Richard Carlson, who served as director of the Voice of America during the final years of the Cold War, died March 24, 2025, at his home in Boca Grande, FL, at age 84. Carlson, who previously worked as a USIA spokesman, led VOA from 1986 to 1991, a period that saw the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of Communist rule in Eastern Europe, and the impending breakup of the Soviet Union. He subsequently served as U.S. ambassador to the Seychelles for one year and later headed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Just days before his death Carlson became one of the nine former VOA directors who signed a letter sent to the chairs and ranking members of the relevant House and Senate Appropriations and Foreign Relations subcommittees urging Congress to “act quickly” to save VOA.
 
Jane Hughes, 87, a longtime employee of the Voice of America, died February 1, 2025, in Washington DC.  During her career at VOA she hosted a well-received health and wellness program for African audiences, reporting on such issues as safe food storage and clean drinking water in developing nations.  
 
Steven Kerchoff, an Information Resource Officer with the State Department, died March 16, 2025, at his home in Santa Fe, NM, at age 64. During his career Kerchoff served as the Pretoria-based IRO for southern African nations. In June 2010 he was one of the featured speakers at an American Library Association conference held at the Library of Congress on the topic of “Careers in Federal Libraries.” In retirement Kerchoff continued to travel extensively and to perform in choirs.
 
Leslie Lisle, a USIA Foreign Service officer, died April 13, 2025, at his home in Woodstock, CT. He was 91. A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Florida State University, Lisle taught English in Marseille, France, for a year before teaching French for several years at a high school in Norfolk, VA.  During his USIA career he served at several posts in Africa and the Middle East. After his retirement in 1986 Lisle stayed active by playing the cello in different community orchestras, studying Latin, running road races and marathons, learning to drive a motorcycle, and singing in choirs.
 
Odele Mouzon, a career USIA employee, passed away January 10, 2025, at her home in Washington DC.  She was 98.
 
Paul Starzynski, 86, died February 16, 2025, in Arlington, VA. A career Foreign Service officer, he served in South Korea, Japan, and India. His Washington assignments included work on the audiovisual staff of USIA’s Information Center Service bureau. Starzynski retired in 1993 after almost 31 years of service with the Agency.