The Foreign Service Journal, January 2006

Frances Ellen Coughlin , 84, a retired FSO, died March 26, 2005. A graduate of San Diego State College, with honors in Latin Ameri- can Studies, Ms. Coughlin earned an M.A. in history from Claremont College in 1946. She went on to complete postgraduate work in for- eign language studies at Stanford University in 1952. In 1944, Ms. Coughlin joined the Women Air Force Service Pilots (the “WASPs”), a wing of the Air Force that took on non-combat flying duties such as ferrying aircraft around, to free up the male pilots. She was trained to fly a variety of aircraft, and maintained an interest in and enjoy- ment of flying throughout her subse- quent career in Europe and South America. In 1947-48, she used her aviation training and ability to speak Portuguese to become an instructor for the Brazilian Air Force. Ms. Coughlin joined the Foreign Service in 1952, and was posted to Buenos Aires as a cultural affairs assistant. Subsequent postings in- cluded Rome, Florence, Santiago, Lima and Madrid. After 28 years in the Service, she retired to La Jolla, Calif. She spent her retirement trav- eling the world and visiting the many friends she made throughout her career. Ms. Coughlin is survived by her sister Barbara, brother-in-law Bob, and her nieces and nephews: Tim, Steve, Keith and Karen. Dr. Philip Dur , 91, a retired FSO and professor emeritus of political sci- ence at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, died Oct. 5 at his home in Lafayette, La., of congestive heart failure. Born in St. Louis, Mo., Dr. Dur earned his bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) and his doctorate in his- tory from Harvard University. He was commissioned as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy and, after Japanese language training, partici- pated in the interception, decryption and translation of Japanese naval com- munications during World War II. Dr. Dur entered the Foreign Service in 1947, and served in diplo- matic and consular posts in France, Germany, Panama, Japan and at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. In addition to Japanese, Dr. Dur was fluent in French, German and Spanish. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1965, and accepted an appointment at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as the Jefferson Caffery Honor Professor of Political Science. He is best remembered by former students for his offerings in diplomatic history and the conduct of diplomacy. During his tenure at ULL and following his retirement, Dr. Dur published many articles in learned journals on the distinguished career of Ambassador Caffery, whom he met and befriended in 1948 while both were posted to France. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a Rotarian and a member of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana. Dr. Dur’s wife, Maria Elena Delgado of Camaguey, Cuba, preced- ed him in death in 1993. Survivors include his children, Elena (Mrs. Philip A. Morris) of Henniker, N.H.; retired Rear Admiral Philip A. Dur, USN, of Pascagoula, Miss.; Stansbury S. Dur of Houston, 78 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 6 u I N M EMORY