Frank G. Wisner ’61

The class suffered a major loss when Frenk died of lung cancer Feb. 24, 2025, in Mill Neck, NY.

Born in New York City, he came to us from Woodberry Forest School and a year at Rugby School in England. At Princeton he majored in Oriental studies, joined Whig-Clio and Theatre Intime, and took his meals at Ivy. His roommates were Sumner Rulon-Miller, Lance Odden, Lee Carter, Nick Carper, Luke Ward, Kit Pool, Andrews Walker, Rick Rand, and Joe Fitchett.

Frank joined the State Department right out of Princeton and embarked on a remarkable, distinguished career in the diplomatic corps that included service as our ambassador to Zambia, Egypt, the Philippines, and India, and a brief tour as acting secretary of state. Retiring in 1997 with the rank of career ambassador, the highest grade in the Senior Foreign Service, he then served in a dizzying array of foreign policy, diplomatic, and business circles to which we can’t do full justice in this limited space. Suffice it to say that he has been cited as one of the most important diplomats of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

He is survived by his wife, Judy; six children and stepchildren; 12 grandchildren; and his brother Ellis.