USAID Press Release: Statement by Andrew S. Natsios on the Death of Laurence "Larry" Foley

Statement by Andrew S. Natsios on the Death of Laurence "Larry" Foley

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-4320
U.S. Embassy in Jordan:
962-6-592-0101

2002-000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2002

Contact: USAID Press Office

Laurence M. Foley, Sr.

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WASHINGTON, DC -- At approximately 7:20 a.m. local time in Amman, Jordan, Laurence M. "Larry" Foley, an employee of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Jordan, was shot and killed outside his home in Amman. The U.S. Embassy in Jordan is working closely with Jordanian officials to investigate this horrible crime.

This morning, the USAID family suffered the loss of one of our dearest members. Larry was murdered as he prepared to make his way to work. Larry Foley had been serving the USAID Mission to Jordan as executive officer since August 2000. Larry was a highly decorated foreign service officer, but will be remembered even more vividly by all those who knew him for his charm, wit and friendship. Our hearts go out to his wife of 34 years, Virginia, their children Megan, Jeremie and Michael, and their two grandsons. Larry had just turned 60 this month.

Photo: Two U.S. Marines and colleagues of U.S. diplomat Laurence Foley carry his coffin, covered with the U.S. flag

Two U.S. Marines and colleagues of U.S. diplomat Laurence Foley carry his coffin, covered with the U.S. flag, as they pass Jordanian honor guards on the way to board a C-141 military airplane at the Marka Airbase in the Jordan capital Amman, Jordan, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002.

Markus Schreiber, Associated Press

Larry worked in public service for more than 37 years, as a Peace Corps volunteer and later Peace Corps Associate Director, working for the rehabilitation of juvenile and adult offenders in Contra Costa County, California, and for the last 14 years with USAID. Just yesterday he received a meritorious honor award for his service to our mission in Jordan. Larry strove to make the world a better place than he found it. No one in USAID embodied the spirit of compassion and brotherhood that underpins our efforts more than Larry Foley. Larry leaves behind devoted friends and colleagues where he served: Washington, D.C. (1988-1990), La Paz, Bolivia (1990-1992), Lima, Peru (1992-1996), Harare, Zimbabawe (1996-2000) and Amman, Jordan (since 2000).

In a moving ceremony this morning at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, several of our Foreign Service National colleagues paid him a loving tribute. They called him a much-respected colleague, a valued friend, a loving husband and father and an inspiration. They spoke the following words, with which I agree entirely: "The cowardly criminal act that took away Larry's life, took away something from within all of us; we will not let it rob us of our sense of brotherhood." Terrorists and criminals cannot destroy the message of public service embodied in a person like Larry Foley.

Our mission to improve the lives of people in the developing world will continue, and the message of the life of Larry Foley will continue to be heard. This is the ultimate tribute that we can pay. Our deepest condolences go out to Virginia, their children and grandchildren, and all that grieve in the USAID family.

In lieu of flowers, the Foley family asks that donations be made to the Missionaries of Charity Home of Love, a Jordanian orphanage. Further details are available from the U.S. Embassy in Jordan.