THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2026 91 n Harry Obst, 94, the retired chief German-language interpreter to six U.S. presidents, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, at The Harbor in Stanardsville, Va. Mr. Obst was born on March 4, 1932, in Königsberg, East Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). He fled communist East Germany in 1949 at age 17 and worked briefly as a coal miner in West Germany before earning a high school diploma and studying languages, translation, and law at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Graduating in 1956, he immigrated to the United States in 1957, becoming a citizen in 1962 after working in private industry. In 1965 Mr. Obst joined the State Department as a diplomatic interpreter, specializing in consecutive and simultaneous German–English interpretation for high-stakes meetings, including private discussions in the Oval Office and economic summits. He interpreted for and traveled with President Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton and was often the sole American present in sensitive bilateral talks with leaders like Helmut Schmidt, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Willy Brandt. From 1984 until he retired in 1997, Mr. Obst served as director of the Office of Language Services, overseeing interpreter training and operations while continuing to take occasional White House assignments by special request. In retirement, he lectured on U.S. politics and culture in Europe (until 2008), trained interpreters at institutions like Inlingua and in Mongolia, and published the 2010 book White House Interpreter: The Art of Interpretation, offering firsthand accounts of presidential diplomacy and the nuances of the interpreting profession. He then toured, doing book signings and speaking engagements, mostly on cruise ships. During his diplomatic career and after, Mr. Obst was a determined advocate of elevating the standards of interpreter training in the United States. He urged the establishment of dedicated university programs to professionalize the field and the adoption of strict certification standards, once stating famously that “accurate interpretation is no less sophisticated, complex, and intellectually demanding than brain surgery.” In addition to merit awards from Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on his retirement, Mr. Obst received Austria’s Grand Decoration of Merit in 1972 for his contributions to international understanding. He loved music, especially classical, opera, and New Orleans jazz. Also an avid baseball fan, Mr. Obst created “Harry’s Grand Slam” baseball game in 1962. It was produced by Out of the Box Publishing, which re-released it in 2007. Mr. Obst will be dearly missed by his family, friends, caregivers, and colleagues. Family members are especially grateful to Robert and Karen Field for their kindness and friendship. He was survived by his wife of 61 years, Elnina, for only two months (see her entry below). They are survived by their two daughters, Mattina Michele Lloyd and Jennifer Lynn Shidler, and grandchild Cara Lynn Shidler. Mr. Obst is also survived by his daughter Christina from an earlier relationship, and grandchildren Estelle and Elsa. Donations in his honor may be made to Medi Home Hospice and St. Labre Indian School. n Elnina Deanna Luizzi Obst, 88, wife of the late Harry Obst (see his entry above), passed away on August 12, 2026, within two months of her husband, at Brooks-Howell Home and Hospice in Asheville, N.C. Born on June 6, 1938, in Johnson City, N.Y., Ms. Obst grew up in Endicott, N.Y., surrounded by a strong Italian community. Her parents, Vincent and Elnora, ran Luizzi Pharmacy on Washington Avenue and instilled in her a sense of family and the values of kindness and generosity. She graduated in 1956 from Union Endicott High School, having served as a class vice president and been crowned homecoming queen. Ms. Obst attended Bucknell University and then graduated from Harpur College with a bachelor’s degree in social psychology. Moving to Washington, D.C., she worked as a legal secretary and eventually met Harry Obst. The couple married on October 23, 1965, and settled in Fairfax County, Va., where Ms. Obst supported her husband’s career at the Department of State and raised their two daughters in a loving home. They often traveled and spent holidays with Dr. Diether Posser, the finance minister of North Rhine Westphalia, and his wife, Elsa. Ms. Obst created long-standing relationships in her neighborhood and was very involved with her children’s school activities and teaching English to nonEnglish-speaking students. She enjoyed reading, music, and gardening. Family members and friends recall her compassion, kindness, light, and grace. Ms. Obst was predeceased by her husband, Harry, and sister, Anita Joan Angelico. In addition to the couple’s daughters and granddaughter, Ms. Obst is survived by her brother, Vincent Lawrence Luizzi (and spouse James); her niece, Heidi
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