The Foreign Service Journal, September 2022

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2022 83 Mr. Holmes was very dedicated to his family and immensely proud of his three young adult children. He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 32 years, of Nantucket; son Gerard and wife Laura of Nantucket; daughter Erin-Marie and husband Troy Huyser (a Diplomatic Security Service security technical specialist), currently serving at U.S. Embassy Jakarta; and daughter Jade, a student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. n George Jenkins , 75, a retired For- eign Service officer with USAID, passed away at home in Round Rock, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022, after a prolonged battle with multiple myeloma. Mr. Jenkins was born in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 17, 1946. He attended Bishop O’Connell High School in Arling- ton, Va., and graduated from Villanova University in Pennsylvania with a bach- elor’s degree in accounting in 1968. Mr. Jenkins began his career with USAID in 1971 in the controller’s office in Washington, D.C. Almost six years later, he married his wife, Susan, in McLean, Va. From the beginning, he knew he wanted a life that would expose him and his family to the cultures of the world while giving him the opportunity to improve lives. His first overseas assignment was Yemen, in 1977. Subsequent tours included Mali, Bangladesh, Mozam- bique, Russia, Haiti, Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He didn’t choose the most desired overseas posts, but instead opted for those where he knew he could make a difference within the local community and create a network of friends that he would continue to carry with him throughout his travels. Mr. Jenkins retired in 2000 after 29 years as a Foreign Service officer and continued to work with the agency for another 14 years as a personal services contractor controller. Over the course of his career, hard work and dedication remained his core values. Mr. Jenkins was known in the work- place for his compassion for colleagues and for being one of the best mentors. He was humble and laid-back, and preferred a baseball hat and a good conversation over a cold beer to a formal suit-and-tie affair. His athletic pursuits included playing on the Bamako softball team that traveled throughout West Africa. Everyone was happy when “Big George” stepped to the plate, as they knew a home run was not out of the question. Later, while in Bangladesh, his interest shifted to tennis, and he developed a reputation for a killer serve and speed on the court (opponents quickly learned not to let his size fool them!). No one was surprised when Mr. Jen- kins found his next athletic challenge in the dojo of Bangladesh’s Black Belt Acad- emy, where he developed an impressive roundhouse kick. His retirement years led to a new competitive drive on the golf course with his wife. Mr. Jenkins is remembered as a calm, loving and patient father and husband who encouraged his children to believe in themselves. He modeled wisdom, rational thinking and mutual respect. He is survived by his wife, Susan, and five children: Hope, Russ, Denise, Shawn and Jason, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. n Andrew J. “AJ” Kopiak Jr. , 73, a retired Foreign Service specialist, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2022, sur- rounded by his family at INOVA Hospital in Fairfax, Va. After serving in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, Mr. Kopiak joined the State Department in the late 1980s as a messaging communications officer in the Bureau of Information Resource Management. His overseas assignments included Lisbon, London, Sarajevo, Dublin and Tel Aviv. Over the course of his career, Mr. Kopiak was responsible for control and coordination of telecommunications, information technology and telegraphic programs in IRM’s messaging center at the State Department. He also served as a liaison messag- ing communications officer supporting the Executive Secretariat’s Operations Center on matters concerning State telecommunications operations with other government agencies and Foreign Service posts. Mr. Kopiak retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2013 and immediately returned as a retired annuitant in IRM, retiring for the second time in 2020. He is remembered as a great friend who captivated audiences with his fascinating stories. Described by his col- leagues as a loyal co-worker and mentor, he was affectionately known as “our AJ.” Mr. Kopiak is survived by his wife, Marie; sons Andrew and Seon; grand- children Aedan, Aaron, Bella, Casey and Robyn; and extended family members. His son Andrew currently serves at the U.S. Consulate General in Edinburgh. n Edward M. Rowell , 90, a retired Senior Foreign Service officer and ambassador, died on April 14, 2022, at his home in Bethesda, Md. Mr. Rowell was born in Oakland, Calif., in 1931 and followed the calling of his missionary family to join the Foreign