Erland Howard Heginbotham

Erland Howard Heginbotham, founding Director General of the Foreign Commercial Service (1980-82), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (1977-80), and economic specialist in East Asia in a long Foreign Service and post-governmental career, died of cancer at age 90 on June 2, 2022.

Having passed the FSO exam in 1955, immediately after his Stanford University (phi beta kappa) years and a year at Institute des Sciences Politique (“Science Po”), Mr. Heginbotham was young for the sizeable responsibilities in support of his first overseas assignment, postwar Korea. Later overseas assignments included Liberia (1960-62), Vietnam (tough duty in1963-1967), and Indonesia (1971-75), where he and his staff helped over 300 American firms to establish direct sales and investment presence in Indonesia and where banking, oil, and other resources provided reportorial and diplomatic challenges.

Between overseas assignments Heginbotham was assigned to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the State Department Office of International Monetary Affairs, and Brookings as an Executive Fellow. He also pursued graduate work at M.I.T, and in the late 1960’s participated with other young FSOs in what became known as the “Bray Board” (aka “Young Turks”) in AFSA (American Foreign Service Association), who vigorously worked toward greater professionalism of the Foreign Service and the Association.

Recognition of his contributions included an honorary Doctor of Laws from Concordia University Saint Paul and the Bronze Medal Award of the United States Department of Commerce. Following his governmental career, he continued energetic contributions to international and educational organizations. He founded and directed Gateway Japan, a clearinghouse of information on Japan and Northeast Asia, co-sponsored by the National Policy Association and the University of Maryland; he was also Director of the China Agriculture Strategy Project at the Institute for Global Chinese Affairs, University of Maryland, and, for ten years, he taught graduate classes in Asian economic development at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). In the mix of post-State Department activities he survived a brief stint with a private venture (highly reported in1982 Post stories): IRIS (International Reporting and Information Systems), after which he had another and happier experience working for Senators Percy and Mathias on international economic policy for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He wooed his wife of 62 years, Eleanor Elson, by singing to her and in amateur musicals (he starred in “Brigadoon”), but he shelved the pleasure of music until retirement. In his 70s and 80’s, he sang in four music groups: Encore Creativity Chorale, the Capital Singers (barbershop harmony group), and two Presbyterian Church choirs. These rounded out a life that began with violin playing and singing in school groups in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was born in 1931 to Howard and Lois Heginbotham. Utah also engendered a love of skiing and, perhaps, the sense of adventure that led to motorcycle transport in dangerous Saigon, around the islands of Indonesia, and through the traffic of Washington.

Along with his wife Eleanor, Erland is survived by daughter Robin Carol of Saint Paul, MN; son Eric, Eric’s wife Katsue, and three grandsons, Naoki, Hiroki, and Kazuki of Lexington MA; brother Stanley, his wife Constance, and nephew Arlen; and niece Melanie. They and his friends will remember Erland’s far-ranging, probing mind; his quick wit; that lovely tenor voice; his willingness to help others (he served on several boards); and his readiness to jump joyfully into unlikely, vigorous escapades around the world.

The Memorial Service for Erland will take place at National Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 18. Donations in his memory may be sent to National Presbyterian Church (Archives Fund): 4101 Nebraska Avenue N.W.; Washington, D.C. or DACOR Bacon House Foundation: https://dacorbacon.org/support_our_mission.php.