The Foreign Service Journal, January 2004

direction, and joined the Foreign Service in July 1946. Mr. Owen’s first posting was to the Dominican Republic, where he served as the administrative officer for the embassy, then in Ciudad Trujillo. Following training at Middlebury College, Princeton and Columbia Universities, he became a specialist in Soviet and Eastern European affairs. During the 25 years he was with the State Department, Mr. Owen served overseas in Finland, Germany, Moscow-USSR (twice), and Yugo- slavia. While in Moscow the second time, he was the officer-in-charge for internal political affairs. During his last overseas posting he was the con- sul general in Zagreb, from 1966 to 1970. He finished his career in Washington, D.C., working in the Bureau of European Affairs. He was country director for Bulgaria, Ro- mania, Yugoslavia and Albania until he retired in 1971. Bob and Mary Owen raised four children, each born in a different country: Jim, the eldest, was born in the Domican Republic; Mary Ellen in Germany; John in Bethesda, Md.; and Jeff, the youngest, in the Soviet Union. After retiring, the Owens moved to West Long Branch, where they occu- pied on old farm that had belonged to Mary’s uncle, former West Long Branch mayor Dr. Owen Woolley. They became deeply involved in the community, investing countless hours in their church, Old First United Methodist Church, and in service to environmental organizations and caus- es. Mr. Owen was most proud of his work on behalf of the Manasquan Watershed Planning group, and the Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater. He also became deeply involved with the Alumni Association of Rutgers University, and devoted himself to supporting the social and charitable activities of the class of 1941, most recently as the president of the class. He was grateful for his many friends in the Foreign Service, in the environmental movement and at Rutgers and kept in touch with them. 74 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 4 I N M E M O R Y Need to Sound the Alarm About Something? Why not write a “Speaking Out” column for the Foreign Service Journal ? “Speaking Out” is your forum to advocate policy, regula- tory or statutory changes to the Foreign Service. These can be based on per- sonal experience with an injustice or convey your hard-won insights into a for- eign affairs-related issue. Writers are encouraged to take strong stands, but all factual claims must be supported and documented. Submissions should be approximately 1,500 words in length and should be sent via e-mail to journal@afsa.org. Please note that all submissions to the Journal must be approved by the Editorial Board and are subject to editing for style, length and format. Continued on page 76