104 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL clippings to her grandchildren once they moved away from Washington, D.C. Ms. Mak was predeceased by her husband in 2018. She is survived by her daughter, Helen “Holly” Dayton Mak, and her husband, Marc Hersh; grandchildren Emma C. Hersh (and her husband, Jean Doyle) and Christopher J. Hersh (and his wife, Tammy Saah); and four greatgrandchildren, Aiden Doyle-Hersh, Cullen Doyle-Hersh, Charlotte Hersh, and Marcella Hersh. n Thomas Glenn Martin, 88, a retired Foreign Service officer, died on June 17, 2025, in Shepherdstown, W.Va. Mr. Martin was born on February 28, 1937, in Clarksville, Tenn. He and his elder brother Jack were raised by their mother, Glenavis Rice—an English professor and librarian at the University of Alabama—and her parents in Northport, Ala. He spent his summers in Plantersville, Ala., at the family home of his father, Marvin Oscar. Encouraged to excel in school, he grew up surrounded by books. At age 18, Mr. Martin served two years in the U.S. Army in Hawaii. After serving, he studied at the University of Alabama, where he met his wife, Laura “Lolly” Spencer. In 1960 they married after each had graduated, he with a degree in history. Lolly, his lifelong muse and occasional director, urged Mr. Martin to take the Foreign Service test after a professor suggested that a career as a diplomat might suit his intellect and curiosity about the world beyond Alabama. In 1963 Mr. Martin entered the Foreign Service. It was at a pivotal moment in history shaped by Vietnam protests, the Kennedy and King assassinations, and civil rights activism. In 1964, fresh out of Portuguese language school, he was assigned to Rio de Janeiro. After this first post, the Martins, now with a young son, went on to more than a dozen postings, including Trinidad and Tobago (1966-1967), Mozambique (1967-1969), the Netherlands (1974-1977), Türkiye (1979-1981), Brazil (again in 1981-1984), Guyana (19841986), Belgium (1986-1989), Austria (1992-1995), Alabama (1995-1996), and several tours in Washington, D.C. (19691974; 1977-1979; 1989-1992). Along the way, they welcomed two daughters. Regarded by peers as an exceptional diplomat, Mr. Martin was observant, ethical, and unflappable under pressure. He also spoke Dutch and Turkish. Mr. Martin said the writing and editing skills he gained as a young journalist in the Army served him well in the Foreign Service, where he reported on political and labor issues and interviewed parliamentarians and union leaders. His last assignments included positions as deputy chief of mission in Georgetown (Guyana), consul general in Antwerp, and deputy chief of mission to the United Nations Organizations in Vienna. At every overseas post, Mr. Martin and Lolly made deep, lasting friendships. Wherever they lived, the Martins created welcoming homes, where good food and conversation were in abundance. As a father and grandfather, he attended every concert, game, recital, and graduation he could. He never hesitated to jump on a sled, run into the surf, play golf, or throw a disc. In 1996 Mr. Martin retired from the State Department. He was a mentor to many and beloved by colleagues. His adventures around the world continued. He and Lolly often exchanged or rented houses for months at a time, inviting friends and family to join. They were expert guides, leading visitors to museums, archaeological sites, rural roads, and more. At home, he brewed beer, baked crusty loaves of bread, and made preserves from the garden. His grandchildren recall countless Scrabble games in which he ruthlessly challenged perfectly fine words like “garteling” and “cherp” while commanding the triple-word tiles. The Martins retired to Shepherdstown, W.Va., where Mr. Martin served on the board of Friends of the Shepherdstown Library and used his diplomatic skills during two terms on the town council. In their 70s, the couple relocated to Cheraw, S.C., settling in Enfield, a circa1815 “upcountry farmhouse.” For the next decade, they rose early to wander among azaleas, gardenias, crepe myrtles, and fruit trees. Mr. Martin is survived by his spouse, Lolly, and their three children, Thomas Glenn Jr. (and spouse Maria), Anne Holt (and spouse Tyler), Susan Akpinar (and spouse Bahadir); grandchildren William, Cameron, Lillian, Daniel, Theodore, and Alexander; and many nieces and nephews. In honor of Mr. Martin, consider donating to your local public broadcasting station. n Andrew Charles Parker, 74, a retired Senior Foreign Service officer, passed away on December 23, 2024, in Miami Beach after a long struggle with myelofibrosis. The eldest child of Martin and Caroline Parker, Mr. Parker was born on August 9, 1950, in Briarcliff Manor, Westchester, N.Y. He attended Briarcliff High School before transferring to Wilbraham Academy to complete his high school studies. Mr. Parker went on to study at Duke University, where he was a political activist, writing for the Duke Chronicle and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODIyMDU=