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February 26, 2006

Robert C. Amerson, former Edward R. Murrow Fellow at The Fletcher School, passed on Saturday, February 25

Robert C. Amerson, 80, died at his home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts on Saturday, February 25, after a very brief illness. He was the loving husband of Nancy Amerson for 53 years.

Born and raised on a farm in South Dakota, he was part of the Great Generation that created and represented the best of American ideals in the past century. He served in WWII and graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1950 through the GI Bill. His talents in languages led him into the field of public relations, first for General Mills, and then, in 1955, for the newly minted United States Information Service (USIS). During his 23-year diplomatic career, he served in Caracas, Venezuela: Milan, Bologna (Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies), and twice in Rome, Italy; Bogota, Colombia; Washington, DC; and Madrid, Spain. He concluded his USIS career as the Edward R. Murrow Fellow at the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Boston. He continued to foster international relations upon his retirement in 1978 as an active member of WorldBoston and as the Executive Director of the International Business Center of New England.

Upon moving to Cape Cod in 1987, he devoted his time to the expression of ideas through language, music and art. He wrote extensively: How Democracy Triumphed Over Dictatorship: Public Diplomacy in Venezuela (The American University Press, 1995), From the Hidewood: Memories of a Dakota Neighborhood (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1996) and numerous published articles, as well as several novels, short stories, and essays. He also pursued a wide range of creative interests including music, photography, and painting. Through his 80th year, he was an avid tennis player, and he spent a decade as a volunteer driver for cancer patients. He was an incisive analyst and a gifted wordsmith who delighted in encouraging the creativity in others. Above all, he was a wonderful husband and father.

In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his daughters, Jane Kelly Amerson Lopez of New York, and Susan Robb Amerson Hartnett of Massachusetts, and his three grandchildren Sam, Connor, and Victoria. He was predeceased by his father, Clarence, and his mother, Bernice, and is survived by his siblings Marie Hawley and Clarice Goodroad, of South Dakota; Elaine Lewis, Mavis Voigt, Jean Brookins, and Richard Amerson, of Minnesota; and two aunts, Zena Steffenhagen and Ruby Casjens of California; and many nieces and nephews and dear friends across the country and around the globe.

A memorial service took place on Cape Cod in February. A celebration of his life will be held in South Dakota in June.

Memorial donations may be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215.

Posted by jessica at February 26, 2006 10:28 AM