92 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Marie Luizzi (and spouse Jeff Lewis); and many cousins, including Theresa La Buzzetta, Joe Lofaro, Mary Jane Malora, Francis Pezzolla, Marilyn Murphy, and Rick Sotis and their families. Ms. Obst was a strong advocate for literacy and combating hunger, so donations in her honor may be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Feeding America. n Norkay F. Sherpa, 64, the spouse of retired Foreign Service medical provider Dr. Mari C. Sullivan, passed away at home in Seattle, Wash., on April 9, 2026, after a courageous yearlong battle with a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer. Mr. Sherpa was born in the Himalayas of Nepal in 1962. In 1988 Mr. Sherpa met Dr. Mari C. Sullivan, DNP, MSN, ARNP, a member of the U.S. Foreign Service, and the couple married in 1989. Together, they built a life of international service, living and working in Romania, Tunisia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, and the Philippines. Raised among the world’s highest mountains, Mr. Sherpa never lost his love of climbing. An accomplished high-altitude mountaineering guide, he helped lead the Romanian national mountaineering team to a successful summit of Mount Everest, sharing both his expertise and his deep respect for the mountains he called home. At every embassy assignment, Mr. Sherpa earned the respect and affection of colleagues through his unwavering work ethic, kindness, and willingness to help wherever he was needed. Serving primarily with the Regional Security Office and the Diplomatic Pouch, Mr. Sherpa traveled extensively, training local staff on inventory management systems and supporting embassy operations with professionalism and dedication. Yet, as family and friends recall, it was his generous spirit that people remember most. Whether preparing food for diplomatic events, coaching Little League baseball, or quietly stepping in whenever an extra pair of hands was needed, he made every community he joined stronger. Above all, Mr. Sherpa treasured his family. He lived a life defined by adventure, service, and quiet strength and is remembered by family, friends, and colleagues around the world for his warmth, humility, bold spirit, and unwavering devotion to those he loved. Mr. Sherpa is survived by his beloved wife, Mari, and two sons, James Sherpa, MD, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Will Sherpa, a civil engineer, of Seattle, Wash. n Elizabeth Ann Henrichsen Smith, 92, spouse of the late Foreign Service Officer Jackson Lynn Smith, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla., with her daughter, Pamela, by her side. Born on August 6, 1933, in Springfield, Tenn., Ms. Smith was the daughter of Sigurd and Anna Snowden Henrichsen. She had an independent spirit and a natural affinity for animals, especially horses, and grew up caring for and show-jumping horses in Springfield. Ms. Smith began her studies at Duke University, then transferred to the University of Florida, where she earned a BA in interior design. In Gainesville, she met Jackson Lynn Smith of Baton Rouge, La. He proposed, asking not only for her hand but also for her partnership in a future shaped by service in the U.S. Foreign Service. The couple moved to Washington, D.C., and were married at the National Cathedral on November 25, 1955. While committing to a life of public service, Ms. Smith also pursued her life-
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