In Memoriam: Dr. Charles S. Houston, age 96, first PC/India Director

Those of us in the earliest PC/India groups remember him fondly for his work to launch PC in India and after we got there looking after us with great attention for our well being. Only in later years did I just begin to learn how much Dr. Houston contributed to this world as a medical doctor and an Alpinist and to better appreciate his dedicated service to country. 

Dr. Houston was interviewed by Bill Moyers in 2004. That interview will be broadcasted on PBS Television on Friday evening, 9 October 2009.  - 27 September 2009 

In Memoriam: Alice Slattery

Alice Marie Slattery, beloved wife, daughter, mother and grandmother, passed away on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following a brief illness that brought too soon an end to a vibrant life. Born July 7, 1942, in Framingham, MA, to Tilio and Madeline Franchi, Alice married her high school sweetheart John "Jack" Slattery on December 17, 1961. Over the next 40 years, they travelled the world together - first as Peace Corps volunteers and later for the United Nations, the United States Agency for International Development and the U.S. State Department - living for extended periods in India, Western Samoa, Kenya, and Niger. She worked in Africa as a program analyst, human settlements officer, personnel officer, researcher, consultant, and in Hawaii as a teacher. While stateside, she lived in Massachusetts, Hawaii, Virginia, and Wilmington, NC. 

Alice received her bachelor's degree from Goddard College and completed graduate work at George Mason University. She spoke fluent French. Throughout her life, she was an avid writer and completed two novels and numerous short stories. 

Alice was a devoted practitioner of yoga for more than thirty years. In 1983, she taught her first class, received teacher certification from the Yoga and Health Studies Center of Alexandria, VA, and was a teacher member of the Mid-Atlantic Yoga Association. Alice had a devoted following of students in Niger, Virginia and at Seaside Yoga in Wilmington. 

Alice and Jack moved to Wilmington in 2002. She quickly became involved in the Newcomers Club, Big Buddy Program, book groups, Emerald Forest neighborhood association, Coastal Carolina Returned Peace Corps Association, and other local organizations. 

Alice is survived by her husband Jack, daughters Erin Supernor and Elisa Slattery, father Tilio Franchi, sisters Jean Connolly, Madeline Franchi, and Christine Doucette, and grandchildren Elisabeth Greene, Michael Supernor and David Supernor. She leaves behind too many friends to list individually, although they were all close to her heart. 

A celebration of her life will be held at the Slattery home in Wilmington on Saturday, March 15th, beginning at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (383 Main Avenue, 5th floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 or www.multiplemyeloma.org) or Charities of the Friends of India (c/o George Nepert, 34915 Gordy Road, Laurel, DE 19956 or www.foindia.org). 

Published in the Wilmington Star-News, 2008-03-15

In Memoriam: Cal Fricke

Cal Fricke age 83 

Cal and his wife Dolores guided some lonely Peace Corps Volunteers from Dec 1966 through July 1968, India 35 in Gujarat & I-42 & many more PCV's in India. Cal and Dolores were in Bombay where he served as support staff for volunteers. There, he traveled to the volunteers assigned villages in Gujarat & Maharastra. Dolores resides at 2064 Wetmore Rd. W., Tucson, AZ 85705 - November 21, 2007 

In Memoriam: Laurence Foley

It recently came to my attention that Mr. Laurence Foley was an India PCV, which I did not know when I read about his murder in Jordan in 2002. Laurence Foley worked in Andhra Pradesh designing, building and maintaining large model poultry farms as part of the Indian Government's expanded nutrition program for the rural population. He also provided extension and marketing services for fifteen rural poultry projects. Below is a CNN article entitled: Foley remembered for 'compassion'.
Jack Slattery 

By CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott
Saturday, December 14, 2002 Posted: 11:15 AM EST (1615 GMT) 

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One day before he was murdered as he left for work, Laurence Foley received a "meritorious honour award" for his service as executive officer of the USAID mission in Amman, Jordan. 

"Larry strove to make the world a better place than he found it," said Andrew Natsios, Foley's boss and administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

"No one in USAID embodied the spirit of compassion and brotherhood that underpins our efforts more than Larry Foley," Natsios said. 

Foley, who turned 60 this month, was shot to death outside his Amman home on Monday while his wife of 34 years looked on. (Full story) 

His colleagues at the U.S. Embassy in Amman paid tribute to a respected colleague, whom they called a valued friend and an inspiration. 

A public servant for close to 40 years, Foley started a career in foreign service as a Peace Corps volunteer in India in 1965. In 1980 he served as the Peace Corps' associate director in the Philippines. 

Foley, a Boston native, also worked as a probation and rehabilitation officer in California. 

For the past 17 years, Foley worked for USAID, first in Washington and then as executive officer in Bolivia, Peru and Zimbabwe before moving to Jordan in August 2000. 

He held a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from San Francisco State University. 

Secretary of State Colin Powell extended condolences on behalf of the State Department to Foley's family in a written statement.

"Laurence Foley had devoted his own life to U.S. government service and to improving the lives of others through his work with the Agency for International Development," Powell said. "He will be deeply missed." 

Foley's colleagues at the American Foreign Service Association said they were "deeply saddened" by his "heinous murder." 

"This brutal terrorist attack underlines the vulnerability of the men and women of the U.S. Foreign Service who advance our nation's vital interest around the globe," John Naland, president of the AFSA, said in a written statement. 

Naland urged the Bush administration to commit additional resources to protecting the entire diplomatic community, including off-duty spots, and to protect USAID missions around the world. 

In addition to his wife, Virginia, Foley left behind three children -- Megan, Jeremie and Michael -- and two grandsons. 

In Memoriam: Ken Saunier

Ken Saunier, former 1960s Peace Corps India staff in Madya Pradesh died on Friday, April 20, 2007 in Euless Texas. Hilary Whittaker, a former Peace Corps staff member writes: 

"I remember great visits to Madhya Pradesh and the always welcoming Saunier household where Maudine home schooled their three little boys who are now parents themselves. I've been happy to see Ken and Maudine through the years. Ken was always full of life, empathy, curiosity and compassion, and plenty of projects! I know we all send our heartfelt sympathy, hugs and prayers to Maudine."