Marilyn Janet Holmes

Marilyn Janet Holmes, an award winning documentary producer for the US State Department and a former Director of the State Department’s Family Liaison Office, passed away Tuesday, May 17, at Georgetown University Hospital. She was 82.

She was born in Paris, France, in 1934. When German troops invaded France in 1940, seven year old Marilyn and her French mother, Denise, fled Paris in a mass exodus of French citizens. In 2009, in an interview with her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Ludden of NPR News, she recalled German planes strafing and bombing:

"…. then you get out of your car and you roll into the ditch and you hope for the best. And the miracle….really is that my mother managed to always make it so that it wasn't terrifying. and always answered my questions about everything. And, as a result, I have never had a nightmare in my life about the war."

Eventually, they made it to Lisbon, Portugal , finding safe passage on one of the last ships to the United States.

After her formative years spent in the US and France, she dove into education and cultural exchange, working for the US Information Service in Cambodia and producing documentaries for newly emerging African nations in the late 1950’s. Her films helped tell the stories of newly independent African countries which had successfully formed viable governments in the wake of Colonial rule. After marrying a newly commissioned Foreign Service Officer, Allen Holmes, in 1959, they went on their first assignment to Yaounde, Cameroon, where she was able to complete her documentary projects and begin her adventure in the Foreign Service. She embraced each new post with her insatiable curiosity and sharp language skills; making deep connections and lifelong friends.

From sub-Saharan Africa to assignments in France and Italy, her experience bridging American and international communities and helping families adjust to life overseas, led to her appointment in 1980 as Director of the State Department’s Family Liaison Office. In that job she was responsible for helping families confront a range of problems including cultural and educational assimilation and long periods of separation. After two years she was recognized for her “extraordinary and invaluable contributions to the Foreign Service and the entire foreign affairs community”. One of her major achievements was negotiating reciprocal work agreements with Foreign Governments to allow Foreign Service spouses to work in their countries.

In 1997 Marilyn Holmes received the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Public Service Award for her work as Executive Producer of the State Department’s Video Production Unit.

She was recognized for her innovative television news programs designed to keep employees informed on the latest diplomatic developments. In addition, she produced a widely praised series of educational training films on sensitive issues involving security and health.

Marilyn Janet Strauss is survived by her husband of 56 years, Allen Holmes, her two children, Katherine Holmes-Chuba and Gerry Holmes and four grandchildren, Nick, Olivia, Alexander and Aidan.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Foreign Service Association Student Scholarship Fund.