NEWSLETTER
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In Memoriam, Fall 2018
Robert Goldmann, who worked in the National Affairs office of the Ford Foundation from 1968 to 1982, died October 7. He was 97.
“We were good friends and colleagues on a number of social justice projects,” said Sanford Jaffe, whose tenure at Ford in the Government and Law program overlapped Goldmann’s time.
“He was a person of extraordinary perspective, good humor and exceptional talent. Bob always knew what the right thing to do was and what to say that would be important and meaningful to the community.”
Mr. Goldmann was born in Germany in 1921 and came to America in 1939. After studying Spanish and journalism at night at Columbia University he became a German-language announcer at the Voice of America, rising eventually to be manager of the news room.
He left to work for the State Department’s Alliance for Progress, a coordinating body for aid and support for Latin America, and then, before joining Ford, worked in the newly formed Human Resources Administration in New York City.
When he left Ford he ran a professional foundation for three smaller institutions for the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, and then went to Paris to be European director of the Anti-Defamation League. While in Europe he wrote a column for the International Herald-Tribune.
He continued to write after he retired, contributing columns and analyses on diverse political and social subjects to publications in this country and Europe.
His wife of 66 years, Eva, died in 2014. He is survived by a son and two daughters.
Enid Schoettle, who in an 18-year career at the Ford Foundation oversaw a multitude of programs in international affairs with a focus on multi-lateral global initiatives, most notably nuclear disarmament, died October 18 at the age of 79.
Ms. Schoettle began working at Ford in 1976 as a program officer in the European and International Affairs office, and in 1981 was named program officer in charge of International Affairs.
She became director of the International Affairs program in 1987, then director and senior counsel on foreign relations in 1991 until leaving Ford in 1994.
She graduated with honors from Radcliffe College, where she studied history, and taught political science at Swarthmore College before studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earning a doctorate in political science. She taught at the University of Minnesota before going to work at the Ford Foundation.
After leaving Ford she went to work for the federal government as a member of the National Intelligence Council as its first National Intelligence Officer for Global and Multilateral Issues, receiving the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal in 1996 for her work there.
For two years she worked at the United Nations as chief of the Advocacy and External Relations Unit of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, then returned to the federal government in 1998 as Consultant and Special Advisor to the chairman of the National Intelligence Council.
After she retired in 2004 she became a member of the Board of Directors of the Henry L. Stimson Center, the Advisory Board of Women in International Security, the American Society of International Law and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Her first marriage ended in divorce and in 1990 she married Herbert S. Okun, who had been United States ambassador to East Germany and deputy ambassador to the United Nations. He died in 2011. She is survived by two sons and six grandchildren.
Patrick Corrigan, who worked in a variety of positions in the Foundation’s Comptroller’s Office for 34 years and was an early member of the fledgling LAFF Society, died July 1. He was 90 years old.
Mr. Corrigan, a graduate of St. John’s University, began working at Ford in 1960 as an accountant. Through successive appointments until his retirement in 1994, he was senior accountant, assistant chief accountant, manager of Programs and Payables Accounting, manager of Grants and Disbursements and manager of Grants Accounting.
After retirement he volunteered for several organizations, “fueled,” noted his obituary, “by social activity”. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Cornerstone Group, the Golden Ages, the Closter (N.J.) Seniors and the Mr. and Mrs. Club.
He loved to travel, noted the obituary, and indulged frequently in his love of Broadway shows, casino trips and story-telling. “He was well-known,” it said, “for his good company, bargain findings, driving directions, bad jokes and generous cocktails.”
His wife of 45 years, Margaret, died in 2001. He was pre-deceased by one daughter, and two others and a son survive him, as do five grandchildren.
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