Anthony C.E. Quainton ’55

Tony, once described as the perfect diplomat with a natural bent for languages, exuberance, and zest for life, died July 31, 2023. He received seven diplomatic appointments from four presidents, Republican and Democrat; served on every inhabited continent; was director general of the foreign service; served on the board of Princeton AlumniCorps; and received the Class of 1955 Award in 1994.

Tony was born April 4, 1934, in Seattle. At Andover, he was assistant track manager and active in debate and dramatics. At Princeton, he majored in history and the Special Program in the Humanities, joined Key and Seal, was a member of the cricket team, and played IAA club ping-pong. His senior-year roommate was Roger Lloyd.

After graduation and as a Marshall scholar, he met and married fellow Marshall scholar Susan Long, who survives him, as do their three children, Katherine ’82, Eden, and Elizabeth ’89; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

During his 37-year diplomatic career, Tony served as assistant secretary for diplomatic security and director of the Office for Combating Terrorism. He also directed and performed in amateur theatrical productions ranging from The Crucible to The Odd Couple. Following the foreign service, he taught in the School of International Service at American University.

He was deeply committed to Christian unity and interfaith cooperation and wrote two books narrating his life and spiritual journey, Eye on the World: A Life in International Service and Reflections of a Roaming Catholic.