The Foreign Service Journal, November 2007

International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, where she was an international trade specialist. Her responsibility was to assist southern California firms with export development. After a very suc- cessful 15 years in Los Angeles, she joined the Foreign Service and was transferred, in 1985, to Brasilia as commerce attaché. One of Ms. Prybil’s major accom- plishments was her successful negoti- ation of a $4 billion contract with the Brazilian government for the Amazon Surveillance System in favor of the American company, Raytheon. On Oct. 23, 1997, she was awarded the Order of Merit from the Brazilian government for “notable services ren- dered to Brazil.” From there, she was transferred to Paris, where she served as commer- cial attaché from 1998 to 2000. She retired in 2000 and continued to live alternately in Paris and Mougins, out- side Cannes, until her death. Hadia J. Roberts , 56, the wife of retired FSO Donald A. Roberts, died on July 12 of cancer at their home in Fairfax, Va. An ethnic Pashtun, she was born Hadia Jilani to a prominent family on the Pakistani side of the “Pashtun Belt” that straddles the border be- tween Afghanistan and Pakistan. She earned a master’s degree in English literature and language from the University of Peshawar in Pakistan, and did postgraduate study in political science at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. Following her marriage, she be- came a U.S. citizen and accompanied her husband on assignments in An- kara (1976-1978), Bogota (1978-1980), Bamako (1980-1981), Tunis (1986- 1987), Abu Dhabi (1987-1989), Doha (1989-1992) and Manama (1992- 1997). In 1998, the couple settled in Fairfax, Va., and, from 2000 until her death, she was a linguist and, later, a language analyst for the Department of Justice. Hadia Roberts was active in the American community overseas, serv- ing as president of the American Women’s Club in Bogota and in vari- ous positions, including chairman of the Bahrain School’s Local School Advisory Committee. She participat- ed in choral and drama groups at all of her overseas posts, taught English as a second language in Ankara and Bama- ko, and worked in the consular sec- tions in Doha and Manama. She was active in International Junior Diplo- mats of Washington and, later, in International Diplomats of Washing- ton. She was also a frequent contrib- utor to the newsletter of the Foreign- Born Spouse Network. From 1981 to 1986, Hadia Roberts was a guest lecturer at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute in Ros- slyn, Va., where her lectures on Mus- lim women in South Asian societies formed part of the junior officer training course for FSOs assigned to South Asian countries. During over- seas postings, she developed a series of lectures on different aspects of Islam and the status of women in Islam, delivering these to foreign and expatriate organizations. She also briefed U.S. military personnel assigned to Bahrain. In recent years, she spoke on the topics of Islam, women in Islam and Muslims in America at Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired, the American Association of Foreign Service Spouses, Peace Corps head- quarters, the FBI Academy in Quan- tico, Va., and Yale University, as well as at area churches and the Washing- ton, D.C., branch of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research. Besides her husband, Donald, Hadia Roberts is survived by her mother, three brothers, two sisters, and three sons. Her father, Maj. Gen. M.G. Jilani (Pakistan Army, retired), died in 2004. Charles G. Sommer II , 88, a retired FSO, died on May 22 at his home in Escondido, Calif., of conges- tive heart failure. Mr. Sommer was born in Lake- wood, Ohio, on July 15, 1918. He attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland, graduating in 1940 with a B.B.A. degree. He served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II. He was awarded the War Department Certificate for his partic- ipation in the Manhattan project. Mr. Sommer’s 30-year Foreign Service career was spent at Embassy Mexico City and at the consulates in Tijuana and Merida, and in Brisbane. He served as consul general in Cara- cas. After Mr. Sommers retired, in 1976, he and his wife settled in Escondido, Calif. Mr. Sommer is remembered for his love of family, humor, sports and music. A celebration of his life was held at his home on his birthdate. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Frances, who accompanied him to all of his posts; four children, and their respective spouses; seven grand- sons; one granddaughter; and one great-grandson. N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 71 I N M E M O R Y Send your “In Memory” submission to: FSJedit@afsa.org or fax (202) 338-8244.