86 SEPTEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL American history, and enjoyed traveling, tennis, and cooking with and for friends. His friends remember his gumbo and martinis, wit and intelligence, and warmth and character. Ambassador Pittman is survived by his spouse, Chris Milligan; his mother, Betty Pittman; and his sisters, Shane and Elise Pittman. n Joan “Joanie” Hill Schifferdecker, 89, a Foreign Service spouse, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2024, in Washington, D.C., from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. Ms. Schifferdecker was born on Feb. 25, 1935, to Robert Hill and Edith Hesli, in Minneapolis, Minn. Raised in Whitehall, Mont., Ms. Schifferdecker graduated from Whitehall High School in 1952 and subsequently went on to study music (voice) at the Boston Conservatory of Music, becoming a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, a national musical honorary society. After graduating with honors, Ms. Schifferdecker started singing with the San Francisco Opera Company, appearing in more than 300 performances and 35 operas. Concurrently and for much of the rest of her life, she worked a wide range of jobs, from editor to office manager. In 1962 Ms. Schifferdecker married Robert “Bob” Fajardo in San Francisco, Calif. They moved to Chicago and had two children, Matthew and Susanna. Ms. Schifferdecker performed in community concerts and theater productions, a pastime she relished. They later divorced. In 1979 she married Arnold “Arnie” Schifferdecker, a Foreign Service officer. The couple spent the next couple of decades overseas, including extended postings in Türkiye, Pakistan, and Morocco. In 1995, on Mr. Schifferdecker’s retirement from the Foreign Service, the couple returned to Washington, D.C., to enjoy a life of family, friends, and travel. While overseas, Ms. Schifferdecker immersed herself in the language and culture of the countries she visited, taking part in horseback riding and musical productions wherever she found the opportunity. She also took an active role in support groups and cultivated many deep and enduring friendships, which spanned the globe and time. Ms. Schifferdecker was predeceased by her husband, Arnie, in 2003, and by siblings Andrea, Linda, and Nicolas Hill. Arnie was FSJ Editorial Board chair from 2002 to 2003. She is survived by her children, Matthew Fajardo and Susanna (and spouse Anton Pav) Fajardo; grandchildren Isabel and Zoe Pav; and cousin Peggy (and spouse Bob) Hoekenga. Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation of the National Capital Area, 3570 Olney Laytonsville Road #490, Olney MD 20830-7521. Condolences and tributes can be posted in the online guest book at www. devolfuneralhome.com. n Rufus Grant Smith, 85, a retired State Department Foreign Service officer and former ambassador, died on April 6, 2024, of complications from a heart attack. Mr. Smith was born on Sept. 8, 1938, during a hurricane in Mineola, N.Y. As a child, he lived with his father, who was in the Foreign Service. He attended Woodstock School, a Christian missionary school in India, and graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in Maryland. Institute, where he focused on democracy-building initiatives. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Pittman served at the National Security Council as the director for Balkan affairs, coordinating U.S. government efforts to bring stability to the region. While special assistant to Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Mr. Pittman volunteered to go to Iraq, where he served as deputy director in the governance office of the Coalition Provisional Authority. There he met his future husband, USAID FSO Chris Milligan. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Pittman served as consul general in Belfast, where he furthered peace and reconciliation by engaging with political and community leaders and building intercommunity cooperation. His efforts contributed to a power sharing arrangement and increased stability, a legacy that is still seen today. While a member of the Secretary’s Office of Policy Planning, Mr. Pittman was appointed senior diplomacy adviser to the department’s first quadrennial diplomacy and development review, instituting reforms to improve the effectiveness of the State Department and USAID. Next, as principal deputy assistant secretary and then as acting assistant secretary of State for the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Mr. Pittman leveraged the contributions of multilateral organizations and allies to advance U.S. foreign policy goals. Mr. Pittman returned to Mozambique as the U.S. ambassador in 2016. He was thrilled to be back in a country that meant so much to him, embracing the culture, music, and natural beauty. Amb. Pittman retired in 2019. He read extensively, particularly about
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODIyMDU=