirement; and actively participated in the Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe Societies. He loved 1920s big band jazz, card playing, the theater, dim sum, and political banter. Mick treasured the many friendships from his overseas posts and keeping in touch with people he met in his travels. A few months before his death, he self-published a memoir and some poetry. Mick leaves behind his wife of 55 years Linda, their daughters Emily (Tom), Jenny (Eddie), and their children Benjamin and Henry Bergeron and Miles and Cora Wexler. He also leaves children from his first marriage Pamela Zenick, Jeffrey Zenick, Melanie Lynch (Tom), Andrew Zenick, four grandchildren – Jeremy, Sara, Mollie and Nadia – and numerous friends and neighbors who enriched his life. A celebration of life for family and friends will be held in March; an interment at Arlington National Cemetery will take place next year. Donations in his memory can be made to Doctors Without Borders or Heifer International.

Published by The Washington Post on Feb. 13, 2024.

Francis Redmond “Tony” Smoot

Francis Redmond Smoot, a sixth generation Washingtonian, passed away on January 13, 2024. He was 80.  Mr. Smoot, known to friends and family as “Tony,” was born in Washington in 1943. He attended Gonzaga College High School and graduated from Georgetown University. He served one tour in the Army.  Mr. Smoot worked as an accountant for USAID in many foreign countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.  In retirement, he divided his time between his homes in Washington and Lewes, Delaware, and authored two books: a treatise on astrology and a collection of poetry.

Mr. Smoot will be remembered for his generosity, lively sense of humor, love of opera, and kindness toward animals.  Survivors include his two sisters, Marie Adele Curtis of Surrey, England, and Regina Francesca Smoot of Washington, and their children.  Mr. Smoot will be buried at Rock Creek Cemetery. Close friends and family will celebrate his life in a private ceremony at a location and date forthcoming.

Published by The Washington Post on Feb. 8, 2024.

Ernest C. Kuhn

Ernest “Ernie” Clarence Kuhn passed away peacefully after a long illness on December 29, 2023, in Washington, DC surrounded by immediate and extended family members. He was 83 years old.

Though born and raised in Newark, Ohio, a place he returned to regularly throughout his life, Ernie was an avid traveler at heart who immersed himself in the history, cultures and languages of Southeast Asia and the Middle East over decades of devoted international public service and love of history.

He served as a tour director on excursions to Asia, Europe and the Middle East during his undergraduate studies. Upon graduating from Ohio State University with a BA in history, he joined the Peace Corps as a Volunteer to Thailand as part of Group VII from 1963-1965. He later served over 30 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the US Agency for International Development in Laos, the Philippines, Egypt, Indonesia, and finally in Washington, DC. An extensive interview with Ernie as part of the Oral History Project covers his USAID career.

While serving in Laos he met his beloved wife, Phaythoune neé Sengchanh, who was by his side throughout his life and at the end. They were married in Sam Thong in 1969.

He was an adventurous traveler, avid photographer, bird watcher and fisherman. He freely provided photographs for a guidebook to Egypt, supported eagle conservationists in the Philippines, hosted a team of National Geographic wildlife experts for two weeks at his home, and competed in deep sea fishing competitions. He took his family on rugged weeks-long trips to discover and explore the countries they lived in including the terraced rice fields of Mindanao, the Sahara Desert in western Egypt, the Sinai, and Hindu and Buddhist temples on the islands of Java and Sumatra. He taught his daughters how to develop film in the dark room he built and supported their interests as budding photographers. He also greatly loved returning to Ohio during summer home leaves and spending time in the family cabin that his parents built with him and his brother when he was a teenager.

He had a passionate and deep interest in the history and culture of the places he lived—but most particularly Laos whose language, culture and history he loved and studied throughout his life. In recognition of his services to Laos, Ernie received the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol from King Savang Vatthana in 1968, the kingdom’s highest knighthood order.

He provided authors and television productions not only his time but also photographs and film recordings about Laos. The ‎Ernest and Phaythoune Kuhn Image Collection—a curated collection of photographs of Laos and Thailand during the 1960s-1970s—is available online at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries.

He is survived by his beloved wife Phaythoune Kuhn, daughters Christine (Jonathan) Kuhn-Patrick, and Kimberly (Brian Kaplan) Kuhn, grandchildren Imogen Kuhn-Patrick and Quincy Kaplan, sister-in-law Emily (Chin) Kuhn and nieces Bailey and Taylor Kuhn.  Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Hallene (Fulke) Kuhn, and his brother, James Kuhn.

Ernie was passionately engaged in life, touching many lives across the globe. He will be deeply missed by family and friends.  A memorial will be held on February 11 in Washington, DC.  Condolences may be shared with the family on his memorial website at ErnieKuhn.net.

Wilma Louise Ditter

Wilma Louise DITTER, retired Foreign Service Staff with U.S. Agency for International Development, died October 18, 2023, in Merced, California, at the age of 91. Ms. Ditter was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. on August 21, 1932. After graduating from Ambridge High School in 1950, she spent 15 years working for Pittsburgh Steel Forgings.

She joined the Foreign Service as an administrative aide for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Ms. Ditter’s overseas assignments included Nigeria, Laos, Jordan, and Burkina Faso. After 24 years of service, she retired in 1990, after which she moved to Los Banos, California.

For almost 30 years, Ms. Ditter was an active member of United Methodist Women, and she also served for many years as the church collection secretary. Ms. Ditter is survived by nephews Kent O’Donnell, Jay (Maryellen) Giese, and Roy (Kathy) Giese, and multiple great nieces and nephews.

Caryle E. Cammisa

Caryle E. Cammisa, retired Foreign Service officer with U.S. Agency for International Development, died peacefully on October 24, 2023, in Tampa, Florida, at the age of 66, after fighting multiple myeloma for 17 years.  Ms. Cammisa was born in Derby, Connecticut, on May 22, 1957. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social welfare from Temple University in 1980 and a master’s degree in public policy from SUNY Albany in 1984.

She began her professional life as a social worker in Philadelphia before joining USAID in 2000. Ms. Cammisa served in Georgia, Romania, Bangladesh, Kenya, Yemen, Jordan, and Washington, D.C. During her more than 20 years as a Foreign Service Officer with USAID, she was a champion of the children’s television show “Sesame Street” and persuaded the Children’s Television Workshop to consider the potential of airing such a show in Bangladesh, which ultimately aired as Sisimpur in 2005.

In retirement, Ms. Cammisa lived in Tampa, where she was an active volunteer with the League of Women Voters and the Sierra Club and was an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Caryle’s indomitable spirit and passion for defeating injustices left a lasting impact on all who knew her. Her heartwarming presence and enduring resilience will be remembered and cherished by her beloved daughter, Natalie. Caryle’s influence and love continue on through Natalie and those who were lucky enough to have known her.

During her lifetime, Caryle displayed an unfaltering strength and conviction that will forever serve as an inspiration to all. She was able to see the world extensively and had unique life experiences that she shared with all her loved ones. We bid farewell to a passionate woman of the world, whose memory will live on in our hearts forever.

Ms. Cammisa is survived by her daughter, Natalie, mother Kathryn, siblings Kathee Cammisa, Joe Cammisa, and Laurie Green, three nieces and a nephew, and two grand nephews.

Ellsworth “Butch” Amundson

It is with saddened hearts that we announce the passing of my father Ellsworth ‘Butch’ Amundson, on December 19, 2023. Born on March 21, 1944, in Vicksburg Mississippi to his parents Ellsworth M. Amundson and Mildred Chisholm. Butch lived a full, vibrant life of adventure with his dearly beloved wife Wanida. His spirit, charm, and sense of humor left an indelible mark in the hearts of all those he encountered in life.

Butch started his life in Vicksburg where he was born, then travelled with his parents due to his father’s Army assignments to Park Forest Illinois, Fayetteville North Carolina, then New Port News Virginia where he graduated high school from St. Stevens and went to college at Virginia Tech where he majored in agriculture. Upon graduation he joined the Peace Corps because he wanted to see the world and help those who were less fortunate. He accepted an assignment to Nepal where he gained an appreciation for humanity, foreign worlds and which made him realize the person who he wanted to become. ‘I felt my contribution to the Nepalis had been so small compared to what they had given to me’. After his assignment he returned to Washington D.C. where he decided to enroll and was accepted to Georgetown University’s International Affairs graduate program. Within only a few days he met Wanida ‘the most beautiful girl in the world’ who was enrolled in the linguistics program on a Fullbright Scholarship and who he fell in love with immediately.

At the time the Vietnam war was heating up. Butch decided to cut his Master’s program short and take the opportunity to work as a civilian through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam. After months of courting and moving into an apartment together in Rosslyn he and Wanida decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. They were married at the Thai Embassy in D.C. and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington Virginia, both attended by his Peace Corps friends and his cousin Mary Alyce who represented the Amundson family for their nuptials. As Butch headed over to Vietnam to support refugees Wanida would finish her degree at Georgetown and travelled back to Bangkok to stay with her parents and to be close to Butch so they could visit each other occasionally. Sometime later their son Eric was conceived and born in Bangkok, Thailand.

From there he started his career as a Foreign Service Officer with posts in Tunisia, Yemen, Djibouti, Cameroon and Morocco. Each assignment was a cultural adventure for Butch, Wanida and Eric who would meet so many lifelong friends along the way that we are still in contact with today. Besides exploring the assigned countries they would return to visit his parents and relatives in Sacramento and her parents and relatives in Thailand. Eventually they bought their first home in McLean Virginia where Eric went to elementary school through his sophomore year. Butch and Wanida received their next assignment to West Africa and Eric went to boarding school in Switzerland. As Eric graduated and went on to College at James Madison University, Butch and Wanida’s last assignment was in Morroco, a beautiful country that was the perfect dovetail for his career. Butch retired in his early fifties from USAID then both he and Wanida decided to buy a second home in Lake Tahoe Nevada to be closer to relatives and enjoy everything Tahoe had to offer including Butch’s love for skiing. Butch’s other passions were tennis, scuba diving and astronomy all of which he picked up during their assignments and travels overseas.

Butch and Wanida eventually decided to move back to their home in Virginia. They celebrated Eric and Fay’s wedding and joyously welcomed their beloved Grandchildren Ethan and Clara into the world. They enjoyed spending time with Fay’s parents and relatives. Butch found a new passion in doing extensive Amundson family genealogy research that included detailed ties to relatives in Wisconsin and Norway culminating in two reunions in both locations. Over the years Butch, Wanida, Eric and Fay would occasionally travel together passing down the love of culture, food and history to Ethan and Clara. Butch’s favorite trip of all time was to southern France to celebrate his and Wanida’s 50th anniversary along with Eric and family.
Eventually the love of his life Wanida passed away January 19th 2023. Butch returned to her loving arms 11 months later on December 19th. Their love and legacy will continue to live on forever.

Butch is survived by his son Eric, his daughter in law Fay, his grandchildren Ethan and Clara, and his cousins Carol Graeber, Cecil Roumage, Doug Gayner, Suzanne Werner, Susie Wheeler, Jim Amundson, Clark Absher and their families.

He will be remembered as the good son he was to his parents, a loving and caring husband to Wanida, a fantastic father and father-in-law to Eric and Fay, an amazing Grandfather to Ethan and Clara, and a great friend and supporter to all whom he has touched in his life.

Sophia Helene Van Der Bijl

January 22, 1976  –  January 21, 2024

A quote from a MCC friend also called Sophia: “Sophia was the best: direct, funny, hardworking and very loving with her own particular flavor.”

A graduate the Washington International School (International Baccalaureate), McGill University (Bachelor of arts, Political Science and Economics), the Paris Institute of Political Studies, Paris, France (Diploma in International Law), School of Advanced International Studies, Bologna, Italy (Master of arts, International Affairs). A career in international development with Chemonics International in DC and Botswana, the Millennium Challenge Corporation in DC, Public Health Institute Fellows Program, and United States Agency for International Development in DC as a monitoring and evaluation specialist.

Wife to John, step-mother to Matthew, daughter to Rudy and Francoise-Line, and sister to Edmond. Greatly loved.

An informal celebration of her life will be held at Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes, 7557 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda on January 31 at 1:00 pm. You are encouraged to say a few words about why she was so very special. This will be followed by a WIS style after celebration at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery.

Alex Durham Newton

REMEMBERING ALEX NEWTON: A life of adventure, a spirit of service
By Rick Crown and Betsy Wagenhauser Special to the Citizen, Jan 22, 2024

He was known by many names — Durham, Alex, Figg — or some other endearing moniker, but the common denominator was that he was extraordinarily kind, always upbeat, humble to a fault and wildly adventurous. If it was true he danced to the beat of a different drum, it was likely an African one.

And the drums are surely beating now in an uplifting yet sad cadence that mourns the loss of a remarkable human being. Alexander Durham Newton died peacefully on the evening of Jan. 15, 2024, at his longtime family home, Bonar Hall. By his side as the final chapter of his extraordinary life’s journey came to a close was his first wife of 33 years, Betsy, and their intrepid-in-their-own-right progeny, Nicola and Simon. By his side in spirit was the myriad ranks of the Friends of Alex (FOA) that included everyone he touched in his personal and professional life — a life that spanned five continents and too many countries to count.

Born and raised in Madison, GA, 79 years ago, Alex had a heart for service from an early age, beginning with high school mission trips to Peru. He loved his hometown of Madison, but always claimed he chose Brown University for his undergraduate studies as it was the option farthest away. Still, he eventually made his way back to the south to study law at Duke University.

With a law degree under his belt, Alex headed to NYC and Wall Street to practice law and continue to feed his adventurous spirit. Sailing and kayaking and tennis and running were the primary sports that fulfilled him most of his life, though he happily dabbled in a variety of high-risk endeavors. These included mountaineering, hang-gliding, paragliding, scuba diving, bungee jumping, skiing, surfing, and child-rearing. He was never one to shy away from a chance to learn something new and have fun doing it.

Despite the plethora of extracurricular activities, Alex was equally passionate about doing what he could to make a difference in the world. He traded in his suit and tie and fancy Wall Street lawyer job for a work shirt, dungarees, and a shovel, and spent 2 years in the remote Guatemalan countryside serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. That stint set the stage for an eventual rewarding and successful career in humanitarian assistance with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
West Africa was Alex’s first assignment as a newly minted Regional Legal Advisor. He spent two years in Mali and five years in the Ivory Coast and traveled regularly throughout the region as part of his job. A by-product of his extensive travels was his penchant for gathering in-depth travel information which he converted into well-regarded Lonely Planet travel guides for both West and Central Africa. He thus added travel writer to his growing list of accomplishments.

South America was the next work destination. Alex spent the next 4 years based in Quito Ecuador but continued traveling for work throughout the region. This time he collected more than travel information on the side. While on assignment in Lima Peru, Alex happened to stop by the South American Explorers’ Club, an information network for travelers which was run by a woman named Betsy. Two and a half years later they were married. This time Alex added “spouse” to his list of accomplishments.
Now the real adventure began. There was a 5-year tour in Bangladesh with frequent work visits to Nepal. And a daughter, Nicola, was another proud accomplishment to go on the list. Four years in Kazakhstan followed — this time as Democracy Office Chief. Alex succinctly described his charge as “to bring democracy to the former Soviet states” which, as with all things, he did his best. His list of accomplishments grew to include a son, Simon.
After Alex was promoted to USAID Deputy Mission Director of Haiti, the family moved to the capital city Port-au-Prince. They lived there from 2000 to 2002 before returning once again to West Africa -first to Ghana with Alex serving as Deputy Director for three years and then four years in Mali as Mission Director. When that tour ended, Alex spent nearly two years in war-torn Afghanistan, with Betsy and the kids safely ensconced in Madison.

His “retirement” in 2012 lasted about five minutes. Alex then began a series of short-term contract assignments for USAID that took him back to Africa, and then to Indonesia, Egypt, Ukraine, and Timor Leste. In between assignments, he and Betsy managed the ongoing work on their Bonar Hall home, buildings and grounds, which seemed to keep expanding. Alex’s love of old houses led him to rescue endangered structures and move them to the property, inspiring a friend to refer to them as “Alex’s Architectural Petting Zoo.”

Alex’s list of accomplishments is endless. His lifelong work of making a difference in the world carries on; reverberates still. He was a great friend, compassionate mentor, loving husband, adoring father, and devoted son. He will be missed and remembered by all the lucky FOAs here in this community — and the world over.

Published in the Morgan County Citizen, Madison, GA, Jan. 22, 2024

Patricia S. Matheson

Patricia Matheson peacefully passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024, in Inova Fairfax Hospital at age 79 as a result of complications of her fight against breast cancer, a fight she had waged successfully for 17 years to lead a life that was as productive and fulfilling after her diagnosis as it had been before.

Pat was born March 18, 1944, in San Antonio, TX to Myron and Mae Schraud (Nee: Richards), younger sister to Cata and Susan.  Her father Myron was a U.S. Foreign Service officer, and she spent her early childhood in Mexico, Germany and Bolivia as a result of his foreign assignments.  She then graduated from high school in Chula Vista, California; received her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, and her Master’s degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

She then started a long career with the U.S. Agency for International Development, where she managed assistance programs for several decades, including in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, the former Soviet Union, and Latin America.  In the course of that work, she managed a large staff and traveled frequently abroad.  Her work was essential in promoting economic development and social welfare in less-developed countries, and in assisting in the democratic transition of countries like Russia, Ukraine and Kosovo. After her retirement from full-time government service in 2001, she continued for many years to carry out assignments by USAID for economic and social development abroad. To her co-workers, she was a generous friend and mentor with a quick sense of humor, a positive attitude, and a deft, common-sense approach to making the bureaucracy of the federal government work to the benefit of the nation it serves.

Upon retiring from USAID Pat devoted herself wholeheartedly to the service of her local community. She worked with VA Democracy Forward, principally on encouraging voter turnout and redistricting reform; worked with the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, teaching English as a second language and training ESL teachers; she served elderly community members with the Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church and led hikes with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. She volunteered for many years with the Washington Revels.

Pat was also very active in the Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia, where she was a member for 34 years. A Deacon and Stephen Minister, she engaged in caregiving ministry for her fellow church members and worked with the church’s refugee resettlement team, developing personal relationships she cherished with the Afghan refugees she mentored and supported logistically.

In her personal life, Pat gave birth to and raised a son, Scott Matheson, and was the loving spouse of Michael Matheson for more than 50 years.  They loved her dearly and miss her immensely.  They travelled extensively together throughout this country and the world; she watched grey whales in Baja California and marine iguanas in the Galapagos, parasailed off Maui and rafted the New River at age 77, and escaped attacks by a baboon in Capetown and a pelican in Islamorada. They spent many summers in Oxford, UK and in Geneva, Switzerland.

In short, Pat led a wonderful, productive and loving life. She will be sorely missed by her family and so many others. She is survived by her loving husband, Michael and her son, Scott; her sister Susan Randolph and brother-in-law Bob Randolph; their children, David, Carolyn and Brian Randolph, their families and many more family members and friends.

A memorial service for Pat will be held at 2 PM on February 24, 2024, at the Lewinsville Presbyterian Church 1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA with reception to follow: In lieu of flowers gifts in memory of Patricia Matheson may be directed to the Refugee Resettlement Ministry at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church.

Robert J. Muscat

Bob Muscat in 1972

Bob Muscat in 2019

Robert Jaffe Muscat, (Bob), 92, passed away on Jan. 10, 2024, in Haymarket, Virginia. Born in NYC, he graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Philosophy, a Master of Economics, a Master of Journalism, and a PhD in Economics. He was a Foreign Service Reserve officer who served for 25 years, posted in Thailand, Brazil, Kenya, and Washington, DC, where his assignments included an appointment as the Agency’s first Chief Economist. He held senior consulting and advisory positions within the governments of Thailand and Malaysia, in the United Nations Development Program, and was a visiting scholar at the Columbia East Asian Institute and the George Mason Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Bob also served two years in the US Army.

He was an active Board member of the NGO Global Peace Services for many years. He was the author of numerous books and journal articles, not only about development, but about resolving violent conflict. Bob was also a gifted classical pianist.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Juliette, two sons, David (wife Elena Bose) and Joshua (wife Jill nee Ottenberg), daughter Elysabeth (husband Rafik Hegab), and three grandsons, Neil, Jared, and Tim.

Richard Lee “Dick” McCall, Jr.

Richard Lee McCall Jr passed away peacefully on January 18th, 2024, at the age of 81 at his home in Easton, MD. Richard was a truly outstanding public servant that was driven by powerful moral force. He witnessed war, famine, and the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, but never lost his optimism and his unfailing sense of humor.

Mr. McCall was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 6, 1942, to Richard Lee McCall Sr and Virginia McCall. He had 1 sister (Nancy) and 2 brothers (Mike and Donn) He was educated at Hastings College, receiving a B.A. in Biology in 1964. After a couple of years working as field representative at the Teton National Life Insurance Company and as a Chemist the Wyoming State Highway Department. Richard worked as a staff writer for UPI (United Press International) in Cheyenne Wyoming from 1968 to 1971 In the spring of 1967 Richard met his future wife Barbara Coy who then briefly moved to Hawaii … thankfully Richard convinced her to move back to Cheyenne and they were married on January 27th, 1968.

After covering Senator Gale McGee’s re-election campaign in 1970, he joined McGee’s Senate staff as a legislative aide and moved to Virginia. He held the position until 1977, when he became legislative aide to Democratic Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, and, after Senator Humphrey’s death in 1978, to his widow, Muriel, who was appointed to his seat.

McCall joined the professional staff of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in 1978 and was promoted to deputy staff director in 1979.

In 1980, President of the United States Jimmy Carter nominated McCall as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs and McCall subsequently held this office from June 10, 1980, until January 21, 1981.
McCall later served in the United States Agency for International Development In the early 1990s, his efforts focused on bringing peace to El Salvador during their Civil War Conflict and later on Somalia and other humanitarian problems in the Horn of Africa. In the later 1990s, he focused on efforts at bringing peace to the African Great Lakes region, including conflicts in and among Sudan, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe.
He joined Creative Associates International, Inc., a professional services firm, in 2002, as senior vice president and chairman of its council of senior advisors. His work there has focused on stabilization of post-conflict situations in many places, including Afghanistan and Sudan.

Richard is survived by his l wife Barbara, their two sons Josh and Chris, and his five grandchildren, Avery, Cole, Alaina, Lauren, and Sydney and Josh’s Partner Samantha Fitzhugh.
Through Richard’s commitment to democracy and human rights, he was able to positively impact so many lives and contribute to the resolution of so many conflicts around the world. Remembering his colleague and old friend, former USAID Administrator Brian Atwood said “Dick McCall was the ideal public servant and as fine a human being as I have met.”

A very special thank you to Love in Your Home LLC for the incredible love and care they provided on a daily basis.
Please consider donating to Rock Steady which was an integral part of Richard’s Parkinson’s Program and relies on donations.

Donations can be sent to:  Rock Steady YMCA of the Chesapeake, 111-1 E. Dover Street Easton, MD 21601, in memory of Richard McCall
The Viewing will be Friday Evening 4 – 7pm at:  Everly Funeral Home
1500 West Braddock Rd, Alexandra, VA
Service on Saturday 1/27 at 11:00 am at:  Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1545 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA
Funeral proceeding at Oakwood Cemetery in Falls Church:  401 N. Roosevelt St., Falls Church, VA
Reception at the Gannon Residence:  204 E. Columbia St., Falls Church, VA

Thomas Hale Fox

Thomas Hale Fox died surrounded by family on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, in Washington D.C. Born in Boston in 1939 to Bertrand Fox and Mary Zeigler Fox, Tom spent most of his childhood in Massachusetts and graduated in 1961 from Williams College with a BA in History. As an adult, Tom became a global citizen. Over the course of his 45-year career, he worked with more than 75 developing countries, including all but a couple African countries, holding top positions in the Peace Corps, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and a host of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

After four years of teaching at the Taft School, Tom was recruited to become the deputy director for the Peace Corps in Togo in 1965. He and his newlywed wife, Elizabeth, spent the next five years in West Africa. Tom quickly became a prominent leader in the field of foreign assistance, particularly as a bridge builder between NGOs, private foundations, the U.S. Department of State, USAID, and participating countries. He was a highly regarded thought leader and administrator for several NGOs: VITA, the Council on Foundations, World Resources Institute, and The Elma Foundation. He also served twice with USAID in 1978-1982 and 1997-2001. In the second of these terms, President Clinton appointed Tom to coordinate USAID’s worldwide policy and resource allocation. Known for his expertise, strength of character, and integrity, Tom testified over a dozen times before the U.S Congress. Throughout his career, Tom enjoyed mentoring early career professionals in the field of international development and taught several graduate courses at George Washington University, Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, and the School for International Training.

Tom was very generous with his time. He gave abundantly to family, friends, educational institutions, local community-based organizations, All Souls Unitarian Church, and several NGOs dedicated to foreign assistance. He often served as an effective fundraiser and board leader, while he also enjoyed humbler roles, such as driving seniors to medical appointments. Tom had many loves beyond his family, friends, career, and civic engagements: playing sports with friends; cheering on the Boston Red Sox; spending time with extended family in Maine; launching and leading a book club for four decades; reading biographies of early American leaders; acting with his local theater group; singing with family and the All Souls Church choir; following his grandsons’ passions; and supporting his wife’s work improving services for seniors across Washington D.C.

Tom’s large family deeply treasured him. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 58 years, Elizabeth Stewart Fox; their two children, Adair (Shelley) and Brian (Monika); two grandsons, Owen and Charlie; his brother, Kenneth, three half-siblings (Ann, Peter, and Joan); four step-siblings; nieces; nephews; godchildren; and many friends around the world.