Arthur Close died June 19, 2010, in his home in McLean, Va., of Parkinson’s disease and a blood disorder. He was 85.
Art was born in Beirut, Lebanon, where his father taught at the American University of Beirut, and came to Princeton from Deerfield Academy. In the summer of 1943 he joined the infantry. On Easter Sunday 1945 he was captured by the Germans but escaped, returning to Princeton in March 1946. He earned his bachelor’s degree in SPIA and a master’s degree in Oriental Languages and Literatures in 1950.
Art spent the next 28 years with the CIA and was station chief in Tunis, Tunisia, and Tripoli, Libya. After retiring from the agency in 1978 he became a manager and editor of Columbia Books and Information Services in Washington. In 1984 he became Columbia’s president, and in 1995 he retired.
Art came from a long line of Princetonians, including his grandfather, father, four uncles, two cousins, and his brothers, Ralph E. ’44 and Raymond H. ’51.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marcia “Billie” Smith Close; a son, Thomas W.; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Stephen.