The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2023

88 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL His next posting, in 1964, was to Alexandria, Egypt, and he and his wife received language training in French (instead of Arabic) for the assignment. In 1966 the family returned to Wash- ington, D.C., where Mr. Precht served as a liaison to NASA and on the Israel desk before completing an M.A. at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He would return to Tufts University as diplomat in residence at the end of his career. In 1970 he was assigned as deputy chief of mission toMauritius, where he objected to U.S. eviction of the residents of Diego Garcia island to create a U.S. naval base. Mr. Precht subsequently served in a number of roles in Tehran before return- ing to State and heading the Iran desk from 1978 to 1981, through the Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis. Blocked by Senator Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) from confirmation as ambassa- dor to Mauritania (Mr. Precht was scape- goated for the 1979 fall of Iran’s shah), he served instead as deputy chief of mission in Cairo (then the largest U.S. embassy in the world) from 1981 to 1985. Throughout his career, Mr. Precht worked to advance America’s interests in the world while remaining true to his ideals of justice. After retirement from the Foreign Service in 1987, he became president of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, serving until 1995, and was a regular opinion writer for the Bridgton News of Bridgton, Maine. Returning to Washington, D.C., he led a lunch group of retired Foreign Service officers and published a book of semiau- tobiographical short stories ( A Diplomat’s Progress , 2005). Family members remem- ber his lifelong identification with Italy and love of the Italian language, which he spoke with his characteristic Southern accent, and note that his grandchildren called him nonno (grandfather). Mr. Precht was predeceased by his parents and brother, David. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Marian; daughter Katherine (and her spouse, Chris Evans); son Paul (and his spouse, Katayoon Tajbaksh-Precht); and grandchildren Sophia Ong, Miranda Evans, and Manoucher Precht. The family requests that those wish- ing to make a donation in Mr. Precht’s memory contribute to their local public library. n David “Dave” Howard Pritchard, 71, a retired USAID Foreign Service officer, passed away on Aug. 31, 2022, in Burke, Va., of brain cancer. Mr. Pritchard was born on Jan. 19, 1951, in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in Kensington, Md. He graduated from the University of Maryland, became an audi- tor, and earned his CPA license. On May 29, 1971, he married his best friend and college sweetheart, Vivian Bernadette Naman. He helped raise their five children, teaching them the impor- tance of family, charity, and faith. Mr. Pritchard joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1980. His overseas postings included Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Singa- pore, all with the USAID Office of Inspec- tor General, and Egypt, where he served as regional inspector general. He was honored to receive several awards throughout his career and a certificate of appreciation for 30 years of service. Retiring in 2009, Mr. Pritchard donated his time to others. He was an avid gene- alogist and a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts of America. He had a variety of hobbies: golfing with friends at Springfield Country Club; teaching his grandchildren to fish; salsa dancing with his devoted wife; camping with the Scouts; playing cards or board games with friends and family; and sharing his prized wine collection with everyone. Family members and friends remem- ber Mr. Pritchard’s courage in facing life challenges with a smile on his face. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace. Mr. Pritchard was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Carol Pritchard, and his brother Douglas. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Vivian Pritchard; his daughters, Carol Modesitt (and husbandMichael), Holly Carnevale (and husband Peter), Bonnie McLaughlin (and husband Dennis), and Julie Moore (and husband Phillip); his son, David Pritchard (and wife Fanchon); and 17 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Brian and Glenn (and their spouses), and a large extended family. n George Francis Sherman Jr., 92, a retired Foreign Service officer, died on Sept. 17, 2022, in Chelsea, Mich. Mr. Sherman was born in Boston, Mass., on July 25, 1930, to George Francis Sr. and Lillian (Burke) Sherman. He was raised in Euclid, Ohio, with his three beloved brothers, Donald, Bruce, and Bill. When he was 16, the family moved to Hamden, Conn., where Mr. Sherman graduated from high school in 1948. After finishing his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College in 1952, he earned a master’s degree at Columbia University’s Russian Institute in 1954 and pursued postgraduate study at Oxford University, St. Anthony’s College, in Eng- land from 1954 to 1955. George Sherman and Anne (Nancy) Woodberry married in 1956. Together they had four children—Deborah, Beth, Justin, and Drew. Mr. Sherman had a great love of trav- eling the world and a strong interest in