The author Warren Bennis, one of the founders of modern leadership studies, once wrote "Leaders have extraordinary taste, which makes them more curators than creators. They are appreciators of talent and nurturers of talent, and they have the ability to recognize valuable ideas.” Bruce Wharton was a nurturer, a curator, a mentor, and a true leader. He guided me through some important decisions in my own career, and with his rare blend of humility and authority, he guided hundreds of other FSOs and helped them thrive and shine. His untimely death produced an unprecedented outflowing of heartfelt tributes from colleagues and friends. I think the best way to remember Bruce is my remembering the many lives he made better --
Bruce often was the brightest one in the room, but never acted like it (AMB Mark Asquino);
Bruce was an exceptional support to Ambassadors in the field when he worked in D.C. and a tremendous diplomat when he was in the field (AMB Michael Battle);
He was such a wonderful man and an exceptional diplomat (AMB Reuben Brigety);
The Foreign Service family has lost a giant of a diplomat with Bruce’s untimely passing (AMB Arnold Chacon);
I have no words. The Earth has lost an extraordinary human (AMB Robin Diallo);
A beautiful man. Kind, smart, and tireless. We are all less without him (AMB Troy Fittrell);
Bruce was not only a brilliant, talented, dedicated diplomat, he was a wonderful person. I am eternally grateful for his collegial support during our years together during Prague’s intense Velvet Revolution (AMB Tom Hull);
As diplomats, we all seek to make the world a better place in ways large and small. Bruce did so (AMB Deborah Malac);
Bruce was an extraordinary diplomat. But, he also was an extraordinary human being. He left every place better and invested in the next generation of diplomats and young people around the world (AMB Jean Manes);
Bruce was an outstanding diplomat and a warm, kind human being (AMB Deborah McCarthy);
What a mensch! May his memory be a blessing (AMB Virginia Palmer);
Bruce embodied the concepts of diplomacy, leadership, and humanity (AMB Michael Pelletier);
RIP to a truly great human (AMB Eric Rubin);
Bruce was a wonderful partner when we were working in the two “Z” countries. I won’t soon forget our joint project, “Biking Across Borders” to highlight conservation and HIV awareness. Bruce came with a “Bison” bike — that I think he built himself. It weighed a ton but he just kept at it. Bruce was a consummate PD innovator. We made trek with Zambian and Zimbabwean youth idols to attract maximum audiences in the demographic we most wanted to reach. It was so much fun (AMB Mark Storella);
Bruce was an incredible mentor and friend. He will be deeply missed by many around the world (AMB Eric Stromayer)
Bruce has always been a guiding light and a voice of reason in every circumstance. A great boss and a great friend; a guiding light. The world's a little darker now (Donna Winton);
The world would be a better place with the light of his personality, mind, and soul still shining (Peter Kovach);
I still see him in memory as the most promising JOT ever. His promise was fulfilled, to our personal and national benefit (former Counselor of USIA Donna Oglesby);
I was so glad when he took over the R role and brought his expertise & compassion to that role. We need leaders of his caliber now more than ever (former DAS Stacy White);
Bruce was an exceptional diplomat, colleague, leader, and human being. We were truly fortunate to know and work with him (former R Senior Media Advisor Dan Sreebny);
So good at it, the job, the relationships, and the looking-after of his people. I was lucky to know him (former PAO John Warner);
Bruce was an eloquent and humble diplomat and a consummate practitioner of public diplomacy. The FSO community lost a star (former senior FSO Aggie Kuperman);
He was someone we could all look up to. And one of the kindest colleagues as well (PDCA Vice President Michelle Logsdon);
Everyone who met Bruce left a better person because of the meeting (FSO Joe Witters);
He was an excellent leader -- thoughtful, strategic, and always supportive of his staff. He will be missed (former IIP Director Jon Schaffer);
We were JOT classmates. It was clear from the start that he was a decent and wonderful human being, and that he would be a great diplomat. At our end-of-orientation party, we voted him "Most likely to become an ambassador" (former FSO Brooks Robinson);
A kind and decent man who embodied all that was good about our profession (State Department/Judiciary Branch liaison John Jasik);
"St. Bruce," as he was sometimes called in the building, was the best of us -- a brilliant man, a great mentor, a good friend, and a public diplomat who did well by doing good (former FSO Denise Jobin-Welch);
Bruce was a giant, but a gentle giant. Wise and caring, always putting our country's best interests firmly in view (former FSO Stephen Guice);
He was such a fun, confident, kind, and interesting person to be around. I also had hoped to see him again, and perhaps play some guitar tunes with him (Stephen Kaufman of the "Lost Agency Ramblers," a Department of State band that Bruce sometimes jammed with);
His was a voice of reason in a world that sorely needed it (former FSO Stephen Perry);
Bruce represented the best of us in the Foreign Service. His keen intelligence, empathy, judgment, and sense of humor made him a treasured colleague and fine friend. I know Bruce leaves behind literally hundreds -- if not thousands -- of people who admired and loved him as a professional and profoundly decent human being (former Deputy Assistant Secretary Betsy Whitaker);
Bruce was a gentle, caring soul, a strong leader, and a dedicated public servant. He made the world better for us all (PDCA Board Member Lynne Weil);
I first met Bruce and Julie when he was a JOT in Santiago - I was utterly charmed and impressed. He was the real deal of talent, dedication, smarts, and professionalism (former IIP Director Judith Siegel);
There are too many adjectives to apply to such an incredible person. Let me add honest, steadfast, ethical, bold, strong, empathetic, and compassionate. I could name hundreds more, but on top of it all, he was one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met (former FSO Audrey Dumentat);
Bruce understood Murrow's “last three feet” -- one person talking to another -- and lived that every day. He combined wisdom, kindness, and grace in a way few could. He made our profession better (Robert Palladino, Senior Bureau Official, NEA);
A brilliant mind, quick wit, and caring personality, combined with moral courage in a man so talented that he made his own guitars. I never heard him raise his voice, but when he spoke, everyone listened. Bruce is one of the very few people whose name brings a smile to the lips of all who have ever had the privilege of knowing him. No questions, no controversies, no "yes, buts..." QEPD, my friend... (former FSO Greg Adams);
I had the honor of working for him as a special assistant when he was the Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. His calm presence, his professionalism, his patience, and his humility helped our office and the public diplomacy community transition smoothly and with confidence from one presidential administration to another. He valued clear, internal communication and transparency, but most importantly, he treated everyone with dignity and respect. (FSO Olga Bashbush);
I benefited enormously from Bruce's wisdom and mentorship during a challenging assignment. His experience, insight, and -- above all -- the humanity he brought to every interaction will be sorely missed (former GEC Coordinator Daniel Kimmage);
Ambassador Wharton was an amazing mentor. He encouraged officers to get out and engage with the public so that American policy positions were understood, even if audiences were skeptical or in disagreement. He also encouraged creativity and reasoned risk-taking. He was a great diplomat and a great guy (FSO Matt Goshko);
Bruce was one of the greats of diplomacy: Wise, calm, clear, visionary, compassionate, and with the ability to motivate others to achieve more than they thought possible. I am indebted to him for bringing me back to the State Department and giving me brilliant counsel. Bruce was fun to work with! He always focused on what mattered most in diplomacy, people. The people in the profession, the people in other countries, the American people (FSO Marianne Scott);
Bruce might have been the kindest person in the Foreign Service (former FSO Chris Degnan);
Bruce was an extraordinary leader for public diplomacy, but also just a very decent and kind colleague - I will remember and endeavor to share that spirit (Brett Bruen, former White House Director of Global Engagement);
None better than DB Wharton in our business - his humility, candor, encouragement - is a model for generations (former FSO Mark Biedlingmaier);
Bruce was my model for serving as a diplomat and living as a person (former FSO Scott Rasmussen);
Bruce was a giant. I loved working for him. Every day he lifted up the people around him and helped us all be better and kinder (AF Deputy Assistant Secretary Will Stevens);
I worked for David Bruce Wharton when he was U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe. He had a rare gift of making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued, no matter their role. That was his greatness. He was different. He led with humility, listened deeply, and connected genuinely with everyone. On a personal level, he believed in me. He trusted me. And we shared a mutual respect I will always carry with me. Though American by birth, he was African at heart. He didn’t just represent, he built bridges and changed lives. He shaped my career and touched my life in ways I will never forget. An extraordinary mind. An extraordinary heart. An irreplaceable soul. (Washington Katema, Locally Employed Staff member, US Embassy Zimbabwe);
He was a mentor and friend and motorcycling partner. I remember admiring his courage in facing down protesters trying to spoil an event in Zimbabwe with grace and tact. I remember riding the backroads of VA with him and learning about motorcycle technique, diplomacy, and life. He made a positive difference in this world, with kindness and conviviality (former FSO Douglas Johnston);
I was fortunate to work with Bruce at State and he couldn't have been more kind, patient, accommodating, and thoughtful. A few years ago I was in Asheville and visited Bruce and his wife - he was thriving there (and very proud of his motorcycle collection). No one will replace him but I hope we have more diplomats in his mold (former Africa Director at USIP Jon Temin);
I met him for the first time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zimbabwe, and he was my first experience ever working with a diplomat and inspired my career (Anu Prattipati, Charge d'Affaires, Pristina);
Bruce was incredibly kind and a powerhouse in public diplomacy (former Africa Advisor to the Vice President Safia Mohamoud);
To Zimbabweans, Mr. Wharton was one of us. We will always remember him (Ronald J., Zimbabwe).Karl Stoltz is co-president of the Public Diplomacy Council of America and a retired Foreign Service Officer.
