Hal Fleming

FLEMING HAROLD S. FLEMING Diplomat, Author, Humanitarian – Hal Fleming died suddenly of heart failure on February 4, 2014 at home in Great Falls, Virginia, with his devoted wife Arlene by his side. He was born on April 21, 1931 in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Harold S. and Edith Wormley Fleming. Hal was a loving husband, father and grandfather, a loyal friend, and a man of many interests and talents which he pursued enthusiastically throughout his life. From his West Indian heritage and grandfather, Dr. Richard S. Fleming, he developed a passion for all things British: literature, history, culture and sport, tennis being his favorite. His household was not complete without an English Springer Spaniel. As a young boy, Hal was fascinated by the tented railroad circus of the 1940s which inspired him over the years to build an elaborate, intricate model circus and to become an expert on the history of the circus in America. He also undertook construction on a larger scale, renovating houses on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and elsewhere. Hal was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining at his homes in Great Falls, Virginia and on Longboat Key, Florida, especially at his Thanksgiving table. His beautiful garden was the setting for celebrations and parties. Hal was a prolific writer with published works including several short stories and poems and two novels: The Brides’ Fair, a story of intrigue and action set in Morocco; and Once Upon A Storm, a Civil Rights era mystery. A 1949 graduate of Mount Hermon School, Hal received his B.A. from Brown University with distinction in 1953, and an M.A. in English Literature from Columbia University in 1955. At Mount Hermon and Brown, he participated in sports and choral groups. From 1958 – 65, while employed by the research division of Forbes Magazine, he was a lecturer in English Literature at City College of New York. He was a founding member of Ten, an informal fund-raising group supporting various civil rights organizations. Hal had a distinguished career as a diplomat, international development manager, and humanitarian. In 1966, he joined the U.S. Peace Corps staff where he directed public affairs and recruiting at a time of Civil Rights and Anti-Vietnam War turbulence, and then served as country director in Cote D’Ivoire, West Africa. During two years as Executive Director of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the mid-1970s, he accomplished major management reforms. Upon returning to the Foreign Service, Hal joined the U.S. Agency for International Development from 1978 – 83 as Mission Director in Morocco where he introduced programs for family planning and women in development. He assisted the Moroccan government in establishing one of the first institutes for renewable energy in the region, an activity that continues. As counselor for development at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations from 1983 – 86, Hal negotiated U.S. positions on a wide range of issues including economic development and environmental protection. At UNICEF from 1986 – 92, he oversaw new child survival initiatives and helped launch major humanitarian assistance programs including Operation Life-line Sudan. From 1994 – 97, at the U.S. Department of State, as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organizations, Hal was in charge of policy and management for U.S. support of 80 U.N. and other international agencies. He created and supervised development of Relief Web, an Internet-based information management system for disaster response. Hal’s work involved extensive travel and garnered numerous awards, including the USAID Administrator’s Meritorious Achievement Award in 1985, and the U.S. Committee for UNICEF President’s Award in 1989. Throughout his career, he was appreciated as a kind and generous mentor. In addition to Arlene, his wife of 38 years, Hal is survived by their daughter Laura, by three sons, Douglass, Craig and Harold Gordon, from a prior marriage to Patricia S. Fleming, a grandson, Max, a sister, Norene Fleming, and a nephew, Toure Lee. A son, David, died at the age of three in 1981. A memorial gathering for family, friends and colleagues is scheduled for April 27 from 4 to 6 p.m., at DACOR Bacon House, 1801 F Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006. Contributions in Hal’s memory may be made to the DACOR Bacon House Foundation or to the U.S. Committee for UNICEF.A memorial gathering for family, friends and colleagues is scheduled for April 27 from 4 to 6 p.m., at DACOR Bacon House, 1801 F Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006. Contributions in Hal’s memory may be made to the DACOR Bacon House Foundation or to the U.S. Committee for UNICEF