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National Peace Corps Association > News > Community News > In Memoriam – December 2012
In Memoriam – December 2012
By Jonathan Pearson on Monday, January 7th, 2013
The wife of an iconic Congressman. An international architect. A dedicated social service provider. A fun-loving creator of delicious curries and accordion music. These were among the many members of the Peace Corps community we lost in December.
Lillian Miles Lewis (1939-2012) served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nigeria in the mid 1960’s. Not long after returning to Atlanta, she met (and later married) civil rights activist and future Congressman John Lewis. Lillian was a chief political advisor and confidant to her husband, and was instrumental in his decision to run for Congress. Her life-long interest in Africa and education led to her appointment as associate director of the Institute for International Affairs and Development at Atlanta University.
Nadine Hogan of Alexandria, Virginia and Key Biscayne, Florida made her mark in the Peace Corps when she was appointed Associate Director of Domestic Operations in the early 1980’s. This appointment was preceded by many years of service to Latin America that began with her involvement in delivering medical supplies from Colorado (where she worked as a nurse) to Guatemala earthquake victims in 1967. She would later serve for six years as Mission Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, for Regional Programs of Central America and Panama. She continued to serve the region until her recent death.
Mary Louise Snowden (1936-2012) of Wilmington, North Carolina held key roles with the Peace Corps. In her case, Mary’s Peace Corps connection began as a volunteer in Fiji. That led to several overseas positions, including Country Director in Nepal. Upon returning to the U.S. Mary was appointed to be Acting Director and Chief Administrative Officer for the Europe, Mediterranean and Asia Regions of Peace Corps.
Karen Leigh DeFelice (1961-2012) volunteered with the Peace Corps in Ecuador. Her educational background in science and agriculture led to her becoming an internationally recognized author and speaker on digestive enzymes and digestive health, supplements and diets. A resident of Des Moine, Iowa, Karen’s work has been credited with assisting thousands of people suffering from conditions including Autism and food intolerances.
Thomas Walsh (1937-2012) of Auburndale, Massachusetts served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in India in the 1960’s. A 1965 graduate of the Washington University School of Architecture, Tom combined his education and his love of the world to serve as project architect for a number of international buildings, including the Aga Kahn Hospital in Pakistan and international clinics in Kuwait and Malaysia.
Michael Denny (1949-2012) was committed to social justice. His life-long work began as an educator, serving in the Peace Corps in Paraguay in the 1970’s. For nearly two decades, he worked at the New North Citizens’ Council in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was appointed Executive Director in 2005, and is credited with a legacy of innovative, sometimes non-traditional services to young children, teens and families.
Corey Hilber (1985-2012) died suddenly in Chicago in December. His life included serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kyrgyzstan and a teacher in Japan. In Chicago, Corey mentored high school students and worked on community gardens, stemming from his interest in food production and urban agriculture. Many remember Corey for his curry-making skills, his accordion playing and his love of family and friends.
Follow this link for news of other recent passings included on the National Peace Corps Association’s In Memoriam page.
Anne Okada Ayala died in Petaluma, California on December 20, 2012. She was an English teacher with the Peace Corps in Ecuador from 1964-1966 – at the time the only woman teacher at Quito’s Polytecnic University. Back in the U.S., she worked in migrant labor camps, was a librarian and taught ESL in elementary and middle schools, and spent three years as a community social worker in Oakland.